Privacy Coins Soar 213% Since Bitcoin's Peak as Broader Crypto Market Struggles
Privacy-focused cryptocurrencies have made significant gains in recent months, outperforming the broader market. According to data from Glassnode, privacy coins have surged 213% since Bitcoin's all-time high on October 6, 2025, while the rest of the crypto universe remains underwater.
The median asset among the top 200 cryptocurrencies is still 58% below its price at the time of Bitcoin's peak, and Bitcoin itself is roughly 36% off that October high. Every other category tracked by Glassnode, except for privacy coins, is in negative territory.
Zcash (ZEC) has been a standout performer, surging an extraordinary 2,496% over the past year and accounting for approximately 62% of the privacy sector's total value. The token has also seen significant institutional interest, with Grayscale launching its Zcash ETF on August 25.
The rally in ZEC has become increasingly leveraged, with futures open interest reaching roughly $2.3 billion. However, removing Zcash from the equation does not erase the sector's outperformance, as the privacy basket excluding ZEC is still up 85% over one year and 56% since Bitcoin's October peak.