Only five cryptocurrencies have risen in the past year

While major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP have seen significant declines, ranging from 30% to 50%, only five coins have managed to post gains over the past year: Zcash, Hyperliquid, Monero, NEAR Protocol, and Uniswap.

Zcash stands out with an 800% surge, reaching $1,344, though it remains 58% below its all-time high. Monero, another privacy-focused cryptocurrency, has risen about 66% to $558, while Hyperliquid, which facilitates futures trading, has appreciated roughly 90% to $93. NEAR Protocol and Uniswap showed more modest gains, with NEAR rising 63% to $5 and Uniswap gaining just 9% to $9.

Despite their gains, all five coins still trade below their previous all-time highs. Zcash, NEAR, and Uniswap would each need to more than double their current prices to regain those peaks. The five cryptocurrencies serve different functions, from enabling private transactions to hosting applications, suggesting that capital may have shifted from larger coins to more specialized ones.

However, the lack of a clear common trend among the five winners makes it difficult to identify a definitive pattern. The ongoing performance of privacy coins like Zcash and Monero will be key in determining whether privacy features gain lasting traction in the crypto market.