Monero vs Zcash: Key Differences (XMR vs ZEC)
Complete side-by-side comparison of Monero and Zcash. Price, market cap, technology, and more.
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What is Monero?
Monero is the gold standard for privacy coins. Ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT make transactions truly untraceable. Unlike Bitcoin where all transactions are public, Monero hides sender, receiver, and amount by default. Loved by privacy advocates, controversial with regulators.
What is Zcash?
Zcash brought zero-knowledge proofs to cryptocurrency. Users choose between transparent (like Bitcoin) and shielded (fully private) transactions using zk-SNARKs. Founded by renowned cryptographer Zooko Wilcox, it represents cutting-edge privacy tech. The same zk-SNARK technology now powers Ethereum L2 scaling. Zcash proved the math before anyone else.
Price Evolution
Percentage change from start of period
XMR-5.38%ZEC+22.56%Detailed Comparison
| Metric | XMR | ZEC |
|---|---|---|
| XMR ZEC | ||
| Price & Market | ||
| Price | $328.23 | $257.25 |
Price $328.23 $257.25 | ||
| Market Cap | $6.06B | $4.28B |
Market Cap $6.06B $4.28B | ||
| 24h Volume | $59.82M | $267.36M |
24h Volume $59.82M $267.36M | ||
| Volume/Cap Ratio | 0.99% | 6.25% |
Volume/Cap Ratio 0.99% 6.25% | ||
| Market Dominance | 0.00262214% | 0.00185348% |
Market Dominance 0.00262214% 0.00185348% | ||
| All-Time High | $797.73 | $3,191.93 |
All-Time High $797.73 $3,191.93 | ||
| ATH Date | Jan 14, 2026 | Oct 29, 2016 |
ATH Date Jan 14, 2026 Oct 29, 2016 | ||
| Performance | ||
| 24h Change | 0.85% | 3.93% |
24h Change 0.85% 3.93% | ||
| 7d Change | 0.87% | 16.84% |
7d Change 0.87% 16.84% | ||
| 30d Change | 5.38% | 22.56% |
30d Change 5.38% 22.56% | ||
| Supply | ||
| Circulating Supply | 18.45M | 16.64M |
Circulating Supply 18.45M 16.64M | ||
| Total Supply | 18.45M | 16.64M |
Total Supply 18.45M 16.64M | ||
| Max Supply | Unlimited | 21.00M |
Max Supply Unlimited 21.00M | ||
| Technology | ||
| Consensus | RandomX Proof of Work | Proof of Work (Equihash) |
Consensus RandomX Proof of Work Proof of Work (Equihash) | ||
| Block Time | 2 minutes | ~75 seconds |
Block Time 2 minutes ~75 seconds | ||
| TPS (Transactions/sec) | 1700 | 27 |
TPS (Transactions/sec) 1700 27 | ||
| Launch Year | 2014 | 2016 |
Launch Year 2014 2016 | ||
| Transaction Fees | ||
| Average Fee | < $0.01 | $0.001-$0.01 |
Average Fee < $0.01 $0.001-$0.01 | ||
| Fee Model | Monero PoW, privacy fees | Equihash PoW mining fees |
Fee Model Monero PoW, privacy fees Equihash PoW mining fees | ||
| General | ||
| Primary Use Case | Privacy, Anonymous payments | Privacy, Shielded transactions |
Primary Use Case Privacy, Anonymous payments Privacy, Shielded transactions | ||
| Founder | Riccardo Spagni (fluffypony), Community | Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn |
Founder Riccardo Spagni (fluffypony), Community Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn | ||
| Website | getmonero.org | z.cash |
Website | ||
| Volatility & Risk | ||
| Drawdown from ATH | 58.9% | 91.9% |
Drawdown from ATH 58.9% 91.9% | ||
Why Zcash?- ✓Pioneered zk-SNARKs - now powering Ethereum L2s
- ✓Optional privacy with both transparent and shielded transactions
- ✓Strong cryptographic foundations and research
Monero Risks
No risks listed yet.
Zcash Risks
- ✗Regulatory pressure on privacy coins
- ✗Shielded adoption lower than expected
The Verdict
The two titans of privacy crypto. Monero makes every transaction private by default - ring signatures, stealth addresses, no opt-in required. Zcash offers a choice: transparent transactions (like Bitcoin) or shielded ones (using zk-SNARKs). Monero's approach is philosophically purer - if privacy is optional, most people don't use it, which weakens everyone's privacy. Zcash's technology is arguably more advanced - zk-SNARKs now power Ethereum L2 scaling. XMR is delisted from more exchanges but has stronger grassroots adoption. ZEC has better institutional relationships. Both face regulatory headwinds, but the math doesn't care about regulations.
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