Privacy Coins Rally 80% on ZEC & DASH Multi-Year Highs

Privacy coins have surged nearly 80%, lifting the total market cap to $24 billion. Dash (DASH) jumped 68% to $136, Zcash (ZEC) climbed 22% to around $470, and Decred (DCR) rose 79%. On-chain data shows large addresses accumulating, reinforcing a “safe-haven” narrative amid tightening AML and Travel Rule enforcement. Zcash’s optional privacy via zk-SNARKs, Halo, and its new Zashi wallet on Solana offer compliance flexibility, attracting institutional inflows, with Grayscale’s Zcash Trust assets topping $137 million. Elevated derivatives positioning and hype around ZEC’s November halving have further fueled the rally. However, global AML regulations and regional delistings in the EU, Japan and South Korea pose execution risks and could limit liquidity. Traders can gain exposure through OTC trades of Grayscale Zcash Trust in the US or ETP listings in Europe. Investors should assess exchange liquidity, regulatory restrictions, and use stop-loss orders to manage volatility. The privacy coins rally highlights growing demand for transaction anonymity but underscores the importance of balancing potential gains with evolving compliance challenges.