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What is Zcash (ZEC)? The Privacy Coin Using Zero-Knowledge Proofs

by admin January 23, 2026

written by admin

In brief

Created in response to Bitcoin’s perceived limitations, Zcash offers privacy with zk-SNARK tech.
In 2025, Zcash undergoes its halving, a funding overhaul, and a software migration—its biggest test yet.
A decade on, Zcash is one of the privacy coins fighting for private, and decentralized payments.

For many years, Bitcoin was used to buy drugs online because it was believed to be anonymous. Turns out, it’s surprisingly easy to track Bitcoin transactions. Zcash, on the other hand, is a cryptocurrency that promised something Bitcoin couldn’t deliver: privacy.

How Zcash works

Zcash is designed to hide key transaction details, such as the sender, recipient, and amount. By using cryptographic techniques, transfers can be made that can’t easily be traced on a public ledger while remaining verifiable by the network.

Zcash allows transactions to be either transparent, like Bitcoin, or private using zero-knowledge proofs known as zk-SNARKs. This cryptography verifies that a transaction is valid without exposing the sender, recipient, or amount. It is a fungible cryptocurrency when coins are fully shielded, meaning tokens in the private pool are not linked to transaction history. However, most Zcash coins exist in the transparent pool, which, like Bitcoin, maintains a visible history.

The network maintains two pools of addresses: transparent (t-addrs) and shielded (z-addrs). Wallets such as ECC’s Zashi now default to shielding funds, encouraging greater privacy.

Who invented Zcash?

Zcash launched in October 2016 as a privacy-focused cryptocurrency developed by the Electric Coin Company (ECC), led by Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn, drawing on research from Johns Hopkins, MIT, Tel Aviv University, and other institutions. Like Bitcoin, Zcash (ZEC) has a maximum supply of 21 million coins and block reward halvings every four years.

While ECC initiated Zcash, it does not own or control the blockchain. All upgrades require community approval, keeping development decentralized and open rather than directed by a single entity.

Did you know?

At its launch, Zcash relied on a “trusted setup ceremony” in which six participants each generated and destroyed a portion of a private key. This prevented anyone from being able to counterfeit ZEC.

In April 2022, Edward Snowden was revealed as one of the participants in the ceremony. “He did it as a service, as a public good, and believing in privacy,” Josh Swihart, former CEO of the Electric Coin Company, told Decrypt.

Key dates

May 2013: Zerocoin proposal at Johns Hopkins marks the start of privacy-focused crypto research that leads to Zcash.
January 2016: Zooko Wilcox formally announces the Zcash project as a privacy-oriented Bitcoin fork.
October 2016: Zcash launches after its trusted setup ceremony, and the network goes live. Zcash reached an all‑time high of $5,941.80.
October 2018: The Sapling upgrade activates, improving the speed and efficiency of shielded transactions.
December 2019: The Blossom network upgrade takes place, increasing block frequency.
November 2020: Zcash goes through its first halving.
May 2022: Network Upgrade 5, including the Orchard upgrade, rolls out, reducing reliance on earlier complex setup “ceremonies” for new shielded pools, and allowing Zcash users to make private digital cash payments on mobile phones with a new address format called unified addresses.
April 2022: Edward Snowden is publicly revealed as “John Dobbertin,” a participant in the original launch ceremony who contributed to the trusted setup but was not an architect.
November 2024: The second Zcash halving takes place.
January 2026: The Zcash Foundation announces that the SEC has ended its investigation into the nonprofit without recommending enforcement action.
January 2026: The CEO of the Electric Coin Company announces that his entire team was “constructively discharged” following a disagreement with its non-profit board members.
November 2028: Zcash’s third halving is scheduled to take place.

How is Zcash produced?

Zcash, like Bitcoin, uses proof-of-work (PoW) to validate transactions, but it runs on the Equihash algorithm—a memory-hard hashing function designed to make mining fairer and more resistant to ASIC hardware, and the consensus mechanism Zcash originally adopted to secure its network.

Currently, Zcash miners receive 80% of each block reward, while 20% goes to development funds that support the Electric Coin Company (ECC), the Zcash Foundation, and community grants. This development funding structure is governed by community decision and is set for renewal or revision after the upcoming halving.

