Zcash (ZEC) experienced a remarkable surge of 400% by late 2025, overtaking Monero in market capitalization thanks to significant technical upgrades and growing institutional adoption.
The introduction of the Orchard protocol in 2025 became central to Zcash’s shielded transactions. By the end of the year, over 4.1 million ZEC—representing 27.5% of the total supply—were transferred using Orchard.
Grayscale's $137 million Zcash Trust and the integration with Unichain have opened more institutional pathways into privacy-oriented DeFi applications.
Zcash has successfully navigated regulatory challenges in the EU and US by offering optional transparency, helping it maintain exchange listings despite widespread bans on other privacy coins.
The Halo Arc update reinforced Zcash’s commitment to privacy by making default shielding standard in supported wallets.
Overall, Zcash’s combination of technical innovation and strategic regulatory positioning has fueled its rapid growth and adoption.
Author's summary: Zcash's technical upgrades and regulatory adaptability drove a 400% surge in 2025, expanding privacy use and institutional involvement in its ecosystem.
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