Zcash (ZEC) Price Prediction: Anthropic AI Audit and Technical Breakout Put ZEC on Path to $685

A recent AI-powered security audit conducted using Anthropic’s advanced Mythos model, combined with a bullish technical breakout, has pushed ZEC back into focus among traders and investors.

The privacy coin rallied as much as 25% following confirmation that no additional critical vulnerabilities were found in the protocol after a previously disclosed shielded pool bug was patched. At the same time, chart analysts continue to point toward higher price targets, with some projections suggesting ZEC could move toward $600 and potentially $685 if key support levels remain intact.

Anthropic AI Audit Reinforces Confidence in Zcash Network

The latest catalyst behind Zcash’s recovery came from an extensive protocol review performed by Anthropic’s specialized AI model, Mythos. According to statements from Shielded Labs and Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox, the audit was commissioned after a serious vulnerability was discovered in the Orchard shielded pool earlier this year.

Grayscale said Anthropic’s Mythos AI completed a full security audit of Zcash, finding no additional serious vulnerabilities in the privacy-focused protocol. Source: @Grayscale via X

The flaw, which reportedly existed since 2022, created a theoretical risk of counterfeit token creation. However, developers implemented emergency soft forks and hard forks before publicly disclosing the issue, preventing any known exploitation.

Zcash founder Zooko said the Orchard vulnerability was likely never exploited, and legitimate funds remain recoverable. Source: @BSCNews via X

Following the review, Mythos did not identify any additional serious vulnerabilities within the Zcash protocol. The outcome provided reassurance to the community and highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in blockchain security auditing.

Zooko emphasized that legitimate user funds remain recoverable and stated that there is no evidence suggesting the vulnerability was ever exploited. He noted, however, that moving funds unnecessarily could expose users to privacy risks and operational mistakes.

Anthropic’s Mythos AI completed a full audit of the Zcash protocol after the Orchard vulnerability was patched, uncovering no additional serious security flaws. Source: @zooko via X

The upcoming Ironwood network upgrade is expected to further strengthen the ecosystem. The fork will introduce a new shielded pool, freeze Orchard transactions, eliminate any excess tokens that may have been created, and restore independent supply verification capabilities.

The security-focused developments helped fuel a sharp rebound in ZEC price, with the token gaining between 16% and 25% in the days following the announcements.

Zcash Price Prediction: Technical Structure Remains Bullish

Beyond the fundamental developments, ZEC’s chart structure continues to attract attention from market analysts.

After reclaiming the critical $440 level, Zcash established one of its strongest technical positions in recent months. Analyst Ardi noted that maintaining support above this zone could open the door for a move toward $480 and $520, while a larger inverse head-and-shoulders pattern points to a potential target near $600.

ZEC has reclaimed $440 support, with bullish technical indicators and network-driven catalysts supporting a potential move toward the $520–$600 range. Source: CoinCodex on TradingView

The broader trend remains constructive. ZEC is currently trading above its neckline support around $420 and remains comfortably above its 100-day simple moving average at $392.19.

Momentum indicators also suggest room for further upside. The daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits near 51.44, indicating neutral conditions rather than an overheated market. On shorter timeframes, the 4-hour RSI has climbed to approximately 72.72, signaling strong buying pressure but also suggesting that short-term consolidation could occur before another leg higher.

Several fundamental factors continue supporting the bullish narrative. Network Upgrade 7 is expected to introduce Shielded Assets and Project Tachyon, a scaling initiative designed to improve transaction speeds by up to 300%. In addition, Grayscale has filed for a spot ZEC ETF, while U.S. regulators recently concluded an investigation involving the Zcash Foundation without enforcement action.

Broader market sentiment has also improved. The Altcoin Season Index has risen from 29 to 51, reflecting increased investor interest across alternative cryptocurrencies.

TradingView Indicators Point to Positive Momentum

TradingView’s latest technical assessment presents a cautiously optimistic outlook for ZECUSDT despite an overall neutral summary rating.

At the time of analysis, ZEC was trading near $497 after experiencing a modest pullback. The platform’s composite rating remains on a “Buy” signal, supported primarily by strong moving-average alignment.

Zcash (ZEC) price chart. Source: Brave New Coin

Among oscillators, most indicators remain neutral. The RSI (14) stands at 51.36, Stochastic %K is 62.59, and the Average Directional Index (ADX) is 23.74. However, two important momentum indicators continue flashing bullish signals. Momentum (10) reads 137.21, while the MACD level stands at -17.06 with a Buy signal, indicating positive trend continuation potential.

Moving averages provide stronger support for the bullish case. The 10-day EMA sits at 467.87, the 20-day EMA at 481.25, and the 50-day EMA at 477.01, all generating Buy signals. Longer-term indicators remain constructive as well, with the 100-day EMA at 432.74 and the 200-day EMA at 375.02 both supporting the prevailing uptrend.

Although some resistance remains overhead, particularly around the 30-day and 50-day simple moving averages, the overall moving-average structure continues to favor buyers.

From a price-action perspective, traders are closely watching the $501 to $534 resistance region. A decisive break above that area could increase the probability of a move toward higher targets.

Can ZEC Reach $685?

While technical conditions remain favorable, several hurdles still need to be cleared before ZEC can challenge higher price objectives.

Market capitalization has declined from approximately $8 billion to around $6.7 billion-$6.8 billion, indicating that capital inflows have not yet fully caught up with the improving chart structure. Additionally, ZEC remains roughly 86% below its all-time high of $3,191.93 reached during the 2017 bull market.

Nevertheless, the combination of improving security confidence, upcoming protocol upgrades, ETF-related developments, and strengthening technical indicators continues to support a constructive outlook.

If buyers successfully defend the $440 support zone and reclaim resistance above $500, analysts see potential for a move toward $520 and $600 in the medium term. CoinCodex’s one-month forecast projects ZEC could reach approximately $685.60, though such targets depend on continued market strength and sustained buying momentum.