Winklevoss Twins Seek Zcash ETF After Decade-Long Bitcoin Push
MissedBlock Desk · · 2 min read
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Winklevoss Twins Seek SEC Approval for Spot Zcash ETF
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss have submitted a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch the WINK spot Zcash Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) on the Nasdaq. This move marks the latest endeavor by the prominent cryptocurrency investors into the ETF market, occurring over 13 years after their initial proposal for a spot Bitcoin ETF.
The proposed WINK ETF would directly hold actual Zcash (ZEC) cryptocurrency, distinguishing it from funds that rely on futures contracts or other crypto derivatives. The fund is slated to operate on a cash creation and redemption model, where authorized participants would supply U.S. dollars, which the fund would then use to acquire ZEC.
The announcement comes as the native Zcash token, ZEC, has seen a significant rally, surging over 5% to trade around $1,357.
Nate Geraci, an ETF expert, confirmed that Winklevoss Asset Services filed a Form S-1 registration statement with the SEC on October 6, 2026, for the WINK ETF. This filing underscores the Winklevoss twins’ long-standing engagement with the cryptocurrency ETF landscape, dating back to July 2013 when they submitted one of the earliest proposals for a spot Bitcoin ETF.
The timing of this new filing also coincides with the success of Grayscale’s Zcash ETF, which has reportedly amassed over $900 million in assets under management since its inception.
The Winklevosses’ commitment to Zcash extends beyond the proposed ETF. Their publicly traded digital asset treasury firm, Cypherpunk Technologies, has accumulated a substantial holding of over 290,062 ZEC, valued at approximately $152 million. This represents about 1.76% of Zcash’s circulating supply, with the company aiming to hold at least 5% of the total supply in the long term.
Further solidifying their connection to the Zcash project, the twins have appointed Zooko Wilcox, the founder of Zcash, as a strategic advisor.
The news of the spot ETF filing has amplified existing buying interest in ZEC, which has already been a strong performer among cryptocurrency assets this year. The token is currently trading near $1,350, having recovered robustly from a summer downturn. Increased demand for ZEC is also attributed to traders seeking enhanced privacy features compared to Bitcoin.