Cypherpunk Taps Zcash Founder Zooko as Strategic Advisor

Rhea-AI Summary

Cypherpunk Technologies (Nasdaq: CYPH) announced on December 9, 2025 that Zooko Wilcox, founder of Zcash and current Chief Product Officer of Shielded Labs, has joined as a Strategic Advisor.

Zooko will advise on privacy-preserving protocols, self-sovereign digital systems, and Cypherpunk's growing Zcash treasury, supporting the company's mission to advance privacy and economic freedom. Management highlights the appointment as part of a broader effort to assemble cryptographers and technologists to support Zcash and the global privacy ecosystem.

Market Reality Check

$1.16 Last Close

Volume Volume 7,831,339 is about 22% of the 20-day average 35,478,179, indicating subdued trading interest pre-announcement. low

Technical Shares at $1.16 are trading below the 200-day MA of $1.87 and sit 68.65% under the 52-week high.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Nov 18	Zcash treasury expansion	Positive	+22.2%	Significant ZEC purchase raising network share and adding two board members.

Pattern Detected

Limited data shows a strong positive price reaction to prior Zcash-focused treasury expansion news.

Recent Company History

Over the past few weeks, Cypherpunk has emphasized Zcash-centric strategy. On Nov 18, 2025, it disclosed purchasing 29,869.29 ZEC for $18 million, lifting holdings to 233,644.56 ZEC and representing 1.43% of the Zcash network, with a 22.22% 24-hour price gain. Today’s announcement of Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox as Strategic Advisor reinforces that privacy-focused, ZEC-oriented positioning and governance expertise.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock is surging +38.4% following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with Cypherpunk’s recent pattern of favorable responses to Zcash-focused developments, such as the prior news that saw a 22.22% move. Investors evaluating sustainability may weigh that shares still sit 68.65% below the 52-week high and trade below the 200-day MA, while insider activity over the last 90 days showed net selling of 3,228,956 shares.

Key Terms

decentralized systems technical

"track record of shaping modern cryptography, decentralized systems, and digital asset"

Decentralized systems are networks or structures where control and decision-making are distributed across many participants rather than concentrated in a single authority. This setup can make the system more resilient and resistant to failure or manipulation, much like a group effort where no single person has all the power. For investors, decentralized systems can offer increased transparency, security, and independence from traditional centralized institutions.

digital asset financial

"modern cryptography, decentralized systems, and digital asset governance"

A digital asset is a representation of value or rights that exists only in electronic form—like digital versions of cash, stocks, or collectibles kept in a virtual wallet. They are transferred and recorded using computer systems that make copying or tampering difficult, and can include currencies, tokenized shares, or unique digital items. Investors care because digital assets can offer new ways to diversify, trade and raise capital, but they also bring different risks around price swings, custody and regulation.

treasury financial

"guidance will be invaluable as Cypherpunk grows its Zcash treasury and supports"

The treasury is the department or area within a government or organization responsible for managing its money, finances, and financial strategies. It handles tasks like collecting revenue, paying bills, and planning for future financial needs, much like a household manages its budget. For investors, understanding the treasury is important because it influences interest rates, government spending, and overall economic stability.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cypherpunk Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: CYPH) today announced that industry pioneer Zooko Wilcox, the founder of Zcash, former CEO of the Electric Coin Company, and current Chief Product Officer of Shielded Labs, has joined the company as a Strategic Advisor.

Zooko brings a decades-long track record of shaping modern cryptography, decentralized systems, and digital asset governance. Zooko is widely respected for his pioneering work in privacy-preserving protocols and for founding Electric Coin Company, which launched and stewarded the Zcash protocol. As Strategic Advisor, Zooko will offer expert guidance on the future of self-sovereign digital systems, underscoring Cypherpunk's long-view approach and its commitment to the advancement of privacy and freedom.

"Cypherpunk's commitment to ZEC is a clear signal that user-controlled privacy is not a niche, it's a fundamental building block of a healthy and stable society. Cypherpunk is not just buying a digital asset; they are investing in the very principle of economic freedom that Zcash was built for." – Zooko Wilcox, Founder of Zcash and current Chief Product Officer of Shielded Labs

"As the founder of Zcash, Zooko intimately understands both the technical foundations and the philosophy behind privacy-preserving technology. His guidance will be invaluable as Cypherpunk grows its Zcash treasury and supports new privacy innovation that strengthens freedom and individual sovereignty. And this is only the beginning. We're assembling a world-class bench of cypherpunks, cryptographers, technologists, and thinkers committed to advancing Zcash and the global privacy ecosystem." – Will McEvoy, Chief Investment Officer of Cypherpunk

Cypherpunk is a company dedicated to privacy and self-sovereignty. As the world becomes increasingly digitized, privacy has become a rare and vanishing commodity. Despite this, privacy enhancing technologies remain under-adopted. Backing privacy today is both a generational mission and a massive opportunity. Privacy is the foundation that allows freedom of speech, thought, and association to thrive. Without it, these freedoms exist only on paper and can't be exercised in practice in a meaningful way. In other words, privacy is the silent precondition of freedom. 

