The privacy coin zcash (ZEC) blasted past the $700 range this weekend, tapping an intraday high of $741 per coin on Bitfinex. Over the past month, ZEC has rocketed 236% against the greenback, giving traders plenty to talk about.
Are Privacy Coins Being Crowned the Next Big Thing?
Zcash, the zero-knowledge proof-powered privacy coin, has been on a tear in recent weeks, pulling in a flood of interest. As of Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at 11 a.m. Eastern time, ZEC is going for $738 per coin on Bitfinex. It touched a high of $741 during the morning sessions, and ZEC has been powering ahead for weeks without letting up.
While 30-day data shows ZEC has climbed 236%, its year-to-date run — since Jan. 1, 2025 — puts it up 1,170% against the U.S. dollar. Even with today’s lofty range, it’s still not ZEC’s all-time peak, as its debut on exchanges sent it as high as $5,941 according to some accounts, and when this author reported on it on Oct. 29, 2016, it was trading near $5,000 per coin.
Coingecko data lists ZEC’s all-time high, based on that platform’s aggregation, at $3,191 per unit, and today’s prices sit 77% below levels seen roughly nine years ago. ZEC now ranks as the 12th largest digital asset in the crypto economy, boasting a market cap of roughly $11.77 billion. While ZEC has climbed more than 11% in the past 24 hours, monero ( XMR) has slipped 9% over the same stretch.
Other privacy-focused coins are enjoying a lift, with DASH up 19% and DCR gaining 7.3%. RAIL tacked on 2.7%, ZEN nudged 1.6% higher, and ZANO inched up 0.5% during the same 24-hour stretch. A circulating rumor claims privacy coins are the next big wave in crypto, and voices like Arthur Hayes, Andrew Tate, and Edward Snowden have all chimed in with praise for the trend.
ZEC’s breakout run has stirred fresh chatter around the privacy sector, giving long-time advocates something to cheer about as traders hunt for the next narrative. With OGs and big names boosting the hype and a roster of privacy coins flashing green, the momentum has shown no sign of cooling. Still, separating signal from noise remains crucial as the market loves to spin tales faster than facts these days.
FAQ ❓
Zcash is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that uses zero-knowledge proofs to enable shielded transactions.
- Why is zcash trending today?
ZEC is drawing attention after hitting $741 on Bitfinex and posting massive monthly and year-to-date gains.
- How big is zcash’s market now?
ZEC holds a market cap of roughly $11.77 billion, making it the 12th largest crypto asset.
- Are other privacy coins moving too?
Yes, DASH, DCR, RAIL, ZEN, and ZANO all saw gains as interest in privacy tokens grows.
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