Winklevoss Twins Seek Spot Zcash ETF After 13 Years of Crypto Advocacy

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss have taken another step in their long journey with crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by filing a proposal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a spot Zcash ETF. The move comes more than 13 years after their first attempt to introduce a spot Bitcoin ETF in July 2013. The new product, listed on Nasdaq, would hold actual ZEC tokens rather than derivatives, following a cash creation and redemption model.

The filing was confirmed by ETF expert Nate Geraci, who noted that Winklevoss Asset Services submitted a Form S-1 registration statement on October 6, 2026. This development arrives as Zcash has seen a rally, with its native token ZEC climbing over 5% and trading at $1,357. The Winklevoss twins' interest in Zcash extends beyond the ETF, as their digital asset treasury firm, Cypherpunk Technologies, holds more than 290,062 ZEC, valued at roughly $152 million. This represents about 1.76% of Zcash's circulating supply, with the firm aiming to hold at least 5% of the total supply in the long term.

The twins have also strengthened their connection to the project by bringing in Zooko Wilcox, the founder of Zcash, as a strategic adviser. The new ETF filing has further boosted demand for ZEC, which has been one of the best-performing crypto assets this year. The token is trading near $1,350, recovering from its summer decline, as some traders seek privacy features that Zcash offers over Bitcoin.