Privacy Takes the Throne: Zcash Overtakes Monero with a $6.2 Billion Market Value

Zcash (ZEC) has jumped 16% in the past day, reaching $435—a level not seen in eight years—and outpacing other privacy coins. Renewed enthusiasm for privacy-centric cryptocurrencies and endorsements from industry leaders have propelled ZEC’s market cap beyond $6.2 billion, overtaking Monero (XMR) and

(SHIB), as highlighted by TradingView’s analysis on . This upward movement is part of a wider surge in privacy-focused assets, with shielded transactions on the blockchain totaling 4.9 million ZEC—almost 30% of all coins in circulation, according to a .

The rally accelerated after influential figures in crypto spotlighted ZEC’s potential. BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes projected

could soar to $10,000, describing the trend as “unstoppable,” as reported by CoinPedia’s coverage of . Hayes’ optimism, along with similar predictions from Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz—who suggested Zcash might surpass in market value—has reignited both retail and institutional interest, according to a . Institutional appetite has also increased, with now overseeing $151.6 million in assets, providing regulated access to ZEC.

Zcash’s privacy capabilities, powered by zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs), enable users to conceal transaction information—a feature that has become more attractive as concerns about digital surveillance grow worldwide. The shielded pool on the network now represents the bulk of recent expansion, driven by the Orchard protocol, which is considered the most advanced version of Zcash’s privacy tech, per the TradingView report. Analysts point out that the growing use of shielded transactions indicates active privacy adoption, as users choose to protect their transactions rather than simply holding the coin, according to the same report.

Broader market trends have also played a role, including Zcash’s upcoming halving in November, which will cut block rewards by half and emulate Bitcoin’s scarcity mechanism—a detail noted in coverage of Grayscale’s Zcash Trust. At the same time, ongoing regulatory discussions about privacy tools have reinforced ZEC’s appeal. The U.S. Treasury’s recent request for feedback on privacy technologies and the EU’s controversial “chat control” proposals have heightened interest in assets that resist censorship, analysts observe.

Despite the bullish outlook, there are still risks. Zcash’s sharp price rise leaves it exposed to corrections, with a fall below $320–$330 possibly leading to a retreat toward $280–$300, according to a

. Furthermore, even though Zcash’s market cap has climbed 500% in a month, XRP’s $152.8 billion capitalization and strong institutional backing remain significant obstacles to the Helius CEO’s prediction, as previously mentioned.

The privacy-coin market as a whole is now valued at $22.7 billion, with ZEC leading the charge.

(DASH) and XMR have also seen gains of 22.2% and 3.6% respectively over the last 24 hours, based on a . However, the sector’s volatility highlights the speculative nature of the rally, which is being fueled by social media buzz and narrative-driven momentum, as discussed in a .

As Zcash nears the $500 mark, attention will turn to whether the appetite for privacy can maintain this upward trajectory. With institutional involvement on the rise and regulatory attention increasing, the next few months will reveal if Zcash’s “digital privacy premium” can deliver lasting value.