30 November 2025

The Surge of Privacy Coins: Zcash s 1500 Rally
The cryptocurrency market has recently experienced a dramatic shift with Zcash ZEC witnessing a staggering 1,500 price increase in just a few months. This surge has reignited discussions about the importance of privacy in a decentralized financial system. Other privacy coins like Monero XMR and Railgun RAIL have also seen significant gains, indicating a growing awareness and demand for these assets.
Alex Shevchenko, CEO of Aurora Labs, attributes this rally to four key factors: a clear narrative positioning Zcash as
encrypted Bitcoin
, years of development that lend legitimacy, a strong user experience through the Zashi wallet, and authentic endorsements from respected voices. He emphasizes that privacy is a basic human right and users now expect similar protections in crypto as they do in traditional finance.
Shevchenko also highlights the role of quick onboarding through cross-chain developments like NEAR Intents, which allow users to acquire or swap into ZEC seamlessly. He notes that
real opinion leaders and core adopters amplified it. Not paid promoters, but people whose views can t be bought.
In discussing the intersection of artificial intelligence AI and Web3, Shevchenko warns that innovation is advancing much faster than government processes can adapt. He expresses doubts about the emergence of coherent frameworks for autonomous agents and questions the practicality of regulating them. He states,
governments can t shut down autonomous agents any more than they can shut down Bitcoin.
For Web3 builders, Shevchenko advises focusing on user experience to match or exceed the usability of Web2 products. He stresses the importance of hiding technical complexity while maintaining security. He argues that
the real competition isn t blockchain vs blockchain. It s all of us competing for user attention.
The ultimate goal is to deliver powerful tools without making users feel burdened.