News View Non-AMP

Whales Accumulate Top Privacy and AI Cryptos for Long-Term Gains

Published by
Steve Muchoki

Privacy cryptocurrencies such as Zcash (ZEC) and Horizen (ZEN) are seeing significant whale allocations as private-preserving tools see heightened demand. A similar appetite is evident for Artificial Intelligence (AI)-related tokens amid the industry’s massive growth. These include Bittensor (TAO), Render (RENDER), and NEAR Protocol (NEAR).

Whales are loading up on privacy and AI tokens

Grayscale Zcash Trust is one of the largest institutional vehicles for Zcash, now holding a total of 390,111 ZEC tokens (over 2.4% of the circulating supply) after it began accumulation in 2017. Cypherpunk Technologies holds 1.78% of the circulating supply, while Multicoin Capital holds a “significant position” in the same. ZEC now trades at $565.07, up 10.97% over the past week due to institutional interest.

Similarly, Grayscale is the top holder of ZEN with 961,450 ZEN tokens (5.3% of the circulating supply), having launched a trust in 2018. Its parent company, Digital Currency Group (DCG) was also an early investor in the project’s 2019 seed round.

As for AI tokens, once again, Grayscale is a major holder, having begun accumulation in 2021. The firm’s AI portfolio is mostly made of NEAR (32.56%), followed by TAO, RENDER, and Filecoin (FIL) at 26.49%, 22.18%, and 18.77%, respectively.

One whale wallet has been holding 17.01% of RENDER’s total supply since 2023. Meanwhile, venture capitalists such as a16z and Tiger Global Management hold a combined 14.38% of NEAR’s total supply, accumulated gradually since 2019.

Caveats

That said, some privacy cryptocurrencies, such as KnoxNet (KNX), are still viewed with caution due to their thin liquidity. Regulators are also not very friendly to the likes of Monero, since its full-privacy feature conflicts with anti-money-laundering requirements.

As for AI, some analysts still warn of an AI bubble forming, similar to that of the dot-com era. They argue that most AI investments are driven by speculative hype rather than actual infrastructure growth.

Trust with CoinPedia:

CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:

All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:

Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

Steve Muchoki

Steve is a crypto news writer with a passion for decoding market moves. He blends breaking blockchain news with sharp technical analysis and bold price predictions. From Bitcoin rallies to altcoin breakouts, Steve breaks it all down with clarity and insight. Whether you're a trader or just curious, his analysis keeps you ahead of the curve.

Recent Posts

Dogecoin Price Rebounds as Shiba Inu Gains Strength—Can DOGE Rally Higher This Month?

After consolidating within a pre-defined range, the Dogecoin price is showing early signs of recovery.…

July 26, 2026

Avalanche Price at a Crossroads: Short-Term Breakout Awaits Weekly Confirmation-What’s Next?

Avalanche (AVAX) price hovered near $6.65 after climbing more than 3% this week, recovering from…

July 26, 2026

XDC Price Near Multi-Year Demand Zone as AI Ecosystem Expands

The XDC price has spent months sliding from its 2025 peak of $0.1567 to around…

July 25, 2026

Dango Shutdown Marks Another Crypto Project Exit as DeFi Platform Winds Down Operations

The Dango shutdown is now official, ending months of uncertainty for the decentralized trading platform…

July 25, 2026

Gen Z Investors Are Rewriting TradFi Rules With a Disciplined NVIDIA-First Strategy

Forget the stereotype of young investors chasing meme trades. According to Binance Research, Gen Z…

July 25, 2026

Can Shiba Inu Price Recover as SHIB Burn Rate Surges?

Shiba Inu price is approaching another make-or-break moment as improving on-chain activity begins to challenge…

July 25, 2026