Zcash is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency designed for everyday payments. Users can choose between transparent transactions that are regulator-friendly and shielded transactions that enhance privacy. This optionality has helped Zcash remain listed on more major exchanges than some other privacy coins, such as Monero, which are avoided by certain platforms due to regulatory constraints.

Bitcoin has heavily influenced Zcash. Like the number one cryptocurrency, Zcash is designed to be used for everyday purchases. Its various privacy features mean it can also be used to send or receive transactions hidden from prying eyes.

Zcash, regulators and law enforcement

Around the world, regulators and law enforcement agencies have increased scrutiny of privacy coins, arguing that their anonymity features can be misused for money laundering or sanctions evasion. In the United States, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has proposed tighter rules for “anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrencies.”

“Several types of [anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrencies]—including Monero, Zcash, Dash, Komodo, and Beam—are growing in popularity and use technologies that make it difficult for investigators to trace blockchain transactions or connect them to individuals involved in illicit activity,” regulators wrote in 2020.

As enforcement of the cryptocurrency market ramped up, exchanges began delisting privacy coins. In November 2020, privacy-centric exchange ShapeShift delisted Monero, Dash, and Zcash to limit the company’s regulatory risk. In January 2021, Bittrex delisted Zcash, Monero, and Dash, and in 2023, OKX delisted the same privacy coins—only to relist Zcash in November 2025 during the cryptocurrency’s price surge. As of 2026, Zcash was still listed on Binance, but in April 2025 it was added to the exchanges’ list of cryptocurrencies that the community could vote on to delist.

The future of Zcash

With regulators tightening surveillance of digital assets and privacy coins facing mounting scrutiny, Zcash is entering its most pivotal period yet. A halving, a major funding overhaul, and a migration to new software are converging to test whether a privacy-focused cryptocurrency can survive under pressure.

Nearly a decade after its launch, Zcash returned to the spotlight for market reasons. In November 2025, the token surged to a high of $698.87, according to CoinGecko data. Its rise was fueled in part by prominent figures on social media highlighting Zcash’s community, privacy design, and technical improvements.

By December 2025, Zcash was again in the spotlight and seeing renewed institutional interest, including Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox taking an advisory role at a firm building a large ZEC treasury.

In January 2026, Zcash entered a turbulent stretch marked by sharp price swings, internal conflict, and regulatory development, with the Zcash Foundation announcing that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had closed a long-running investigation without recommending enforcement action.

What excitement the SEC decision may have drawn was short-lived. In early January, the entire team at Electric Coin Company said it had been “constructively discharged” following a disagreement with the majority of Bootstrap’s board members, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to support Zcash.

Following their departure, former ECC CEO Josh Swihart announced that he and his former colleagues would launch a new project, cashZ, set to focus on full-stack Zcash development including a new Zcash-focused wallet.

Elsewhere, independent Zcash development group Shielded Labs, whose contributors include Zooko Wilcox, received approximately $1.16 million in funding from Gemini and Facebook founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, with the goal of “strengthening the long-term security, sustainability, and scalability of the Zcash network.”

Zcash’s next halving is scheduled for November 2028. The current development fund ends at the same time, and the community is debating new mechanisms. ECC is deprecating the C++ full node “zcashd” in favor of the Rust-based “zebrad,” with a new wallet called Zallet also in development.

These changes will shape Zcash’s cryptography, funding model, and user experience for years ahead.

This article was updated in January 2026 to reflect recent developments.

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January 23, 2026 0 comments

Crypto Regulations

Pepe Coin Faces Volatility Amid Whales’ Strategic Moves

by admin December 8, 2025

written by admin

In early December 2025, the cryptocurrency market witnessed significant strategic maneuvers by large investors, commonly known as “whales,” who accumulated roughly 30 billion Pepe Coins. Despite this considerable buying activity, the value of Pepe Coin experienced a sharp decline, falling to $0.000004512. This price represents an 85% decrease from its peak, putting the second-largest Ethereum meme token under intense pressure.

The current situation highlights a complex interplay between market forces and investor behavior. While the massive accumulation by whales typically signals confidence in a coin’s potential, the formation of a bearish pattern is raising concerns among traders and analysts. This conflicting scenario underscores the volatility often seen in the cryptocurrency space, especially with meme coins that are highly susceptible to speculative trading.

