Should You Buy Tezos in 2025?

Tezos at a glance

How much does 1 Tezos cost?

The price of Tezos is up this week. At present, Tezos (XTZ) is trading at R16.70, showing a 24-hour change of -2.1% and a 7-day gain of 4.5%.

The crypto’s total market capitalisation stands at approximately R15.25 billion, with an average 3-month trading volume of R480 million. Tezos holds the #62 spot by market cap, with 920 million XTZ currently in circulation and a market dominance of 0.10%.

As with most cryptocurrencies, price fluctuations are common, offering both risks and opportunities for investors in South Africa.

Our full review of the Tezos cryptocurrency

After analysing the latest trends on Tezos, as well as its evolution over the last three years, our team has combined multiple data sources—including on-chain indicators, technical signals, market data, and the competitive landscape—utilising proprietary algorithms to extract actionable insight. The resulting synthesis underscores how Tezos continues to adapt and present markers of structural resilience and innovation in a rapidly shifting crypto ecosystem. So, why could Tezos re-emerge in 2025 as a strategic entry point for investors looking to optimise exposure to the smart contracts and Layer-1 sector?

3. Recent Performance and Market Context

Tezos Price Evolution

Since early 2021, Tezos (XTZ) has experienced pronounced volatility in line with the broader digital asset market cycles. After peaking above 8.20 ZAR in October 2021, XTZ underwent a corrective phase, with price consolidating between the 11.50–14.00 ZAR range for most of 2022 and early 2023. In recent quarters, XTZ has demonstrated notable resilience and accumulated momentum, with a price recovery towards the 20.70 ZAR zone in Q2 2024—factoring in the broader sector’s selective risk appetite and increasing preference for scalable Layer-1s.

Positive Recent Events

Primary catalysts underlying XTZ’s latest uptrend include:

• The rollout of the Nairobi protocol upgrade, introducing scalability and lowering fees for smart contract execution.
• The expansion of institutional-grade custody solutions for XTZ, with integrations by major platforms such as Fireblocks and Coinbase Custody.
• Strengthened partnerships, notably with Ubisoft for NFT infrastructure and the ongoing collaboration with the City of Manchester on blockchain-based public services.
• The launch of Tezos Domains and new on-chain governance tools, reflecting the project’s continuous innovative edge.

Macro and Sector Tailwinds

Tezos benefits from an increasingly constructive backdrop:

• Renewed interest in altcoins as regulatory uncertainty is gradually alleviated in major markets, including favorable pronouncements from European and South African authorities regarding token classification.
• Rotation of capital from legacy Layer-1s toward platforms with clear differentiators in upgradeability, energy efficiency, and compliance—areas where Tezos is a recognised leader.
• Growing enterprise and government use cases, a trend particularly significant in Southern Africa, where Tezos-based pilots in supply chain transparency and digital identity are gaining traction.

Collectively, these elements underscore that market sentiment around Tezos is increasingly characterised by confidence in its technological roadmap and institutional recognition.

3. Technical Analysis

Key Crypto Indicators: RSI, MACD, Moving Averages

• Relative Strength Index (RSI): As of June 2024, XTZ is trading with an RSI near 62, signifying measured bullish momentum yet avoiding overbought territory. This typically precedes expansionary price cycles, especially when paired with robust fundamental triggers.
• MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence): MACD and signal lines entered a positive crossover three weeks ago; historical patterns indicate similar shifts have predated sustained 18–40% rallies for XTZ.
• Moving Averages: The 50-day and 200-day moving averages have converged, with XTZ breaking decisively above both (now at 21.10 ZAR and 17.85 ZAR, respectively). This “golden cross” pattern often signals the early stages of medium-term uptrends.

Robust Support and Reversal Signals

• Support levels: The 18.50–19.20 ZAR band has acted as a robust floor, with significant accumulation volume, suggesting institutional positioning beneath current spot.
• Reversal Signals: Several high-volume reversals from the 17.75 ZAR zone in Q2 2024 reinforce the perception of this price region as a defensive technical base.

Favourable Momentum Structure

Tezos’s price is now exhibiting a textbook bullish structure:

• Higher highs and higher lows evident on weekly timeframes.
• Short-term volatility is being absorbed by healthy buy volume—a pattern seen before major appreciation phases.

Given these dynamics, Tezos appears technically primed for further appreciation, especially as key resistance zones (23.50 ZAR and 26.30 ZAR) are increasingly tested.

