Zcash and Monero Become the Market’s Standout Coins of the Year
While much of the crypto market struggled this year, two assets moved in the opposite direction. Zcash and Monero quietly turned into the strongest large-cap performers, leaving Bitcoin and Ethereum behind.
Numbers That Break the Pattern
Since the beginning of the year, Zcash has gained roughly 600 percent. Monero followed with an increase of about 120 percent. Over the same period, Bitcoin declined by around 8 percent and Ethereum lost close to 15 percent. The divergence is difficult to ignore.By mid-December, Zcash was trading near $400 with a market capitalization of approximately $6.5 billion. Monero hovered around $430, pushing its market cap to nearly $7.9 billion. These levels place both assets firmly back into institutional and trader radar.
Still Far From Historical Highs
Despite the impressive gains, neither asset is close to its historical peak. Monero’s all-time high of about $520 dates back to 2021. Zcash peaked near $2,500 during its launch phase in 2016. The current rally reflects recovery and rotation, not speculative excess.Why Privacy Is Back
The renewed interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies comes amid tightening regulation, increased surveillance and growing discomfort with transparent blockchains. For some market participants, privacy is no longer a niche ideology but a practical hedge.Zcash and Monero benefit from different technical approaches, but both offer something increasingly scarce in crypto markets - transactional opacity that actually works in practice.
A Quiet Shift in Market Psychology
The contrast with Bitcoin and Ethereum is telling. As dominant networks mature, price action increasingly reflects macro pressure rather than innovation narratives. Privacy coins, by comparison, are being repriced as functional tools rather than speculative infrastructure bets.Conclusion
Zcash and Monero did not become coins of the year because of hype. They benefited from a slow, structural change in demand. In a market dominated by transparency and compliance, assets built around privacy found their moment. Whether the trend lasts is open, but the message from 2025 is clear: privacy still commands a premium.Editorial Team - CoinBotLab
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TOR access is recommended for maximum anonymity.