Meme coins, including Pepe Coin, have carved out a unique niche in the cryptocurrency market over the past few years. Originally gaining popularity for their community-driven hype and viral marketing, these digital assets often experience significant price swings, driven more by social media trends than by fundamental financial indicators. Pepe Coin, rooted in internet culture and drawing influence from popular memes, has quickly become a favorite among crypto enthusiasts seeking high-risk, high-reward opportunities.

However, the current bearish trend suggests that Pepe Coin could be facing challenges in sustaining its value. The coin’s price formation has taken on a pattern that typically precedes further declines, adding to the anxiety of average investors who might not have the financial resilience of whales. Such patterns are technical indicators often used by traders to predict future price movements, and they suggest a potential continuation of the downtrend.

The move by whales to purchase a substantial amount of Pepe Coin could be interpreted in several ways. On one hand, it might indicate that seasoned investors see long-term potential in Pepe Coin, banking on its community strength and viral appeal to eventually drive prices back up. On the other hand, this could also be a strategic move to consolidate control over the token’s supply, influencing its market behavior more directly.

Historically, the involvement of whales in any cryptocurrency can lead to increased volatility. Their large transactions can cause sudden price shifts, which can either bolster confidence or induce panic selling among smaller investors. This dynamic can create a self-reinforcing cycle where prices fluctuate sharply, attracting more speculative trading and further distancing the asset from its intrinsic value.

In addition to the technical patterns and whale activities, the broader economic environment may also be influencing Pepe Coin’s current status. Recent global regulatory discussions around cryptocurrency have added a layer of uncertainty to the market. Various countries are considering stricter regulations to combat financial crimes associated with digital currencies, which could impact investor confidence across all cryptocurrency categories, including meme coins like Pepe Coin.

Moreover, the overall market sentiment has been cautious, influenced by macroeconomic factors such as inflation rates and economic forecasts. Investors might be reallocating their portfolios, shifting from high-risk assets like meme coins to more stable and traditionally safer options. This trend could further pressure the price of Pepe Coin, despite the ongoing whale accumulation.

For Pepe Coin to recover from its current slump, it may need more than just whale confidence. A combination of renewed community engagement, positive market sentiment, and perhaps a favorable regulatory environment could help stabilize and eventually boost its price. Additionally, any new developments or partnerships that enhance its utility or integrate it more deeply into the broader crypto ecosystem could act as potential catalysts.

However, there are inherent risks associated with investing in meme coins. Their value can be highly unpredictable, often fluctuating on the basis of social media trends and speculative trading rather than fundamental utility or technological advancements. Investors must be cautious and consider the potential for sudden losses, keeping in mind that while these coins can offer substantial gains, they also come with significant risks.

In conclusion, the situation with Pepe Coin exemplifies the unique dynamics of the cryptocurrency market, where meme-driven tokens can quickly rise to prominence yet face equally rapid declines. As whales continue to accumulate tokens, the focus remains on whether this will translate into long-term gains or add another layer of volatility. The coming months will be critical for Pepe Coin, as it navigates through the challenges posed by market patterns, regulatory landscapes, and overall investor sentiment. Whether it will emerge as a profitable investment or remain a speculative gamble depends on multiple factors that both analysts and investors will be watching closely.

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December 8, 2025 0 comments

DeFi Innovations

Privacy Coin Rally Continues as DASH Surges 150%

by admin November 5, 2025

written by admin

The DASH token is following in Zcash’s footsteps and is up 200% over the last month.

Despite the altcoin market’s woes, Zcash’s rally is driving the privacy token sector to new heights, and now DASH is tailing ZEC with a 156% surge over the last week.

Launched in 2014, DASH is one of the largest privacy-focused cryptocurrencies with a $1.4 billion market capitalization. The token features an optional privacy feature dubbed PrivateSend.

It has been following steadily behind sector leader Zcash, which has rallied more than 300% over the last month to $470, its highest price since 2018.

Meanwhile, DASH, which traded as low as $19 this summer, is up more than 5x over the last six months and is currently trading at $120, its highest price since 2022.

DASH Chart – CoinGecko

Despite the rally, DASH has some distance to go before it comes anywhere close to its previous all-time high of $1,500, set in December 2017 near the top of the ICO bubble.

