Winklevoss Twins File for Spot Zcash ETF After 13 Years of Crypto ETF Pursuit

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss have taken another step in their long journey through the crypto ETF space by filing for a spot Zcash ETF with the U.S. SEC. The filing, submitted on October 6, 2026, proposes a Nasdaq-listed product that would hold actual Zcash (ZEC) tokens rather than derivatives. This move comes more than 13 years after the twins first filed for a spot Bitcoin ETF in July 2013, marking their latest effort to bring a crypto-based exchange-traded fund to market.

The proposed ETF, named the WINK ETF, would use a cash creation and redemption model, allowing authorized participants to exchange dollars for ZEC. The filing follows the success of Grayscale’s Zcash ETF, which has already amassed over $900 million in assets under management since its launch. The Winklevoss twins’ interest in Zcash extends beyond this ETF, as their digital asset treasury firm, Cypherpunk Technologies, holds more than 290,062 ZEC, valued at approximately $152 million. This represents about 1.76% of Zcash’s circulating supply, with the firm aiming to eventually hold at least 5% of the total supply.

The news of the filing has coincided with a surge in ZEC’s price, which has rallied above 5% and is now trading at $1,357. Zcash has been one of the best-performing crypto assets this year, benefiting from increased demand for privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. The twins have further strengthened their connection to the project by bringing Zooko Wilcox, the founder of Zcash, on board as a strategic adviser.