About Cypherpunk

Cypherpunk Technologies Inc., previously known as Leap Therapeutics, Inc., is a company developing novel therapies for patients with cancer and implementing a digital asset treasury strategy focused on Zcash. Following a $58.88 million private placement led by Winklevoss Capital, the Company is aiming to build long-term shareholder value by acquiring ZEC, participating in the development of Zcash, and continuing the development of sirexatamab and FL-501 to treat patients with cancer. For more information about the Company, visit our websites at http://www.cypherpunk.com and http://www.leaptx.com or view our public filings with the SEC that are available via EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov or via https://investors.leaptx.com/.

About Winklevoss Capital

Winklevoss Capital is an investment firm founded in 2012 by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss that invests in frontier technologies.

Channels for Disclosure of Information
Going forward, we intend to announce material information to the public through filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the investor relations page on our website, press releases, public conference calls, public webcasts, our X account (@cypherpunktech), and our LinkedIn page. The information disclosed in the foregoing channels could be deemed to be material information. As such, we encourage investors, the media, and others to follow the channels listed above and to review the information disclosed through such channels. Any updates to the list of disclosure channels through which we will announce information will be posted on the investor relations page on our website.

Additional Information and Where to Find It
The Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A (as may be supplemented or amended, the "Definitive Proxy Statement") and a proxy card with respect to its solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held December 15, 2025 (the "Special Meeting"). The Definitive Proxy Statement contains important information about the matters to be voted on at the Special Meeting. STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY HAS FILED OR WILL FILE WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE MATTERS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE SPECIAL MEETING. Stockholders are able to obtain free copies of these documents, and other documents we file with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available at no charge in the Investors section of our website at http://www.cypherpunk.com or http://www.leaptx.com.

Participant Information
The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers are deemed to be "participants" (as defined in Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in the solicitation of proxies from the Company's stockholders in connection with the matters to be considered at the Special Meeting. Information about the compensation of our named executive officers and our non-employee directors as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 is set forth in the sections titled "Executive Compensation" and "Compensation of Directors" in the Definitive Proxy Statement. Information regarding the participants' holdings of Company securities can be found in the section titled "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" in the Definitive Proxy Statement.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "could," "may," "will," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "goal," "project," and other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements address various matters including statements relating to ZEC or digital assets held or to be held by the Company, the expected future market, price and liquidity of ZEC or other digital assets the Company acquires, the macro and political conditions surrounding Zcash or digital assets, the Company's plan for value creation and strategic advantages, market size and growth opportunities, regulatory conditions, competitive position and the interest of other corporations in similar business strategies, technological and market trends, and future financial condition and performance. Risks and uncertainties of the digital asset treasury strategy include, among others: (a) the risk that the Company will fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the digital asset treasury strategy; (b) changes in business, market, financial, political and regulatory conditions; (c) risks relating to the Company's operations and business, including the highly volatile nature of the price of cryptocurrencies, including ZEC; (d) the risk that the price of the Company's Common Stock may be highly correlated to the price of ZEC or other digital assets that it holds; (e) risks related to increased competition in the industries in which the Company does and will operate; (f) risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding digital assets generally; (g) risks relating to the treatment of crypto assets for U.S. and foreign tax purposes; and (h) the ability to comply with the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq"). New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. The Company may not actually achieve the forecasts disclosed in such forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, or as may be included in other reports or information we file with the SEC, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in its subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, advisors or representatives, undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

CONTACT:

Douglas E. Onsi
President & Chief Executive Officer
Cypherpunk Technologies Inc.
617-714-0360
donsi@leaptx.com

For Investors:
Matthew DeYoung
Investor Relations
Argot Partners
212-600-1902
leap@argotpartners.com

For Media:
Jacqueline Ortiz Ramsey
It Factor Strategies
954-294-3249
jacqueline@itfactorstrategies.com 

 

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SOURCE Cypherpunk Technologies Inc.

FAQ

What did Cypherpunk (CYPH) announce on December 9, 2025 about Zooko Wilcox?

Cypherpunk announced that Zooko Wilcox joined as a Strategic Advisor to advise on privacy technology and the company's Zcash treasury.

How will Zooko Wilcox advise Cypherpunk (CYPH) on Zcash and privacy technology?

He will provide expert guidance on privacy-preserving protocols, self-sovereign systems, and support for Cypherpunk's Zcash treasury and related innovation.

Does the Cypherpunk (CYPH) announcement indicate any financial transaction or capital raise?

No specific financial transactions, offering sizes, or capital-raising details were disclosed in the announcement.

What role does Cypherpunk (CYPH) say Zooko will play in its long-term strategy?

The company says Zooko will help shape its long-view approach to privacy, support Zcash stewardship, and advise its team of cryptographers and technologists.

Will Zooko Wilcox's appointment to Cypherpunk (CYPH) change the company's Zcash holdings immediately?

The announcement notes guidance and support for a growing Zcash treasury but does not state any immediate change in holdings or quantify amounts.

Where can investors find more information about Cypherpunk (CYPH) and this advisory appointment?

Investors can review Cypherpunk's public filings and investor communications for future updates; the announcement provides the advisor role and related strategic focus.