HYPE, ZEC Edge Higher — Hyperliquid And Zcash Are Challenging Crypto’s ‘Mount Rushmore,’ Says Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan

• Hougan said on Tuesday that Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Chainlink remained his crypto "Mount Rushmore."

• He noted that Hyperliquid was making a case to join the group, while Zcash was putting privacy back into focus.

• Hougan also pointed to Venus as an AI-linked contender and said he remained bullish on several DeFi assets.

Zcash (ZEC) and Hyperliquid (HYPE) edged higher on Wednesday, after Bitwise Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Matt Hougan said Hyperliquid and Zcash were increasingly challenging that lineup against what he called crypto's "Mount Rushmore."

In an interview with analyst Michaël van de Poppe on Tuesday, Hougan explained that while his crypto "Mount Rushmore" remained the four cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Chainlink (LINK), Hyperliquid and Zcash were increasingly challenging that lineup.

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"You certainly have Hyperliquid making its case to be chiseled into the Mount Rushmore," Hougan said. "Zcash is arguing that privacy should be on the Mount Rushmore," he added. He also pointed to Venice (VVV) as a contender tied to artificial intelligence (AI) and said he remained bullish on several decentralized finance (DeFi) assets.