Zcash, Pudgy Penguins, and DeXe Lead Crypto Momentum Rankings

CoinMarketCap’s momentum tracker flagged three standout performers this week, Zcash (ZEC), Pudgy Penguins (PENGU), and DeXe (DEXE), as traders piled into privacy plays, NFT utilities, and social trading tokens.

Zcash Surges on Privacy Narrative

Zcash has been the week’s top gainer, soaring 64% in 24 hours and nearly 150% over seven days, lifting its market capitalization to $2.38 billion. The rally follows the rollout of the Zashi CrossPay upgrade on September 16, which enabled shielded transactions across chains. Since then, shielded ZEC volume has jumped 15%.

High-profile endorsements from investors such as Naval Ravikant further fueled the momentum, with social media mentions rising more than 340%. Zcash broke through its $140 resistance level, a high not seen since 2022. While its RSI reading of 74 signals short-term overbought conditions, the spike in shielded activity suggests more than just speculative buying. Traders are watching the October 5 SEC decision on a Zcash ETF proposal from 21Shares as the next catalyst.

Pudgy Penguins Blend Culture and Utility

NFT brand Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) also gained traction, rising 13.7% daily and 11.8% weekly. A headline partnership with Lufthansa on September 27 allowed travelers to redeem flight miles using PENGU, blending meme culture with mainstream adoption.

The token’s floor price climbed 15% amid a rebound in the broader NFT market, which posted $129 million in weekly sales. On-chain data confirmed a 128% spike in trading volumes, with retail activity leading the charge. Technical indicators, including a MACD bullish crossover, suggest accumulation. Looking ahead, the Q4 beta launch of Pudgy World, a metaverse project built on ZKsync, could further expand the brand’s ecosystem.

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DeXe Rides Social Trading Wave

DeXe, a protocol for decentralized asset and portfolio management, saw its price jump 27% in 24 hours and 26% over the week, reaching a market cap near $996 million. Whale addresses accumulated over $15 million in DEXE tokens across Binance and OKX, signaling strong institutional interest.

Momentum was further boosted by the launch of AgentBound Tokens on September 28 and the integration of TheONETradeAI, which drove volumes up 322%. DeXe now reports 59 million monthly active users, a figure approaching eToro’s scale. With RSI levels at 91, profit-taking risks are rising, but attention is turning to the October 10 governance vote on staking APY adjustments, which could shape its near-term trajectory.

Outlook

Zcash’s regulatory milestones, Pudgy Penguins’ real-world partnerships, and DeXe’s growing institutional appeal show how different narratives, from privacy to culture to social finance, are converging to drive crypto momentum. Each carries distinct risks, but together they highlight the expanding diversity of catalysts across the digital asset landscape.