Zcash Soars to 3-Year High as Privacy Hedge Against Bitcoin

Zcash has emerged as the standout performer in the cryptocurrency markets, with CoinGecko data showing the privacy coin surging 63% in 24 hours to reach over $121—its highest price point since April 2022. The rally represents Zcash’s most significant price movement in three years, with the coin also posting a remarkable 107% gain over a seven-day period. This performance makes Zcash the biggest winner in percentage gains across major digital assets during this timeframe.

Despite the impressive recent momentum, Zcash remains dramatically below its historical peak. The coin currently trades 96% below its 2016 all-time high of nearly $3,193, highlighting both the volatility of cryptocurrency markets and the substantial ground Zcash would need to recover to reach previous valuation levels. With a market capitalization exceeding $1.8 billion, Zcash now ranks as the 82nd largest digital currency by market value.

The surge in Zcash’s price coincides with influential commentary from prominent figures in the crypto and technology sectors. Entrepreneur and AngelList founder Naval Ravikant articulated a compelling narrative for Zcash’s utility, stating that while “Bitcoin is insurance against fiat,” Zcash serves as “insurance against Bitcoin.” This framing positions Zcash as a protective measure against potential vulnerabilities in Bitcoin’s transparent blockchain architecture.

Former Coinbase engineer and Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz reinforced this perspective, noting that Zcash was gaining popularity as “CBDCs and centralized coins accelerate.” Mumtaz emphasized the critical importance of privacy in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, stating: “Simply: a world where crypto succeeds but privacy doesn’t is a dystopian nightmare—we have no choice. Private money has to work.” These statements reflect growing concerns among crypto participants about the potential for bad actors or governments to surveil Bitcoin users due to the coin’s transparent nature.

The timing of Zcash’s rally intersects with broader discussions about central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and their implications for financial privacy. CBDCs—digital currencies managed by central banks rather than decentralized networks—have faced significant opposition within the cryptocurrency community. The political dimension of this debate became particularly evident when President Donald Trump stated during his campaign that he would never allow a CBDC in the United States, later signing an executive order in January prohibiting “the establishment, issuance, circulation, and use of a CBDC within the jurisdiction of the United States.”

Zcash’s technological foundation provides the backbone for its privacy proposition. As a privacy coin, Zcash enables users to send and receive money privately by encrypting transaction information using zero-knowledge proofs—a cryptographic method that proves something is known without revealing the known information directly. This technology stands in stark contrast to Bitcoin’s transparent blockchain, where transaction details are publicly visible, creating what some observers see as surveillance vulnerabilities that Zcash is positioned to address.