
Jakarta, Pintu News – Privacy is again a hot issue in the global crypto world, and privacy tokens such as Zcash are suddenly in the center of investor attention. In the past month, the privacy coin category has seen a remarkable surge in value, fueled by global concerns about digital surveillance and big tech’s increasingly aggressive policy of collecting user data.
Amidst the downward pressure of the cryptocurrency market, Zcash recorded a gain of up to 375%, outperforming Monero (XMR) and regaining the lead as the largest privacy token by market capitalization. This phenomenon is starting to be seen as a sign of resurgent demand for technologies that prioritize anonymity, identity security, and data protection.
Zcash (ZEC), one of the earliest privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, scored an explosive rise in October, from a price of under $80 to around $380, a jump of around 375%.
This dramatic rise comes despite the overall crypto market facing pressure from the US President’s tariff policies as well as a massive $19 billion liquidation that rattled investor sentiment. The surge marks a drastic change in momentum for privacy tokens, which were previously under pressure from increasingly stringent global regulations.
At the same time, the privacy coin category recorded a combined capitalization of nearly $22 billion according to CoinGecko, while CoinMarketCap counted more than $55 billion, with Zcash leading the category.
This resurgence is due not only to speculation, but also to the increasing use of privacy features such as “shielded supply” which reached 4.9 million ZECs, close to 30% of the total supply. This data shows the accelerated adoption of privacy technologies by users who are increasingly aware of the risks of digital surveillance.

One of the main drivers of ZEC’s rise is the increase in private transactions through shielded addresses. The zk-SNARK technology used by Zcash allows funds to be sent without exposing the sender, recipient, or transaction amount.
Every transaction that goes into the shielded pool expands the “anonymity set”, strengthening network privacy for all users. With a shielded pool approaching 4.9 million ZEC, the Zcash ecosystem is at the highest level of protection in its history.
In addition, Electric Coin Company updated its Zashi wallet with Near Intents integration that enables cross-chain transactions with high privacy. This update makes it easier to move funds without having to go through a centralized exchange, increasing convenience for users who want stronger privacy. In a single day in early October, Zcash’s transaction volume through Near Intents reached more than $17 million, marking rapid adoption by the community.
Also read: 10 Altcoins that Crashed During November 2025
The rise of privacy tokens also relates to growing public concern over government policies and big tech companies. The European Union pushed through a “Chat Control” proposal that would have required scanning of encrypted messages, while Meta re-trained AI models using user data in Europe. This situation raises major concerns about the loss of digital privacy boundaries, making privacy technology more relevant.
Crypto experts explain that regulation only emphasizes the value of privacy coins. According to Marko Stokić of Oasis Protocol, the need for “programmable privacy” is becoming stronger, where users can enjoy default privacy but still be able to disclose information when legally required. This represents an effort to build a privacy system that is compliant with regulations while still protecting users.
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In the past, privacy in crypto was often considered the domain of cypherpunks and traders who wanted complete anonymity. Now, privacy is becoming a mainstream necessity as KYC, blockchain analytics, and transaction tracking engines become more sophisticated. Analytics companies are able to connect user identities, monitor transaction patterns, and predict the movement of funds to exchanges with high accuracy.
Regulatory pressure is also increasing. In the US, the Treasury Department is seeking public input on the use of AI, blockchain surveillance, and digital privacy. In Europe, rules requiring verification of self-custody wallets are tightening controls on crypto transactions.
In this context, privacy tokens like Zcash are starting to be seen as an important solution, not just for anonymity, but also for security in an increasingly recorded and monitored ecosystem.
A new wave of interest in Zcash and privacy tokens reflects the public’s growing concern over global digital surveillance. Despite the crypto market downturn, the significant rise in the privacy token category shows that demand for anonymity solutions remains strong. With technological developments such as zk-SNARK, shielded supply, and cross-chain integration, Zcash looks to lead the rise of next-generation privacy in cryptocurrency.
The surge in ZEC was triggered by the rise in the use of shielded transactions, wallet technology updates, and global concerns regarding digital privacy.
Shielded address is a zk-SNARK feature that hides the sender, recipient, and transaction amount, increasing user security and anonymity.
Government surveillance policies, encrypted message monitoring, as well as the rise of blockchain analytics have increased the need for privacy.
Not always; systems like programmable privacy allow privacy to be maintained while providing transparency when legally required.
Key risks include regulatory restrictions, increased government scrutiny, and potential liquidity limitations on some exchanges.
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*Disclaimer
This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Crypto trading activities have high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.
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