Zcash Rises 1,100%, Called Bitcoin-Like 2013: Can It Replace BTC?

Zcash has surged more than 1,100% in the past year. Its price, which was around $75 in October 2025, has now skyrocketed.

Crypto billionaires are starting to bet big on these privacy coins.

Even Barry Silbert, founder of Grayscale Investments, said: "Zcash feels like Bitcoin year 2013."

This statement raised a big question in the crypto community: can Zcash replace Bitcoin?

3 Important Points

Zcash is up 1,100% in a year – From $75 to around $150 (calculations based on Forbes data). The market cap is now almost $9 billion.

Called like Bitcoin 2013 – Barry Silbert compares ZEC's growth phase to Bitcoin's early days.

Main advantages - total privacy – Zcash uses zk-SNARKs technology to hide the sender, recipient, and transaction amount.

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Zcash Rises 1,100%: What Happened?

Zcash is up 1100 percent driven by several major factors.

1. Naval Ravikant 

Silicon Valley investor calls Zcash “insurance against Bitcoin” by the end of 2025. His words sparked a massive rally.

2. Investment company Multicoin Capital

MThey admit to having built a "significant" position in Zcash. They believe Zcash's privacy features will become increasingly valuable as on-chain transaction scrutiny increases.

3. The Winklevoss Brothers support Cypherpunk Technologies

A company that buys and holds Zcash. They now hold over 300,000 ZEC (worth approximately $150 million).

4. Grayscale is exploring converting the Zcash Trust into a spot ETF.

This will open up access for large institutions.

ZEC Is Like Bitcoin 2013: What Does It Mean?

The comparison of ZEC to Bitcoin 2013 is not without reason.

In 2013, Bitcoin was still in its early stages of adoption by a small community. Its price skyrocketed from around $13 to over $1,000. Many were skeptical.

But those who got in early reaped huge benefits.

Zcash now has a similar pattern:

- Market cap is still small ($9 billion vs Bitcoin $1.6 trillion)

- Adopted by smart investors and institutions

- Unique technology (zk-SNARKs for total privacy)

- Limited supply of 21 million coins (similar to Bitcoin)

But there's a fundamental difference: Bitcoin is a transparent, public asset. Zcash offers complete privacy.

Read also: Zcash Price Analysis 2026: Is It the Right Time to Buy ZEC Coin?

Can Zcash Replace Bitcoin?

The question "Can Zcash replace Bitcoin" sparked heated debate.

Zcash supporters, including Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, argues that Bitcoin has lost its element of anonymity.

According to Hoskinson, Zcash ideologically outperforms Bitcoin because it returns control of personal information to the individual, in line with the original cypherpunk philosophy.

Zcash completely hides transaction participants and amounts using zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs).

Bitcoin, on the other hand, is too public, institutional, and transparent.

However, critics point out Zcash's weakness: 25% of the reward for each mined block automatically goes to the developer's wallet.

The community often refers to this as a “hidden premium,” something Bitcoin doesn’t have.

Additionally, Hal Finney (an early Bitcoin figure) died long before Zcash was created.

His family publicly identifies as supporters of Bitcoin, not Zcash.

Why is Zcash Rising So Much?

Besides the above factors, there are additional reasons.

1. On-chain stablecoins (such as USDC, USDT) are gaining more and more use:

However, these stablecoins can be monitored and frozen by companies or governments. Zcash offers a private alternative.

2. Integration with Solana increases accessibility: 

Zashi wallet allows shielded transfers.

3. Tokenomics mirip Bitcoin: 

PA fixed supply of 21 million coins, a proof-of-work mechanism, and an upcoming halving have earned Zcash the nickname "encrypted bitcoin."

Nansen Research Analyst Jake Kennis explains: "Privacy is increasingly seen as a necessity, not just a feature.

This renews the ideological demand for private and sovereign transactions."

Zcash Risks and Challenges

Even though Zcash is up 1100 percent, risks remain:

Regulatory risks– Governments around the world are tightening regulations on crypto privacy. Zcash could be a target.

Hidden premine– 25% reward for developers raises questions about decentralization.

Limited adoption– Zcash is not as widespread as Bitcoin in terms of liquidity and merchant acceptance.

Competition– Other privacy projects like Monero (XMR) also offer anonymity.

Conclusion

Zcash has risen 1,100% in the past year, fueled by billionaire backing, zk-SNARKs technology, and the "insurance against Bitcoin" narrative. Barry Silbert has called ZEC like Bitcoin in 2013, an early growth phase with huge potential.

But can Zcash replace Bitcoin?

The answer: probably not entirely. Bitcoin is already a global institution with a capitalization of $1.6 trillion. Zcash is only $9 billion.

But Zcash offers something Bitcoin doesn't: total privacy. In an era of increasingly stringent on-chain surveillance, this could be a valuable advantage.

Zcash could replace Bitcoin as a "private digital asset." But as a global store of value, Bitcoin is still far ahead.

As always, this is not financial advice.

Crypto remains a high risk. Do your own research before investing.

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FAQ

How much percent did Zcash go up?

More than 1,100% in the last year, from around $75 to more than $150.

Why is Zcash called Bitcoin 2013?

Due to its early growth phase, the market capitalization is still small, and it is being adopted by savvy investors, similar to Bitcoin in its early days.

Can Zcash replace Bitcoin?

As a private asset, perhaps. But as a global store of value, Bitcoin is still far ahead with a market capitalization of $1.6 trillion.

What are the advantages of Zcash over Bitcoin?

Total privacy using zk-SNARKs technology, sender, recipient and transaction amount are hidden.

What are the weaknesses of Zcash?

Hidden premium (25% reward for developers), regulatory risk, and limited adoption.