XRP, Solana, or Zcash: Which Is the Best Crypto to Buy Before the Quarter Ends on September 30?

As September 30 approaches, two of the three major cryptocurrencies—XRP (CRYPTO:XRP), Solana (CRYPTO:SOL), and Zcash (CRYPTO:ZEC)—are set to receive major network upgrades, while the third had its moment earlier this year. This is the key factor for investors deciding where to allocate their funds this week.

The end of the quarter is significant because many funds assess their portfolios for reporting purposes on that date. This can lead to an increase in rebalancing transactions as traders adjust their holdings. As of September 22, XRP is priced at $1.57, Solana at $118, and Zcash at $1,520, with each coin entering this crucial period from a different position.

XRP Is Bouncing Back From the Senate Vote and Upgrades on September 29

XRP has risen 19.78% this week, climbing from $1.28 and making it the best performer of the three. However, this weekly surge reflects only a slight recovery, as the price has gained just 1.02% over the month and is down 16.48% from its December 31, 2025 closing price of $1.84. The recent climb mainly reverses losses incurred following a Senate vote on September 15.

The upcoming event for XRP is the activation of the Batch amendment on the XRP Ledger, which allows multiple transactions from different accounts to settle simultaneously or fail together. Validators have shown strong support, surpassing the 80% approval needed, and the amendment is set to go live at 14:06 UTC on September 29, provided this support holds.

Ripple has indicated that institutional investors are ready for this upgrade, which reduces the risk of a problematic launch and keeps demand stable.

For those considering buying XRP before the deadline, the current price reflects a recovery rather than a breakthrough. Anyone purchasing at $1.57 would essentially be buying into a recovery rather than anticipating new gains.

Solana Has Gained on Every Window and Activates Alpenglow on September 28

Solana stands out as the only one of the three coins that has gained in every recent evaluation period. The Solana price rose 23.10% this week, 24.90% for the month, and is down just 4.23% for the year, starting from $124—making it the least battered coin among the three year-to-date. While it’s still down 45.96% year over year, its recent performance sets it apart.

Solana’s upcoming upgrade, named Alpenglow, is designed to improve how the network’s validators agree on each block. This upgrade will be available on the mainnet starting September 28. Alpenglow will replace the current voting method with a new system called Votor, which aims to dramatically reduce transaction finality from about 12.8 seconds to roughly 150 milliseconds.

The activation of this upgrade will not occur all at once but will roll out over multiple epochs, the roughly 38-hour windows in which Solana’s validator set turns over, so the effect runs into early October.

Investors should keep in mind the price risk of purchasing Solana at $118. Scheduled upgrades typically see their prices rise in anticipation before the event. Given that the date was shared publicly on August 12, anyone buying now would be investing in something that has been on the market radar for six weeks.

Zcash Has Already Run 187% This Year and Has No Upgrade Due

Zcash is in a unique position, with impressive growth of 32.34% this week, 71.62% for the month, and an astounding 187.51% year-to-date, starting from $510—a staggering 2,908.51% increase over the past year. Unlike XRP and Solana, Zcash has already had its standout performance for the year.

However, Zcash lacks a network upgrade scheduled for the end of this quarter. Its recent surge is mainly attributed to the launch of Grayscale’s Zcash Trust ETF on August 25 and a coinholder vote on September 15 to reduce block time from 75 seconds to 25, which has a design deadline of September 30 but no specific activation date.

The main risk here is the magnitude of Zcash’s recent price increase. A coin that has surged by 71.62% in just a month could see a significant pullback if expectations are not met. As funds start rebalancing at quarter-end, the biggest gainers often face the greatest selling pressure.

Which Coin Should You Buy Before September 30?

In conclusion, we recommend Solana as the best buy heading into the last day of the third quarter. It has maintained gains this week and month, has the smallest annual dip at 4.23%, and its upgrade is scheduled for September 28, giving it time to respond before the quarter ends. While XRP’s recent performance bounces back from a low and Zcash has made exceptional gains without any upcoming events, the circumstances may not favor them as much.

For Solana, the downside risk is also very clear. Its low on September 15 was $96, about 19% below the current price, so a drop below that before activation would undermine the case for buying. If Solana stays above that level leading into September 28, it offers a solid chart pattern alongside a timely upgrade, with the quarter closing shortly after.

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