While the exact catalyst behind Zcash and the broader privacy meta is unknown, some attribute its growth to a new focus on privacy and anonymity as Bitcoin and DeFi become increasingly institutionalized.

November 5, 2025 0 comments

NFT Marketplace

Professor Coin: Bitcoin, Energy and the Future of Sustainable Crypto

by admin October 19, 2025

written by admin

In brief

Bitcoin’s energy consumption remains large, at an estimated 138TWh as of 2025.
Recent academic research explores the broader environmental cost of Bitcoin mining, adding in carbon dioxide, water, e-waste, and land impacts.
Policy pressure is rising as governments focus on what kind of power Bitcoin mining uses, where it is sited, and what externalities apply.

Professor Andrew Urquhart is Professor of Finance and Financial Technology and Head of the Department of Finance at Birmingham Business School (BBS).

This is the ninth installment of the Professor Coin column, in which I bring important insights from published academic literature on cryptocurrencies to the Decrypt readership. In this article, I discuss Bitcoin energy usage, and the future for sustainable cryptos.

When you hear the words “Bitcoin mining,” you might picture giant warehouses packed with whirring computers, gobbling up electricity like there’s no tomorrow. That image isn’t far from reality.

Since Bitcoin launched in 2009, its proof-of-work (PoW) system has been both its greatest strength and its biggest controversy. It keeps the network secure and decentralized, but it also ties digital finance to very real energy and environmental costs.

How big is Bitcoin’s energy footprint?

The go-to benchmark is the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index (CBECI), which estimates that Bitcoin mining consumes electricity on the scale of mid-sized countries. But here’s the catch: Bitcoin’s energy use doesn’t rise smoothly. Instead, it follows market cycles. When Bitcoin’s price surges, miners switch on more rigs, pushing up hashrate, difficulty, and electricity demand. When prices dip, older or less efficient machines go dark.

Stoll, Klaaßen and Gallersdörfer (2019) pegged annual consumption around 46 TWh back then, with ~22 megatons of CO₂ emissions More recently, new data suggests that consumption has grown substantially.

According to the 2025 Cambridge Digital Mining Industry Report, Bitcoin’s annual electricity usage is now estimated at 138 TWh, with network-wide emissions of approximately 39.8 Mt CO₂e. The same report also notes that 52.4 % of the energy used by miners comes from sustainable sources (renewables + nuclear) as of 2025.

These updated figures help us see that while Bitcoin’s environmental footprint remains significant, the composition of its energy mix is also shifting—offering a more nuanced narrative for 2025.

Beyond carbon: the full footprint

New research asks a broader question: what’s the total environmental cost? A 2023 paper by Chamanara et al. (2023) estimates Bitcoin mining at ~173 TWh, adding in CO₂, water, and land impacts.

Meanwhile, the UN University warned that mining draws heavily on freshwater in regions with scarce supply. And it’s not just the running of machines: de Vries (2021) estimated tens of kilotons of e-waste annually from discarded ASIC rigs, since miners churn through hardware every couple of years. This holistic picture means Bitcoin’s footprint is now seen as multi-dimensional: electricity, emissions, water, land, and waste.

Proof-of-work vs Proof-of-stake

Here’s where the story gets interesting. Not every blockchain guzzles energy like Bitcoin. In September 2022, Ethereum’s Merge replaced PoW with proof-of-stake (PoS). Overnight, its energy use dropped by ~99.9%. Same user experience, radically different environmental profile. This one move showed the world that crypto doesn’t have to be a climate villain.

Ethereum’s success has raised uncomfortable questions for Bitcoin. If another major chain can deliver security and functionality without the same energy burn, should Bitcoin follow?

Purists say no: PoW is what gives Bitcoin its incorruptible, apolitical security. Critics counter that clinging to PoW risks political backlash, carbon taxes, or even outright bans in certain jurisdictions.

Can mining go green?

Not all miners are environmental bad actors. Some argue they are part of the solution, not the problem. In Texas, mining farms strike deals with grid operators, curtailing power when demand spikes. In Iceland and Canada, miners plug into cheap hydropower. Recent engineering research even explores using mining to monetize excess methane from landfills or stranded renewables that would otherwise be wasted.

The optimistic narrative goes like this: Bitcoin mining could act as a “buyer of last resort” for surplus green energy, smoothing out variability in solar and wind production. Studies like Hossain & Steigner (2024) and others suggest that, under the right conditions, mining could become an economic driver for renewable projects.

