Bitcoin back above $81,000 as hike odds fade, Zcash leads with 15% jump

Bitcoin reclaimed levels above $81,000 after markets pared back the odds of further Fed rate hikes. The softer rate-hike outlook drove risk-on flows across crypto, with Zcash leading altcoins on a roughly 15% surge. The consensus implication is that Bitcoin’s near-term trajectory is increasingly tied to macro rate expectations—continued dovish signals could sustain upside, while a re‑pricing of tighter policy would likely reverse gains.