Zcash's 164% rally and the launch of the Grayscale Zcash Trust ETF have propelled privacy coins to the top of the crypto market, marking a distinct rotation away from Bitcoin and other major sectors.
Zcash surged 164% in a month, driven by the Grayscale ETF launch and network upgrade, making it the top performer.
Bitcoin is down 7% year-to-date and 33% below its record, but rose 16% over the same period as Zcash.
Grayscale's Zcash Trust ETF attracted over $500 million, providing new U.S. investment access.
Monero doubled in a year and trades above $600, showing strength in privacy coins.
Dash rose 10% on September 15, contributing to the privacy sector's gains.
Hyperliquid is one of the few large cryptos above its October 6 price, but no specific news.
WhiteBIT's WBT is above its October 6 price, but no specific news.
Zcash has rallied 164% since August 20, reaching $1,505 and driving a 90% gain in the privacy coin sector. While Zcash accounts for 62% of this sector's market value, broader data confirms a legitimate rotation into privacy assets, with coins like Monero and Dash also showing sustained strength. Despite Bitcoin's year-to-date decline, privacy tokens remain the only crypto category trading above levels seen during Bitcoin's October 2025 peak.
While Zcash's 164% surge is the primary driver of the sector's 90% gain, the trend is broader. Excluding Zcash, the privacy sector remains 56% above its October 2025 levels, indicating a genuine rotation into the asset class.
Key catalysts include the launch of the Grayscale Zcash Trust ETF, which attracted over $500 million, a reduction in block times to 25 seconds, and public support from prominent industry figures like Paradigm's Matt Huang.