ZEC (Zcash) Historical Price and Return Analysis: Should I buy ZEC now?

Summary

This article provides a comprehensive review of ZEC’s historical prices and market fluctuations since its inception, analyzing data from bull and bear market phases to evaluate the potential returns for investors purchasing 10 ZEC tokens. It also addresses the key question, “Should I buy ZEC now?” to help both beginners and long-term investors grasp timing and growth opportunities.

Beginning of Bull Market and Early Market Cycles: Historical Price Review (2017 to 2018)

As the first blockchain system to utilize zero-knowledge proof technology, Zcash has attracted rapid market attention since trading began in 2017 due to its unique privacy protection features. According to data, its early trading price was approximately $236.14.

Below are the price changes of ZEC during the initial bull market phase:

2017

• Opening Price: $236.14
• Closing Price: $467.0
• Highest Price: $519.3
• Lowest Price: $212.25
• Annual Return: 97.76%

2018

• Opening Price: $743.24
• Closing Price: $60.1
• Highest Price: $743.24
• Lowest Price: $50.8
• Annual Return: -91.91%

An investor who bought 10 ZEC in 2017 and held until now would have a potential profit of $2,451.58.

Bear Market Adjustment and Mid-term Market Cycle: Profit and Risk Analysis (2019 to 2023)

During this period, ZEC’s price experienced intense volatility and a prolonged decline. After a sharp drop from the 2018 peak, it entered a sustained bear market correction phase.

The potential returns for an investor purchasing 10 ZEC in different years (assuming holding until early 2026) are as follows:

• 2019: $4,292.5
• 2020: $4,457.9
• 2021: $3,848.7
• 2022: $3,372.0
• 2023: $4,386.2

Recent Market Cycle: Should I buy ZEC now? (2024 to 2026 so far)

In the past two years, ZEC has shown a strong recovery momentum, especially with an unexpected surge in 2025, prompting market discussions about whether a new bull cycle has begun.

2024

• Opening Price: $21.89
• Closing Price: $57.85
• Highest Price: $74.31
• Lowest Price: $18.7
• Annual Return: 164.28%

2025

• Opening Price: $47.51
• Closing Price: $502.24
• Highest Price: $698.0
• Lowest Price: $29.91
• Annual Return: 957.12%

2026 (so far)

• Opening Price: $481.3
• Closing Price: $481.3
• Highest Price: $481.3
• Lowest Price: $481.3
• Annual Return: 0.0%

The potential returns for an investor purchasing 10 ZEC during this period are:

• 2024: $4,594.1
• 2025: $4,337.9
• 2026 (so far): $0

Conclusion: Bull, Bear, and Investment Timing Analysis

By analyzing ZEC’s historical prices and potential returns, we see that this privacy-focused cryptocurrency has experienced extreme volatility—from a 97.76% increase during the 2017 initial bull market, to a 91.91% crash in 2018, and a remarkable rebound in 2025 with a 957.12% annual return. This demonstrates that ZEC, as a small-cap privacy coin, carries high risk and high reward characteristics. Currently, with prices at a high level in early 2026, investors should carefully assess market risks and their own risk tolerance.