But the jury is still out—whether miners truly accelerate the green transition or just opportunistically chase cheap power depends on location, incentives, and regulation.

The road ahead

So where does that leave us in 2025? Here are the big takeaways:

Bitcoin’s footprint is real and significant. We’re not just talking electricity, but also carbon, water, land, and e-waste.
Design matters. Ethereum’s Merge proved that PoS can slash energy costs without breaking a network. Bitcoin, by contrast, has doubled down on PoW.
Nuance is needed. Not all mining is equal—coal-based rigs in Kazakhstan are very different from hydro-powered farms in Quebec.
Policy pressure is rising. Expect governments to ask not just “how much power?” but “what kind of power, where, and with what externalities?”

Bitcoin will always carry the energy question with it. Whether it becomes a climate villain or an unlikely green ally depends on choices made by miners, policymakers, and communities in the next few years.

For now, one truth is clear: in crypto, the invisible isn’t weightless. The future of digital money is tied, quite literally, to the power grid.

References

Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, 2025. Cambridge Digital Mining Industry Report 2025. Cambridge Judge Business School.
Chamanara, N., Pereira, A.O., Dsouza, C., Pauliuk, S. and Hertwich, E.G., 2023. The environmental footprint of bitcoin mining across the globe. Earth’s Future, 11(11), e2023EF003871.
de Vries, A., 2021. Bitcoin boom: What rising prices mean for the network’s energy consumption. Joule, 5(3), pp.509–513
Stoll, C., Klaaßen, L. and Gallersdörfer, U., 2019. The carbon footprint of bitcoin. Joule, 3(7), pp.1647–1661.
Hossain, M. & Steigner, T., 2024. Balancing Innovation and Sustainability: Addressing the Environmental Impact of Bitcoin Mining. 10.48550/arXiv.2411.08908.
de Vries-Gao, A. & Stoll, C., 2021. Bitcoin’s growing e-waste problem. Resources Conservation and Recycling, 175. 105901. 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105901.

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October 19, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Regulations

Newsmax Crypto Reserve Adds Bitcoin and Trump Coin Holdings

by admin October 19, 2025

written by admin

In a move reflecting the growing intersection of politics and cryptocurrency, Newsmax has announced that its board has approved a plan to acquire up to $5 million worth of Bitcoin and Trump Coin over the next year. The decision positions Newsmax as the first New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)-listed company to hold Trump Coin on its corporate balance sheet, signaling increasing institutional adoption of politically branded digital assets.

According to executives at Newsmax, the purchases will begin “soon,” with future acquisitions contingent on cryptocurrency market conditions. The announcement immediately impacted the company’s stock, driving a 4.1% rise in after-hours trading to $11.27 per share.

Trump Coin Enters the Corporate Spotlight

Chief Executive Officer Christopher Ruddy emphasized that Trump Coin’s value “should track the success of the Trump presidency, which so far has been impressive.” He added that incorporating Trump Coin into Newsmax’s reserves aligns with broader efforts to diversify corporate holdings while tapping into the growing wave of cryptocurrency adoption across U.S. institutions.

The inclusion of Trump Coin marks a notable milestone. While Bitcoin has long been a part of corporate treasury strategies for companies seeking exposure to digital assets, Trump Coin introduces a politically branded token into mainstream financial systems for the first time.

Trump’s Crypto Gains and Expanding Empire

The move also reflects the broader financial resurgence of former President Donald Trump. In statements to courts last year, Trump indicated he was nearly out of funds and faced potential liquidation of his real estate holdings if civil penalties weren’t reduced. Less than a year later, Trump’s financial landscape has dramatically changed.

Reports indicate that the Trump family has earned over $1 billion in pre-tax profits in the past year, largely fueled by crypto investments and digital asset initiatives. These gains do not include unrealized profits, which have further boosted the family’s net worth on paper.

Trump’s business empire now spans a diverse range of assets, including memecoins, NFTs, stablecoins, tokens, and even a DeFi platform, all leveraging the family’s branding. His stake in Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), which owns Truth Social and operates a Bitcoin treasury business, is estimated to be worth roughly $1.9 billion.

