Best Altcoins in Today’s Crypto Market: Chainlink, Stellar, or Zcash?

While much attention is given to emerging small-cap cryptocurrencies, established large-cap altcoins continue to shape the market. This article examines three such altcoins: Zcash ($ZEC), Chainlink ($LINK), and Stellar ($XLM), detailing their core functionalities, risks, and potential for long-term growth.

Zcash ($ZEC): The Privacy Pioneer

Zcash ($ZEC) has experienced a significant rally since early October, a notable shift after a period of relative dormancy. This resurgence is attributed to growing adoption of privacy features within the cryptocurrency space. Recent data indicates increased activity in Zcash's shielded pools, with approximately 30% of its circulating supply now held within these private transactions. This translates to 4.8 million out of 16.4 million $ZEC tokens being shielded, effectively reducing the liquid supply and signaling a genuine demand for enhanced privacy.

Zcash's zk-Technology

Zcash leverages advanced zero-knowledge proofs, specifically zk-SNARKs. This cryptographic method allows for the verification of a statement's validity without revealing any underlying information. The network's transition to the Halo proving system in the NU5 upgrade in 2022 eliminated the need for trusted setups, thereby enhancing both privacy and efficiency. This technical advantage distinguishes Zcash from older privacy-focused blockchain designs.

Zcash adheres to a fixed supply cap of 21 million $ZEC, similar to Bitcoin, creating inherent scarcity. The increasing adoption of shielded transactions further tightens the effective liquid supply over time, which is a significant factor in price appreciation. However, Zcash faces potential risks, including limited exchange listings for some privacy-focused altcoins and regulatory scrutiny concerning privacy technologies. Compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations can also present challenges.

Currently, $ZEC is trading around $697 with a market capitalization of $11.28 billion. Approximately 78% of $ZEC tokens are in circulation. Over the past year, $ZEC has seen a substantial increase of 1534%. The establishment of a Zcash treasury company by the Winklevoss twins highlights the project's growing institutional interest.

Chainlink ($LINK): The Oracle Network

Chainlink ($LINK) stands out as a versatile and widely integrated platform within the cryptocurrency ecosystem, often described as the "Swiss army knife" of crypto. Its primary function is to provide reliable data feeds and oracle services, essential for smart contracts to interact with real-world data. Chainlink's utility extends across various sectors, including DeFi, tokenization, and enterprise solutions, bridging the gap between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance.

The Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) is a key feature, enabling seamless communication between over 70 blockchains. This has led to a resurgence in Chainlink's activity and revenue streams, particularly after a period where its growth appeared stagnant.

Chainlink's tokenomics are designed with scarcity in mind, featuring a maximum supply of 1 billion $LINK tokens. Currently, about 70% of $LINK is in circulation, with a predictable unlock schedule continuing until October 2027. The potential for Chainlink ETFs further underscores its growing market presence.

The $LINK Reserve

The Chainlink Reserve mechanism actively removes $LINK tokens from circulation by accumulating them weekly. This strategic initiative further enhances the token's scarcity. Currently, the reserve holds approximately 800,000 $LINK, valued at around $11 million.

Despite its strengths, Chainlink faces risks related to its dependence on ecosystem usage. A decline in demand from DeFi and other protocols could impact its revenue. Additionally, competition and the rapid pace of technological innovation pose a threat, as new oracle networks or advancements could challenge Chainlink's market dominance.

The current $LINK price is approximately $14. While it has experienced a 25% decrease in the last 30 days, this is attributed to broader market conditions rather than fundamental weaknesses, presenting a potential buying opportunity.

Stellar ($XLM): Cross-Border Payments and Tokenization

Stellar ($XLM) is designed to facilitate fast, low-cost international payments and connect disparate financial systems. Its core use case lies in providing efficient cross-border remittance solutions on-chain. Stellar is also a prominent player in the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), offering a significant growth pathway beyond its payment capabilities.

Stellar has demonstrated strong capabilities in tokenizing RWAs, exemplified by Mercado Bitcoin's announcement of a $200 million RWA issuance on the network, marking it as the largest investment platform in Latin America. This year, Stellar has partnered with entities like Paxos, Ondo, Etherfuse, and SG Forge, aiming to increase the value of RWAs held on-chain to $3 billion. The introduction of the $PYUSD stablecoin and the availability of tokenized U.S. Treasuries on Stellar further support its RWA initiatives.

Access to $3B in RWAs just landed on Stellar.

Step 1: Onchain + live on Stellar

Step 2: Turning volume into velocity. Getting assets into wallets and powering everyday financial services.

The future of real-world finance is here. @CNBC pic.twitter.com/9tflNe8Ztg

— Stellar (@StellarOrg) September 25, 2025

Stellar benefits from a large and established ecosystem, supported by the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), which lends credibility and ensures long-term development.

However, Stellar faces challenges, notably its substantial supply of $XLM tokens (50 billion). This large supply necessitates significant adoption to drive meaningful price appreciation. Competition in both cross-border payments and RWA tokenization is also fierce, with entities like Ripple, Ondo Finance, and even Chainlink posing competitive threats.

The current $XLM price is around $0.25, with a market capitalization of $8 billion. After nearly 11 years, only 62% of $XLM tokens are in circulation, which means a considerable amount remains that could potentially be released into the market.

The Verdict

Comparing Zcash, Chainlink, and Stellar, the choice for the strongest contender hinges on different investment priorities. While Chainlink is a favored asset due to its extensive utility and integration, Zcash's recent growth trajectory and the fundamental importance of privacy in the crypto space are compelling. Therefore, Zcash emerges as the leading choice in this comparison.

Which project do you believe holds the most promise? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Disclaimer

The information provided by Altcoin Buzz is intended for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All strategies and opinions expressed are those of the writer and reviewer and may not align with your individual risk tolerance. We are not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of investments made directly or indirectly based on the information provided. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments; always conduct your own thorough due diligence.

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