Zcash (ZEC) Overtaking Monero (XMR) Market Cap Points to Privacy-Coin Power Shift

Zcash (ZEC) recently overtook Monero (XMR) in market capitalization for the first time, reaching as high as $7.2 billion compared to XMR's $6.3 billion. While immediate catalysts included technical factors like soaring trading volumes and a block-reward halving, fundamental differences are key to ZEC's rise. Zcash offers optional privacy, allowing users to choose between transparent or shielded transactions, which appeals to institutions seeking privacy compliance. In contrast, Monero's mandatory privacy makes it difficult to list on regulated exchanges due to AML/KYC concerns, as noted by Ray Youssef, CEO of NoOnes. Furthermore, Zcash is being positioned as a potential privacy layer for networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum via protocols like Zashi CrossPay. ZEC's price has surged nearly 1,000% in three months, significantly outpacing Monero's 11.5% rise, partly influenced by analyst Arthur Hayes' bullish predictions.

(Source：CoinDesk)