Eric Trump has suggested that these figures might underestimate the full scale of the family’s crypto operations, highlighting the growing influence of politically branded digital assets in the market.

Institutional Crypto Adoption and Newsmax’s Strategic Move

By approving the purchase of Trump Coin and Bitcoin, Newsmax positions itself as a pioneer among NYSE-listed firms exploring the integration of digital assets into corporate treasury management. The move also reflects an awareness of the growing popularity and institutionalization of crypto assets, which many companies now view as both a store of value and a strategic investment.

The decision aligns with Newsmax’s broader strategy of capitalizing on emerging financial trends while strengthening its corporate balance sheet. Holding both Bitcoin and Trump Coin provides exposure to traditional digital assets as well as politically linked tokens with unique market appeal.

Crypto-Friendly Policies in Washington

The Newsmax announcement also intersects with crypto policy initiatives under the Trump administration. President Trump has promoted policies designed to expand cryptocurrency adoption, including the establishment of a national Bitcoin reserve and appointments of crypto-supportive regulators in federal agencies.

Under the administration, enforcement actions against major crypto firms, including Kraken, Binance, BitMEX, Coinbase, Gemini, Tether, and Circle, have reportedly been reduced or postponed, encouraging companies that left the U.S. during previous regulatory climates to return. These measures are intended to position the United States as a leading hub for blockchain and digital asset innovation, directly benefiting firms and tokens associated with Trump’s ecosystem.

Market Impact of Crypto Moves

Bitcoin has continued to perform strongly under these policy shifts, breaking multiple all-time highs in recent months. Trump Coin, as a newly recognized corporate asset, is expected to attract attention from both retail and institutional investors interested in politically branded digital assets.

The integration of Trump Coin into Newsmax’s corporate reserve also highlights a broader trend: companies are increasingly using digital assets to diversify holdings and hedge against traditional market volatility. By holding both established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and unique tokens like Trump Coin, corporations can leverage growth potential while exploring innovative treasury strategies.

Conclusion

Newsmax’s board approval to buy up to $5 million in Bitcoin and Trump Coin is a milestone for both the network and the broader crypto landscape. As the first NYSE-listed firm to hold Trump Coin, Newsmax demonstrates a willingness to embrace novel digital assets while expanding corporate treasury diversification.

This strategic move reflects not only the rising acceptance of cryptocurrencies in institutional finance but also the growing influence of politically branded digital tokens. For investors, it underscores the expanding intersection of politics, media, and blockchain innovation—a combination that is likely to shape the corporate adoption of cryptocurrencies in the coming years.

As Newsmax begins its purchases, the broader market will watch closely to gauge investor response and the potential for further corporate engagement with Trump Coin and other politically linked digital assets.

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October 19, 2025 0 comments

Bitcoin & Altcoins

Is Pi Coin Price Due for a Rebound? Here’s What to Watch

by admin October 18, 2025

written by admin

Pi Coin has recently witnessed heightened volatility, with its price fluctuating amid weak growth over the past few days.

The altcoin’s limited upward movement has raised skepticism, but improving investor sentiment and technical signals suggest a potential reversal is likely.

Pi Coin Could Bounce Back

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for Pi Coin is currently in the oversold zone, a level that often indicates exhaustion among sellers. Historically, such dips have marked key turning points for the cryptocurrency.

Just last week, a similar condition preceded a notable rebound, suggesting that accumulation may soon replace selling pressure.

Investors often interpret oversold conditions as opportunities to enter the market at discounted prices. If accumulation strengthens, Pi Coin could experience a shift in momentum as buyers move to capitalize on low valuations.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Pi Coin RSI. Source: TradingView

PI Price Is Holding Above Key Support

Pi Coin is trading at $0.205, holding firmly above the $0.200 support level, which has acted as a critical base for past rebounds. The level helped the altcoin recover last week, and a similar bounce could emerge if bullish sentiment builds further.

Should this occur, Pi Coin could rise toward the $0.229 resistance level, with a potential breakout paving the way to $0.256. Achieving this move would require solid investor support and favorable market cues.

Pi Coin Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

However, if the broader market turns bearish, Pi Coin could lose the $0.200 support. Thus, the token could slip to $0.180 or even $0.153—its all-time low—invalidating the bullish thesis.