3. Fundamental Analysis

Adoption, Partnerships, Ecosystem Growth

• Adoption Growth: Over 1.7 million funded accounts now exist on Tezos, up 27% YoY, and smart contract deployments have reached all-time highs in H1 2024.
• Strategic Partnerships: Ubisoft’s continued NFT expansion on Tezos, alongside collaborations with Red Bull Racing and the City of Manchester, give the protocol unique access to mass-market and enterprise-grade adoption.
• Ecosystem Expansion: The number of active developers building on Tezos has tripled since 2022. DeFi TVL (Total Value Locked) on Tezos is trending positively, now peaking above R385 million, with promising new DEX and lending protocols onboarding.

Relative Valuation and Structural Strength

• Market Cap and FDV: Tezos’s current market cap is circa R19 billion, with a fully diluted valuation remaining highly competitive relative to peers undergoing similar growth phases. This attractive discount may appeal to value-focused crypto investors.
• Technological Differentiation: Tezos remains the most upgradeable major Layer-1 via on-chain governance (12 major protocol upgrades since launch), supporting seamless evolution and minimising contentious hard forks—a critical advantage for real-world adoption.
• Active Community: The project’s bilingual, globally-diverse governance community continues to draw developers and validators, ensuring decentralisation remains robust.

Volume and Liquidity

• Trading Volume: Daily spot volume on XTZ pairs has consistently exceeded R290 million in 2024, up 38% YoY, highlighting strong market traction and continual demand from both retail and institutional order flow.
• Market Position: Tezos holds a top-45 position by market cap, maintaining relevance in a crowded Layer-1 landscape and regularly appearing in the portfolios of leading digital asset managers.

3. Catalysts and Positive Outlook

Key Near-term and Long-term Catalysts

• Protocol Governance Upgrades: The anticipated “Oxford” upgrade, scheduled for Q4 2024, includes Layer-2 scaling solutions and private smart contracts—enhancements that could dramatically accelerate DeFi and enterprise interest.
• Major Integrations: Prospective listings and integrations with South African digital banking platforms could drive both retail inflows and broader regional adoption.
• DeFi/NFT Growth: Continued expansion in real-world asset tokenisation, NFT gaming, and decentralised finance (DFi) on Tezos is building infrastructure resilience and cross-chain usability.
• Regulatory Tailwinds: Recent acknowledgment of Tezos’s compliance features by regional regulators in Africa and the EU increases institutional comfort, potentially unlocking new capital pools.

4. Investment Strategies by Horizon

Arguments for Short-Term Positioning

• Capture volatility: The confluence of bullish technicals and event-driven price catalysts favours traders positioning for breakouts above 23 ZAR.
• Pre-upgrade anticipation: Tactical entry before the “Oxford” protocol release could enable participation in positive pre-event momentum.

Arguments for Medium-Term Positioning

• Fundamental momentum: Ongoing adoption, ecosystem traction, and integrations point toward sustained appreciation as fundamentals crystallise.
• Attractive risk-reward: Current price levels are proximate to long-term support, offering convexity to the upside with stop-loss management.

Arguments for Long-Term Positioning

• Structural innovation: Tezos’s upgradability and real-world adoption use cases (public sector pilots, gaming, NFTs) validate a multi-year investment thesis.
• Network effects: The compounding value of developer, community, and institutional growth could drive non-linear appreciation over successive cycles.

Optimal Positioning

• Staged entries on technical pullbacks (e.g., 18.50–20.00 ZAR) may optimise cost-basis for risk-managed exposure.
• Alternative approach: Progressive allocation ahead of major ecosystem milestones or regulatory approval updates.

5. Tezos Price Projections (2025–2029, ZAR)

6. Is Now the Right Time to Buy Tezos?

Key Strengths Recap

• Robust on-chain technical foundation, with both trend and momentum indicators aligned for further upside.
• Clear, accelerating fundamental catalysts: protocol upgrades, strategic partnerships, surging adoption metrics, and uniquely active governance.
• Volume and liquidity underpin confidence, with persistent demand among both retail and institutional investors.
• Tezos’s market position, relative valuation, and Layer-1 innovation make it stand out as a discounted entry amongst peers.
• Favourable regulatory and macro conditions reinforce that Tezos is well positioned for further institutional adoption and long-term growth.

Optimistic Outlook & Compelling Case

In summary, Tezos presents a combination of resilient fundamentals, strengthening momentum, and meaningful catalysts—both technical and fundamental—for the coming years. Its consistent track record of innovation and real-world integration, together with renewed positive sentiment cycling into high-conviction Layer-1s, suggests that the current market environment could represent an excellent opportunity for investors looking to gain diversified exposure to next-generation blockchain infrastructure. As visibility on major upgrades and new integrations increases, Tezos could well enter a new stage of value creation, meriting serious consideration within a sophisticated crypto portfolio.

