The crypto market is heading into the weekend with contrasting performances among key altcoins. While Bitcoin holds around major psychological levels, several mid-cap tokens are flashing both technical strength and critical inflection points.
Among them, Zcash (ZEC), ZKsync (ZK), and Sei (SEI) stand out for their strong narratives, active developments, and eye-catching chart setups.
Below we examine why these three assets could be the ones to watch as traders look for direction amid a volatile macro backdrop and the ongoing U.S. government shutdown — now the longest in history.
Zcash (ZEC): Momentum Builds as Institutional Interest Grows
Zcash has been one of the standout performers of the week, rising more than 56% over the past seven days and briefly surpassing the $520 mark. The privacy-focused coin now sits around a $8.4 billion market cap, making it one of the most watched assets in the top 20.
Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes reignited excitement with a bullish projection that sees ZEC potentially reaching between $10,000 and $20,000, arguing that privacy will become one of the most valuable features in the coming crypto cycle. He pointed to rising shielded transaction usage, now nearing 30%, and noted the recent Halo 2 upgrade eliminated the “trusted setup” — a long-criticized flaw in Zcash’s early design.
Hayes also highlighted the upcoming Zcash halving, expected in November, as a possible catalyst that could amplify reflexivity between supply cuts and rising demand. Liquidity remains limited, which could accelerate volatility if institutional players start accumulating.
From a technical perspective, analyst Ali (@ali_charts) noted that the TD Sequential indicator has “perfectly timed Zcash over the past month,” suggesting the current cycle may be nearing an exhaustion point before a new leg higher. On the 4-hour chart, ZEC has held its breakout structure with RSI near 64 and MACD still showing bullish momentum.
ZKsync (ZK): “ZKnomics” and Atlas Upgrade Spark Renewed Optimism
ZKsync continues to attract attention for its bold token revamp proposal and the recent Atlas upgrade, which together signal a new chapter for the Ethereum Layer-2 scaling protocol.
Co-founder Alex Gluchowski introduced the idea of “ZKnomics,” a system designed to reinvest protocol revenue into the ecosystem through token buybacks, burns, and staking rewards. This aims to align long-term token value with network growth, creating what he described as a “virtuous cycle” of reinvestment.
At the same time, Atlas has taken ZKsync’s performance metrics to new levels, reaching 15,000 transactions per second and one-second finality with near-zero fees. Even Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin praised the progress, calling the team’s work “underrated and valuable.”
Market action has reflected the growing confidence. ZK’s price has more than doubled in a week, climbing 131% despite a 15% daily pullback, trading around $0.067 at press time. Analyst Ali noted that breaking above $0.083 could open a path toward $0.10-$0.15, a zone visible on his recent TradingView chart.
Technical readings confirm consolidation after a parabolic run. RSI hovers around 57, cooling off from overbought levels, while the MACD remains slightly positive — a setup that could precede another attempt higher if volume picks up.
The project’s long-term fundamentals and ambitious redesign place ZKsync among the most closely watched tokens heading into the weekend.
Sei (SEI): Retail Exposure Expands After Robinhood Listing
The Sei Network is also making waves as it lands on Robinhood, a platform boasting 25 million crypto-enabled accounts and $13 billion in monthly transaction volume. This marks a significant milestone for the Layer-1 blockchain, bringing exposure to a massive retail audience in the U.S.
In addition, Binance Simple Earn has launched a Boost APR promotion on SEI Locked Products totaling over 1.49 million SEI tokens, further increasing visibility and yield-based engagement.
However, SEI’s price has struggled to sustain momentum in recent sessions, falling 13% on the week to around $0.16. Analyst Ali believes the token may soon rebound, noting that a buy signal formed near the channel’s bottom at $0.15, with upside potential toward $0.23-$0.36.
On the 4-hour chart, RSI remains subdued at 37, signaling that bearish momentum may be easing, while MACD shows early signs of a bullish crossover. If SEI maintains its $0.15 floor, technicals could support a short-term recovery phase.
The Broader Picture
All three tokens — Zcash, ZKsync, and Sei — highlight how distinct narratives can drive market behavior even during macro uncertainty. Privacy, scalability, and speed are once again proving to be dominant themes in the altcoin market.
For traders eyeing the weekend, Zcash’s upcoming halving and strong momentum, ZKsync’s tokenomics overhaul, and Sei’s growing retail footprint make these projects stand out. With volatility likely to persist as global financial tensions deepen, these assets could be among the few that set the tone for the next leg of the market cycle.
