VanEck CEO: Why Bitcoin OGs Are Moving to Zcash

The Shift of the "OGs"

On CNBC's "Power Lunch" (Nov 21-22, 2025), Jan van Eck, CEO of VanEck, made a startling observation: many Bitcoin "OGs" (early adopters and maximalists) are quietly moving their capital to Zcash.

The Bitcoin Vulnerability

VanEck highlighted a growing concern in the crypto community:

• Quantum Threat: Bitcoin's core encryption could be vulnerable to quantum computing if not upgraded in time.
• Lack of Privacy: Bitcoin's transparent ledger has become a liability. With 9-10% of BTC now in regulated ETFs or government custody, the "decentralized" appeal is fading for purists.

Why Zcash?

According to VanEck, Zcash offers what Bitcoin was originally meant to be: digital cash.

• True Anonymity: Zcash's "shielded" transactions offer mathematical privacy that Bitcoin cannot match.
• User Experience: Recent integrations like NEAR Intents have made swapping BTC for ZEC seamless and non-custodial.
• Market Reaction: This narrative shift has driven ZEC transaction volumes to temporarily surpass BTC ($390M vs $272M over 30 days) and pushed the price to new highs.

Conclusion

If Bitcoin fails to address its privacy and security flaws, VanEck warned he might "exit Bitcoin." For now, the smart money seems to be hedging with Zcash.