The truth behind Zcash's return in 2025

Privacy is becoming a prominent trend in the cryptocurrency space, and Zcash has risen as a shining star in the market. The Zcash protocol is continuously mentioned on Crypto Twitter forums, while the value of the ZEC token – the main token of the project – clearly reflects the heat of this story.

For the first time since 2018, ZEC has surpassed the 500 USD mark, driven by a strong wave of support from leading influencers in the industry. Notable figures such as Arthur Hayes, Naval Ravikant, Mert Mumtaz, Ansem, Threadguy, and many other prominent accounts have continuously praised the privacy benefits that Zcash provides. Ambitious price predictions along with viewpoints highlighting privacy have contributed to ZEC's outstanding growth compared to most other altcoins.

This boom has caused many to doubt the possibility of a coordinated campaign or promotional activity aimed at driving the price of ZEC up.

However, according to Alex Bornstein – the newly appointed CEO of the Zcash Foundation, the strong resurgence of Zcash as a privacy-focused cryptocurrency protocol is a result of a natural trend, stemming from growing dissatisfaction with government overreach and privacy concerns.

In a live chat on Cointelegraph's Chain Reaction program, Bornstein stated that the Zcash Foundation – a public charity registered in the US under 501©(3) – does not pay or ask anyone to promote ZEC.

“We are completely unrelated to this incident. We are truly surprised to see the increasing mentions of Zcash. The fact that this wave is spreading and reaching its peak is extraordinary,” Bornstein shared.

“I believe this is an intriguing story, and people are gradually recognizing the true potential of Zcash.”

'Feels like Bitcoin is making a comeback'

Ran Neuner, the host of the YouTube channel Crypto Banter, also expressed a similar opinion while participating in Chain Reaction last weekend.

This South African entrepreneur and broadcaster stated that Zcash is “the most interesting thing happening in the cryptocurrency world today,” while comparing it to the early days of Bitcoin from 2009 to 2017.

“What makes Bitcoin different is the convergence of the smartest cryptographers, the most extreme libertarians, who come together in solidarity and self-organization around a common goal: to build a private, transferable currency that is not subject to government control, from one person to another globally,” Neuner commented.

However, he also believes that the transparent payment system of Bitcoin – which is designed to address the double spending problem – has to trade off privacy, an aspect that the public is increasingly concerned about.

“I am seeing people who are crypto enthusiasts organizing themselves on Reddit and Twitter, but this time they are united around a new goal that they are very passionate about: privacy, the missing piece of Bitcoin.” Neuner pointed out that the demand for a cryptocurrency protocol that ensures comprehensive privacy is the true driving force behind the skyrocketing value of ZEC in 2025.

Bitcoin and Zcash: Two development directions

Bornstein provides a more objective view of the development history of Zcash, which is led by Zooko Wilcox and cryptographers inspired by the original vision of Bitcoin.

“I think everyone has a great respect for Bitcoin – what it has accomplished and the goals it has set – but there is also a feeling that everything can definitely be improved,” he stated.

Bornstein also stated that the Zcash ecosystem can “move faster” in adopting governance changes, thanks to the smaller scale and flexibility of the organizations and individuals involved in building the infrastructure and tools for Zcash.

“We believe that no matter who you are, Zcash is still a significant advancement over Bitcoin, and we will not stop there. We are implementing many innovations to enhance usability, as well as ensure core safety and security factors,” Mr. Bornstein emphasized.

Mr. Giáo