While much of the crypto market has slipped into a downturn, traders are turning their attention to privacy tokens, with Zcash (ZEC) leading the charge.
According to CoinMarketCap data, ZEC surged to a high of $655 early Friday before cooling to $632 at the time of writing. With a market capitalization of roughly $10.3 billion, Zcash now ranks as the 12th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.
ZEC has gained nearly 23% in the past 24 hours and over 63% in the past week, extending a breakout rally that has transformed the once-overlooked privacy coin into the frontrunner of 2025’s “privacy revival.” The trend is reshaping conversations around financial autonomy and surveillance-resistant crypto.
Privacy Tokens Outperform as Bitcoin and Ether Consolidate
While Bitcoin (BTC) holds near $99,562 and Ether (ETH) trades around $3,234, market focus has shifted to privacy-focused assets.
Zcash has outpaced rivals such as Monero (XMR), which is currently trading at $355.18.
CoinMarketCap data shows other privacy tokens also posting strong weekly gains:
Dash (DASH): up 141%
Decred (DCR): up 96%
ZKsync (ZK): up 122%
Monero (XMR): up 12%, comparatively modest growth among its peers
Once considered the benchmark for privacy coins, Monero has faced liquidity issues and exchange delistings amid increased regulatory scrutiny.
Zcash’s Dual-Mode Advantage
Zcash’s strength lies in its dual-mode transaction design, offering both transparent and shielded addresses.
This hybrid model allows Zcash to maintain privacy features while remaining compatible with regulated exchanges and institutional custody providers, making it a more attractive option for investors seeking privacy without regulatory risk.
Industry Endorsements Drive Narrative
Zcash’s resurgence has been bolstered by prominent crypto figures such as Arthur Hayes, Naval Ravikant, Mert Mumtaz, and Threadguy, who have championed privacy as crypto’s next major narrative.
Their advocacy through posts and podcasts has amplified the idea that Zcash’s zero-knowledge proof technology represents a pure, decentralized value transfer model that can still thrive in a tightened regulatory environment.
On Cointelegraph’s Chain Reaction show, Zcash Foundation Executive Director Alex Bornstein clarified that neither the foundation nor the Electric Coin Company paid influencers to promote ZEC. He described the recent surge in attention as a grassroots cultural shift, not a coordinated campaign.
Skepticism Remains
Not everyone shares the optimism.
Samson Mow, CEO of Jan3 and a staunch Bitcoin advocate, cautioned Zcash investors to “figure out” their positions. Comparing Zcash to Dogecoin, Mow suggested that ZEC holders take profits and move into BTC instead.
