Privacy crypto: prices and market cap

A privacy coin is a cryptocurrency built to work like digital cash while hiding the sender, receiver or amount of a transfer. Zcash (ZEC) is one: its privacy is optional, as transparent addresses work like Bitcoin's while shielded transactions encrypt the details with zero-knowledge proofs, and viewing keys let a user disclose them to an auditor. Most tokens in this category are not privacy coins but privacy-technology projects.

A zero-knowledge proof shows that a statement is true without revealing the statement itself; ALEO, for example, is a blockchain where applications post such proofs instead of their data. Fully homomorphic encryption lets a computer run calculations directly on encrypted data and get the same result as on the original data. Zama (ZAMA) and Mind Network (FHE) use it to keep balances or AI computations confidential.

From 10 July 2027, the EU Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 prohibits crypto-asset service providers from keeping accounts that allow the anonymisation of transactions, including through anonymity-enhancing coins: crypto-assets with built-in features that make transfer information anonymous, systematically or optionally. The rule applies to service providers, not to individuals.