- NEAR: ETF-driven demand and strong growth fuel one of crypto’s strongest rallies.
- ADA: Rising network activity and whale accumulation support a potential recovery.
- ZEC: NU7 upgrade catalyst could renew interest despite recent price weakness.
Several cryptocurrencies are showing renewed strength as October enters the final stretch. While many digital assets struggled to maintain gains during recent market swings, a few names continued to attract attention through strong price action, growing network activity, and major upcoming catalysts. NEAR Protocol, Cardano, and Zcash each offer a different investment story. Together, they represent three coins worth watching as traders search for momentum and potential opportunities in the weeks ahead.
NEAR Protocol (NEAR)
NEAR stands out as one of the strongest performers among large-cap cryptocurrencies. The token gained nearly 8% during the last day and more than 11% over the week, even as much of the market moved lower. Year-to-date performance remains impressive, with gains exceeding 245%. Price has also advanced sharply since September, climbing from below $2 to above $5. A key driver behind this move comes from institutional demand. The launch of the first US spot NEAR ETF brought a fresh source of buying pressure. Since ETF creations require direct purchases of NEAR, new inflows can reduce available supply. Beyond price performance, network development continues to support the bullish case. Growth around NEAR Intents and ongoing interest in artificial intelligence-related blockchain projects have strengthened market confidence and expanded investor interest.
Cardano (ADA)
Cardano has delivered one of the strongest recoveries among major cryptocurrencies this week. After reaching a multi-month high near $0.28, ADA faced heavy selling pressure and briefly fell to $0.23. Buyers quickly returned, pushing price higher and helping the token regain positive weekly performance. What makes this recovery notable is the contrast between network activity and previous price weakness. Daily active addresses increased while ADA declined, creating a divergence that often points toward improving demand. Large holders have also been adding to positions. Several developments have helped support sentiment, including Cardano’s RealFi initiative, a Mastercard partnership, and a proposal aimed at reducing network fees.
Zcash (ZEC)
Zcash offers a different setup from NEAR and ADA. Recent performance has been weaker, with price declining during the week. Even so, yearly gains remain substantial, showing that longer-term momentum has not disappeared. The main attraction for traders is a major upcoming network upgrade. The NU7 upgrade is scheduled for activation on 20 October and introduces faster shielded transactions along with infrastructure improvements for future development. The upgrade also includes a sustainability feature designed to support long-term network security. Large protocol upgrades often attract speculative interest before launch. With activation approaching, ZEC could remain on many traders’ watchlists despite recent weakness.
NEAR leads through institutional adoption and strong price momentum. Cardano combines improving network activity with a recovering chart structure. Zcash enters a critical period ahead of a significant upgrade. Together, these three coins present distinct opportunities for traders seeking momentum-driven setups.