Altcoins

Bankless Co-founder Highlights Zcash (ZEC) and NEAR Protocol (NEAR) as Key Altcoins

David Hoffman, co-founder of Bankless, has reiterated his bullish outlook on Zcash (ZEC) and NEAR Protocol (NEAR). His previous recommendations, including LIT (+293%), NEAR (+223%), and ZEC (+173%), have already shown significant gains, suggesting potential further interest.

Thursday, September 24, 2026ZECNEARHYPE
Issue cover: Biturai Daily Market Brief: Institutional Inflows Bolster Bitcoin Despite Price Dip
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David Hoffman reiterates his bullish stance on Zcash (ZEC) and NEAR Protocol (NEAR).

His previous recommendations saw gains over 100% (LIT +293%, NEAR +223%, ZEC +173%, HYPE +106%).

Hoffman compares ZEC to Ethereum's 2021 performance.

NEAR is labeled a 'new consensus anchor for smart contracts'.

Story

David Hoffman, co-founder of Bankless, has once again reiterated his bullish outlook on Zcash (ZEC) and NEAR Protocol (NEAR). He previously reallocated funds to several assets in June, including NEAR, ZEC, HYPE, and LIT, all of which have since seen sharp gains, with LIT up 293%, NEAR up 223%, ZEC up 173%, and HYPE up 106%. Hoffman stated, "ZEC in 2026 is what ETH was in 2021," and labeled NEAR a "new consensus anchor for smart contracts," noting its buying pressure is likely driven primarily by retail investors. This renewed endorsement from an influential figure in the crypto space could draw further attention and capital to these specific altcoins. The strong performance of his previous picks lends weight to his current statements and could bolster market confidence in ZEC and NEAR.

Issue context

The crypto market demonstrates resilience as Bitcoin ETFs continue to attract significant capital inflows despite a recent price dip. This indicates sustained institutional interest, which could act as a crucial support mechanism for Bitcoin's price structure. Concurrently, the impending quarterly expiry of Bitcoin and Ethereum options may introduce heightened short-term volatility as traders adjust their positions.

Sustained institutional inflows into Bitcoin ETFs suggest underlying demand that may cushion price dips. However, be mindful of the upcoming options expiries, which could introduce heightened market volatility in the short term. Your positions may be affected by these movements, so exercise caution.

Market pulse

Fear & Greed

71

Greed

BTC Funding

+0.0042%

20 perp markets · OI $62B

BTC Open Interest

$62B

Top venue Binance (Futures) · 24h vol $104.6B · basis +0.035%

ETH Funding

+0.0059%

20 perp markets · OI $40.3B

More from this issue

This story is part of the Biturai Market Brief and is for informational purposes only. No investment advice.