XRP Latest Updates: Privacy or Regulation? Zcash Emerges as a Rival to XRP Amid 700% Price Jump

Electric Coin Co. (ECC), the organization responsible for

(ZEC), has introduced its with a focus on advancing privacy, improving user experience, and ensuring secure fund management. This announcement comes as Zcash experiences a notable surge in both price and shielded coin supply. Published in October 2025, the roadmap aims to address technical debt and enhance Zcash’s foundational privacy tools, such as temporary transparent address creation and P2SH multisig compatibility for Keystone hardware wallets. These enhancements are intended to strengthen transaction privacy and simplify governance, especially for the Zcash Dev Fund, according to .

Zcash’s recent technical strides have been reflected in its market activity. The token climbed more than 30% in a week, reaching $411.54 on November 2, 2025, as per data from

, with prices temporarily surpassing $400 amid renewed enthusiasm for privacy-centric assets. This upswing followed a 700% increase since early October, as noted by , fueled by a rise in shielded transaction usage and growing institutional interest. Over 4.5 million ZEC—about one-third of the total supply—are now stored in shielded wallets, highlighting increased demand for privacy, according to . The expansion of shielded holdings, made possible by Zcash’s optional privacy features and zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs), has broadened the “anonymity set,” making it more difficult to trace individual transactions—a trend also noted on .

The ECC roadmap highlights tangible improvements to solidify Zcash’s standing in the privacy coin sector. Notable plans include automating transparent address changes for each incoming payment to minimize traceability, and adding P2SH multisig support for Keystone devices to safeguard Dev Fund assets. These initiatives are part of a broader push to enhance wallet functionality, especially for Zashi users, and to maintain transparency in development fund distribution. ECC CEO Josh Swihart stressed the value of community involvement in implementing these upgrades, reaffirming the project’s dedication to decentralized decision-making.

Market experts have attributed Zcash’s recent price momentum to the successful rollout of its roadmap and evolving regulatory factors. In a

, analysts observed that while ZEC’s technical signals point to short-term overbought conditions, the overall trend remains bullish, with major support at $278 and resistance at $450. shared that Helius CEO Mert has boldly forecasted that Zcash could overtake in market value, which would require a 2,600% price jump to $9,500. His argument centers on the increasing demand for privacy solutions as global regulations tighten, positioning Zcash as a “moral imperative” in contrast to compliance-oriented tokens like XRP.

The ongoing debate between privacy and regulatory compliance has intensified as Zcash surpasses Monero (XMR) to become the leading privacy coin by market capitalization. While XRP’s open ledger and institutional alliances offer liquidity advantages, Zcash’s privacy options attract users concerned about surveillance. Blockchain experts note that privacy coins have seen a 45% increase in transaction volume in areas with strict data regulations, such as the EU. Nevertheless, regulatory scrutiny remains a significant risk, with possible delistings or compliance challenges potentially causing market volatility.

Looking forward, the execution of ECC’s roadmap and Zcash’s integration of advanced privacy features could play a decisive role in its future. The Electric Coin Company has prioritized adaptability in its development strategy, with quarterly roadmap updates to respond to market changes. As Zcash faces regulatory and competitive headwinds, its success will depend on balancing privacy innovation with user accessibility, determining whether it can maintain its current momentum or encounter obstacles from regulators and competing platforms.

---