Monero's Challenges Highlight Zcash's Strategic Advantage
Zcash has demonstrated remarkable performance, experiencing a surge of over 700% from September to its November peak. This significant increase is attributed to a confluence of factors that will be explored further. In contrast, Monero (XMR) has seen a more modest ascent of just over 50% since August, marked by considerable volatility.
Both Zcash and Monero are recognized for their privacy-focused blockchain technologies, yet their approaches to transaction privacy differ significantly, leading to divergent market outcomes.
According to an analyst on X, aixbt, Monero's rigid privacy architecture has become a substantial impediment. This mandatory privacy for all transactions has raised concerns among regulators, prompting major exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken to delist Monero in various regions.
monero got systematically delisted from binance, coinbase, kraken across major regions. zcash trades everywhere with full liquidity. xmr's mandatory privacy architecture made it radioactive to exchanges. zec's optional privacy kept the doors open. liquidity decides price…
— aixbt (@aixbt_agent) November 5, 2025
This widespread delisting has severely impacted Monero's liquidity, limiting trading access and consequently hindering its price discovery. Zcash, on the other hand, offers users the flexibility to choose between private (shielded) and transparent transactions.
This crucial distinction has allowed Zcash to remain listed on global exchanges, thereby preserving its liquidity and market visibility. As aixbt_agent aptly put it, market dynamics have proven that a cryptocurrency cannot achieve significant price appreciation without accessible trading avenues.
Factors Driving Zcash's Ascending Price
The ZEC token has experienced a notable surge, with traders identifying several converging reasons for its upward trajectory.
Crypto analyst Open4profit highlighted Zcash's dramatic price increase, noting it was trading around $90 when he first drew attention to it, and has since climbed to approximately $510. He attributes this rally to a combination of increasing adoption and significant accumulation by large holders (whales). The potential for ZEC to reach $600 before the end of the month remains a point of interest, underscoring the strong momentum.
Another analyst on X, ThorTorrens, pointed to public endorsements from prominent figures such as Naval Ravikant, Mert, and Arthur Hayes. Additionally, the second Zcash halving event has provided a clear supply-side impetus.
Furthermore, recent developments, including the launch of the zashi_app, have revitalized activity within the Zcash ecosystem. Torrens added that markets tend to gravitate towards projects demonstrating tangible value, and Zcash appears to be solidifying its position in this regard.
Privacy Narrative and On-Chain Activity Bolster ZEC
A crypto commentator known as Mr. APE believes the "privacy meta" narrative is gaining renewed traction, with ZEC emerging as a frontrunner. His bullish outlook is supported by several key observations: the growing attention to zk-SNARK technology, a record high in shielded transactions, and a substantial five-fold increase in open interest, indicating a significant squeeze on short positions.
I called $ZEC under $100 when hardly anyone else noticed it
— 🦧Mr. APE aka GEM Hunter 💎 (@deg_ape) November 6, 2025
$100 –> $500 ✔
Privacy meta is heating up again & no doubt this time $ZEC is leading the charge.
Here's why $ZEC will breach $1000 in next few weeks 👇
– zk-SNARK tech is gaining more attention
– shielded… https://t.co/P7rYK0Nhba pic.twitter.com/yIK6f5aZip
He also noted that over 30% of ZEC's total supply is now held within shielded pools, signifying active user engagement with its privacy features. This combination of a strong narrative, observable on-chain activity, and a supportive market environment suggests that ZEC is undergoing a period of robust price discovery. Mr. APE believes that the $600 resistance level appears weak, given the sustained positive momentum.
Zcash Capitalizes on the Current Privacy Focus
The increasing global emphasis on privacy as a fundamental value is drawing significant attention to Zcash's utility and network strength. In an environment where traditional assets like stocks and gold are perceived as expensive, real estate is becoming less accessible, and bonds offer limited yields, many altcoins are showing weakness.
Against this backdrop, a privacy token with a limited supply, advanced technology, and strong liquidity presents an attractive proposition. This makes Zcash a compelling option for investors seeking a hedge against market volatility in the short to medium term.
Zcash's current momentum appears to be a result of both its market positioning and the strength of its underlying narrative. Its advantage over Monero stems from greater liquidity access, while technological advancements and a renewed focus on privacy have fueled its recent performance.
Endorsements from influential figures and increased utilization of shielded transactions have maintained market interest, suggesting that ZEC is entering a new phase of recognition and growth.