Zcash Crashes After 240% Rally — Is the Privacy Revolution Already Over?

Zcash (ZEC), one of crypto’s oldest privacy coins, soared in a parabolic rally before correcting sharply by over 17% in just two days.

Despite the pullback, data suggests Zcash’s relevance and its narrative may be far from fading.

Privacy Coins Return to the Spotlight as Zcash’s Volatility Sparks Debate

According to Messari, ZEC’s price has climbed 240% in the past month, while its mindshare, a measure of social and analytical attention, has surged 804%.

ZEC Price and Mindshare Metrics. Source: Messari

At the same time, Google Trends shows global search interest in Zcash hitting its highest level in five years, signaling a revival of curiosity around privacy-centric crypto assets.

Zcash Global Searches. Source. Google Trends

Sentiment on X (Twitter) suggests that the correction reflects natural profit-taking after a steep run-up, not a reversal in momentum.

However, beneath the charts, social media points to a renewed discussion about privacy as a fundamental right amid increasing surveillance.

Ki Young Ju, an on-chain analyst and CEO of CryptoQuant, suggests that Zcash’s rally may be linked to tightening anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks worldwide.

“Zcash investors seem to bet on illicit and gray-area funds shifting from Bitcoin and stablecoins to privacy coins as AML rules tighten,” he wrote on X.

In other words, as mainstream assets face more scrutiny, privacy coins may be absorbing the capital seeking discretion.

Is the Timeless Demand for Privacy Zcash’s Insurance?

That sentiment echoes a viral post from Naval, a popular user on X (Twitter), who framed Zcash’s value proposition as a hedge against Bitcoin volatility.

“Bitcoin is insurance against fiat. Zcash is insurance against Bitcoin,” wrote Naval.

The idea struck a chord with privacy advocates, who argue that even Bitcoin’s transparent ledger cannot fully protect users’ financial autonomy.

Investing in Zcash is a bet that billions of people won’t want their entire financial history visible to everyone at the coffee shop ☕️