- ZEC, NEAR, and ARGUS are the top 3 trending crypto today, with ARGUS and PENGU showing mixed momentum.
- In the past 24 hours, ZEC surged 20.7%, NEAR rose 13.9%, ARGUS fell 34.9%, and PENGU surged 4.8%.
- These moves raise questions why small tokens are attracting attention despite different price structures.
Zcash (ZEC), Argus (ARGUS) and Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) are drawing attention among CoinGecko’s top trending crypto coins today as their price action shows sharply different momentum. ZEC is leading with a 20.7% gain, while ARGUS has surged 9.5% but remains sharply down over the longer period.
PENGU has gained 4.8%, although its recent momentum appears to be weakening. The contrasting moves raise questions about why these tokens are trending despite their very different price structures.
Why Is Zcash Price Surging 20.7% Today?
On September 17, 2026, CoinGecko’s top global trending cryptocurrencies show Zcash ranking No. 1. At press time, ZEC was trading at $1,355.32 after recording about 20.7% gain in the past 24 hours.
Source: CoinGecko
The privacy-focused cryptocurrency rose to a high of around $1,388-$1,399 during the session, bringing its market cap to $23B and elevating it to roughly the 10th-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. In the same period, trading volume has more than doubled to $2.6B, indicating increased activity.
Meanwhile, there are three main factors behind the recent Zcash price surge and traction. Grayscale’s ZCSH spot Zcash ETF has attracted substantial institutional capital, while overwhelming support for Network Upgrade 7 has boosted confidence in Zcash’s technical roadmap. In addition, the short liquidations for more than $45 million have fueled the rally by forcing a buy, and the overall narrative around privacy coins has given ZEC further attention.
Why Are Argus and Pudgy Penguins Trending Despite Mixed Momentum?
Both Argus and Pudgy Penguins are also trending in CoinGecko’s search trends indicating heightened awareness despite mixed price signals compared to Zcash’s more defined uptrend. ARGUS has posted strong short-term gains of about 4%, despite falling about 34.9% in the past 24 hours, and remains more than 50% below its September 16 all-time high near $0.0376.
Drivers of Argus’s current attention and rebound include Arc mainnet activity, Uniswap v4 pool mechanics with tax hooks and USDC revenue sharing, platform fee buybacks and burns of ARGUS, recent exchange listings, and high search interest as traders explore the Circle-backed ecosystem.
Furthermore, PENGU has recorded small gains, around 5% following lower relative performance over the last week. The token continues to trade well below its all-time high from late 2024, and momentum is more subdued. Supporting factors for the current mild upside and search attention include its established brand, ongoing community engagement, merchandise and real-world expansion, and a recent New York City happy hour.
ZEC vs ARGUS vs PENGU: Price, Market Cap and Trading Activity
ZEC, ARGUS and PENGU show sharp differences in price moves, market capitalization and trading activity. At press time Zcash was trading at $1,355.32, with a market cap near $23B and a $2.64B 24-hour volume. ARGUS was trading at $0.01806, with a $18.4B market cap and approximately $23M in trading volume, while PENGU was trading at $0.007242, with a market cap of $454M and about $179M trading volume.
The tokens’ price moves do not appear equally driven. Zcash features size, solid liquidity, and tangible catalysts. Argus presents high-risk, high-return volatility as expected from a speculative early stage token. PENGU offers brand supported moderate mid-cap activity. These are the structural differences that explain why the three tokens are trending and simultaneously provide a different risk and reward profile.
What Is Driving Crypto Attention and Key Levels to Watch Next?
Smaller-cap tokens like ARGUS and PENGU attract speculative and retail interest and are getting attention because of asymmetric risk-reward cycles and moves in the real world that expand on IPs. For ARGUS, key levels to watch include support near $0.0150 and resistance around $0.0220, while social volume trends, exchange listings and low-liquidity order book depth remain important catalysts.
Meanwhile, $0.0068 is the key support level for PENGU, while $0.0080 is the key resistance level, as well as market sentiment in the NFT sector and the potential launch of IP licenses and expansion of the ecosystem.
Related: Zcash Wants to Burn Fees and Recycle Them Into Miner Rewards
Related: Top 3 Trending Cryptocurrencies Today: Lisk Explodes 764.7% as Pons Falls
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.
