European asset manager 21Shares has launched the region's first exchange-traded product tied to Zcash, listed on Euronext Paris and Amsterdam. The physically backed ETP allows investors to gain exposure to ZEC through brokerage accounts without directly holding the cryptocurrency.
21Shares also introduced an ETP tracking ETHFI, the governance and utility token of Ether.fi, a decentralized finance protocol offering staking and crypto-based financial services. The ETHFI product is also physically backed and trades on the same exchanges.
Both ETPs carry an annual management fee of 2.5%, above the fees charged by many Bitcoin and Ether investment products in Europe.
The European launch follows the arrival of the Grayscale Zcash ETF in the United States, which trades on NYSE Arca under the ticker ZCSH. The expansion of Zcash products across regulated markets reflects growing institutional interest in the privacy coin.
Zcash has emerged as a standout performer in the crypto market, recently surging past $1,500 and gaining nearly 1,100% over the past year. The rally has brought renewed attention to the asset's potential, with Grayscale head of research Zach Pandl noting that Zcash could benefit from advantages that may help it overcome Bitcoin's entrenched network effects.
Mining interest in Zcash has also increased, with Fortitude Digital Mining reporting that it mined approximately 28% of all ZEC produced in the first half of 2026. The company cited Zcash's proof-of-work model, capped supply, and privacy features as reasons for its focus on the network.
