Prediction: Zcash Will Flip Monero in 2026 and Never Look Back

Core Viewpoint - Zcash and Monero are significant privacy coins with market caps around $7 billion, but they face substantial regulatory risks that could impact their viability. The future of privacy coins is likely to hinge more on regulatory compliance than on technological competition [1][2]. Regulatory Environment - The European Union is establishing strict regulations for privacy coins, with a strong preference against anonymity and in favor of traceability. The new Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR) explicitly bans anonymous cryptoasset accounts [4][5]. - If regulations are enforced as currently written, privacy coins like Monero may face delistings from major exchanges in Europe, severely limiting their access to capital inflows [6]. Competitive Advantage of Zcash - Zcash is better positioned than Monero to comply with upcoming regulations due to its support for both private and public transactions. It utilizes zk-SNARKs for transaction validation without revealing sensitive details [7]. - Zcash's feature of selective disclosure via viewing keys allows for a balance between privacy and auditability, making it more appealing to regulators [7].