Monero Nears $800 and Surpasses Zcash in Market Cap as Privacy Coins Gain Attention in 2026

Monero's price climbed from about $450 to near $800 within a week, pushing it past Zcash in market capitalization and reviving interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. Zcash had already triggered a privacy coin comeback in late 2025 with a surge from roughly $30 to above $750, but failed to hold above $1,000. With the broader crypto market still under pressure and some altcoins recovering since early January 2026, traders are revisiting privacy coins such as Monero, Zcash, and Dash, despite ongoing regulatory and delisting risks.