Blockchain analytics firm Santiment highlighted the five most discussed crypto-related topics on Friday, with privacy coins taking center stage after Zcash (ZEC) surged past $730, reaching a seven-year high.
Privacy coins hit multi-year highs
Zcash climbed above $730 this week, pushing its market capitalization to $10 billion following a remarkable 15x rally since September. The token has surged over 200% in the past 30 days and 25% in the last seven days.
Dash followed closely, touching a three-year high as investors increasingly focused on privacy as a key narrative within the crypto market. Santiment noted that projects like Zcash and Monero are leading this resurgence, with traders interpreting the trend as an early sign of an upcoming altcoin season driven by privacy and institutional interest.
Bitwise’s recent Spot DOGE ETF filing also fueled optimism among Dogecoin holders, though DOGE fell 3.4% this week. Other notable gainers included SOON, ICP, and FIL, which posted strong short-term rallies amid renewed market activity.
Bitcoin retreats as altcoins gain ground
Bitcoin fell 7% this week, hovering near the $102,000 level as altcoins captured greater investor attention. Santiment observed that market momentum is “clearly shifting away from Bitcoin dominance.” The decline was exacerbated by institutional selling and options expirations, adding further pressure on BTC’s short-term price action.
GTA delay dampens market sentiment
Rockstar Games’ announcement delaying Grand Theft Auto VI until November 19, 2026, rattled investors and triggered a 10% drop in Take-Two Interactive shares. The delay contributed to broader risk-off sentiment in the equities and crypto markets, already weighed down by volatility and shifting liquidity flows.
On prediction markets, Polymarket traders priced a nearly 48% probability that Bitcoin could reach $1 million before GTA 6’s release a sign of speculative optimism despite the market’s uncertain tone.
Kazakhstan unveils $1 billion national crypto fund
In a major policy move, Kazakhstan revealed plans to establish a $1 billion national crypto reserve fund by early 2026. The fund will be financed through seized and repatriated assets, as well as revenues from state-backed mining operations. Unlike sovereign strategies seen elsewhere, the Kazakh fund will avoid direct Bitcoin exposure, focusing instead on crypto ETFs and blockchain-related companies.
Base ecosystem and stablecoin shift
Santiment also noted the continued expansion of the Base ecosystem, which is attracting developers building new dApps, AI-driven agents, and DeFi tools. Meanwhile, USDC has surpassed USDT in on-chain transaction volume, reflecting increased adoption following several major payment integrations.
Overall, Santiment’s analysis suggests that market sentiment is undergoing a notable shift from Bitcoin dominance toward alternative narratives centered on privacy, real-world asset integration, and institutional-grade crypto infrastructure.