October 18, 2025 0 comments

DeFi Innovations

Launch Coin Falls Over 30% as Developers Abandon Current Token Model

by admin October 17, 2025

written by admin

The team behind LAUNCHCOIN announced it is switching to a new token design and ticker, implying that the current asset is outdated.

The price of Launch Coin on Believe (LAUNCHCOIN) sank more than 30% on Thursday, Oct. 16, after developers said they were scrapping its original model, calling it too outdated to keep up with the growing demands of the Believe ecosystem.

In an X thread yesterday, the Solana-based token launchpad said that the original design of the LAUNCHCOIN token “didn’t anticipate the long-term needs of the Believe ecosystem,” announcing an upgrade to a new token called BELIEVE.

Per the announcement, under the upgrade plan, LAUNCHCOIN will eventually be phased out after a two-week swap window, ending Oct. 29, though a final claim period remains open until Nov. 12.

After that, support for LAUNCHCOIN will cease, and all unclaimed tokens will be burned, according to the official Believe website.

LAUNCHCOIN price chart. Source: DEX Screener

Shortly after the announcement, the token tanked 34%, falling from $0.1089 on Oct. 16 to $0.07189, per data from DEX Screener.

The pivot has raised some eyebrows among token holders, with multiple comments criticizing the team’s plan to increase Launch Coin’s current token supply in the switch. According to the Believe team’s X post, the initial supply of BELIEVE will be set at 1.33 billion tokens, which is about 30% higher than LAUNCOIN’s current circulating supply, and 33% higher than its maximum supply, per CoinGecko — the the Believe team described it as “a 25% increase,” as multiple replies to the post pointed out the discrepancy.

Under the new plan, 17% of tokens go to contributors with a four-year vesting and one-year lock, 5% to early investors with a one-year lock, and 3% to the foundation, while any unclaimed tokens will be burned to bring the total supply closer to 1 billion, per the X thread from Believe.

First launched in January as PASTERNAK and created by Australian entrepreneur Ben Pasternak through his launchpad platform Clout, the token was later renamed to LAUNCHCOIN and Clout was rebranded to Believe to better align with the platform’s new stated roadmap to support creator-driven communities.

October 17, 2025 0 comments

NFT Marketplace

Newsmax Reveals Bitcoin, Trump Meme Coin Treasury

by admin October 17, 2025

written by admin

In brief

Newsmax is building a digital assets treasury centered on Bitcoin and President Trump’s official Solana meme coin.
The company is approved to spend up to $5 million to acquire the assets over the next 12 months.
Shares of NMAX fell 4% today but have bounced in after-hours trading.

Publicly traded media company Newsmax is creating a digital assets treasury centered on Bitcoin and President Donald Trump’s meme coin, which trades as TRUMP on Solana.

The company’s board of directors approved the plan, which will see it acquire up to $5 million of the two assets in total over the next year, according to a company announcement on Thursday.

“Bitcoin is fast becoming the gold standard of cryptocurrency, and we believe it would be an important company marker to add this asset to our company reserves,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said in a statement.

“We are also excited to add Trump Coin to our cryptocurrency plan,” he added, “as we believe the coin’s value should track the success of the Trump presidency, which so far has been impressive.”

Details about how the firm will fund the initiative were not revealed, but it expects to make the first strategic purchase “in the near future.”

Shares of Newsmax, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange with ticker NMAX, dropped around 4% today to $10.83 as broader markets slid amid increased macro volatility. However, shares are up more than 4% in after-hours trading, according to data from Yahoo Finance.

Both Bitcoin and TRUMP dipped further on Thursday, with BTC falling 3% to $107,709 as the president’s official meme coin dropped 2.1%. The latter coin fell outside of the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, according to data from CoinGecko.

TRUMP is now changing hands at $5.90, nearly 92% off its January all-time high of $73.43.

Newsmax joins the Trump-backed Trump Media as media companies with digital asset reserves plans. Earlier this year, Trump Media bought $2 billion worth of Bitcoin and related securities, placing it inside the top 10 largest publicly traded Bitcoin holders.

If Newsmax used all $5 million of its approved funds to purchase BTC, it would only be able to obtain around 46 BTC, ranking it outside the top 100, according to BitcoinTreasuries.net.

A representative for Newsmax did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s request for comment.

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October 17, 2025 0 comments

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