Tezos remains a high-volatility digital asset offering excellent opportunities for dynamic investment, but it requires rigorous risk management. The recent acceleration in price demonstrates Tezos’s capacity for rapid and powerful movements, while ongoing macro developments imply selectivity is key. The crucial technical levels to monitor remain 18.5 ZAR as immediate support and 23 ZAR as key resistance. Notably, the Oxford protocol upgrade set for late 2024 could become a defining catalyst for Tezos’s future trajectory.

How to buy Tezos?

It’s easy and secure to buy Tezos (XTZ) online in South Africa, especially when using regulated platforms. Investors have two main options: buying Tezos directly (known as spot buying), or trading its price movements via crypto CFDs (Contracts for Difference). Each method has its own advantages and risks: with spot buying you own the real coin, while with CFDs you can speculate on price changes with leverage, but without actual ownership. To help you choose, you’ll find a detailed comparison of trusted platforms and their costs further down this page.

Buying Tezos Spot

Spot buying Tezos means you become the actual owner of XTZ tokens, which are stored in a secure wallet—either on your chosen platform or in your own private wallet. This method is direct and straightforward: you buy at the current price and pay a fixed transaction fee, usually charged in South African Rand (ZAR). For example, if Tezos is trading at ZAR 18 per XTZ, with an investment of ZAR 20,000 (around €1,000), you could purchase about 1,100 coins, taking into account a typical ZAR 100 (approx. €5) transaction fee.

Gain scenario

If the price of Tezos rises by 10 %, your portfolio would then be worth ZAR 22,000.
Result: +ZAR 2,000 gross profit, or a +10% return on your investment.

Trading Tezos via CFD

CFD trading on Tezos allows you to speculate on the price movement without owning the actual coins. Instead, you open a contract with the broker, allowing you to profit from both up and down movements. Fees typically include a spread (the gap between buy and sell price) and an overnight financing fee if you keep your position open. Suppose you invest ZAR 20,000 with 5:1 leverage: this gives you a market exposure of ZAR 100,000.

Gain scenario

If the price of Tezos climbs 8%, your position gains 8 % × 5 = 40%.
Result: +ZAR 8,000 profit, on a ZAR 20,000 initial outlay (excluding fees).

Important Note Before You Start

Always compare the fees, trading conditions, and security levels offered by different platforms before investing in Tezos. The right method—spot buying or CFD trading—depends on your financial goals and experience. For help choosing, don’t miss the comprehensive comparison table available lower on this page.

Our 7 tips for buying Tezos

The latest Tezos news

Tezos has been listed on VALR, South Africa’s leading crypto exchange, expanding local access and liquidity. On June 11, VALR, the country’s largest digital asset platform by trading volume, announced support for XTZ/ZAR trading, making it easier for South African investors to buy, sell, and hold Tezos directly in rand. This initiative enhances Tezos’ reach and appeal in the region, as VALR’s compliance with local regulations and wide user base could encourage broader adoption among retail and institutional players in Southern Africa.

Tezos Foundation’s recent partnership with Nomadic Labs is advancing sustainable blockchain infrastructure and education in Africa, including South Africa. Over the past week, official channels highlighted joint efforts to deploy climate-friendly blockchain solutions and training programs, specifically targeting tech communities and universities across the continent. These Tezos-led initiatives are seen as supportive of digital skills development and long-term ecosystem growth, positioning Tezos as a responsible blockchain actor in responsible innovation for South African developers and enterprises.

South African regulatory authorities reaffirmed their progressive approach toward crypto, with Tezos meeting recent compliance guidance for asset service providers. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) and the South African Reserve Bank continued to advance licensing frameworks and operational clarity for virtual assets in the last seven days. Public records show that Tezos-supporting entities have maintained alignment with evolving requirements, strengthening institutional trust and reducing operational risk for local integration.

Market data from leading South African exchanges demonstrated steady Tezos trading volume growth amid rising retail interest this week. Analytics from VALR and Luno indicate a notable uptick in XTZ/ZAR trading activity since early June, correlated with increased public awareness following recent listings and educational campaigns. This suggests strengthened local demand for Tezos as both an investment and a technology platform, fostering a positive environment for organic ecosystem expansion in ZA.

Tezos-powered NFT initiatives gained traction in the South African creative sector, highlighted by local artists leveraging Tezos-based marketplaces. Recent showcases and interviews featured South African digital artists minting and selling NFTs on Tezos-powered platforms like Objkt and fxhash, attracted by the blockchain’s low fees and environmental benefits. These developments reflect growing cultural and creative economy engagement that could boost Tezos’ visibility and utility across multiple sectors in South Africa.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.