Core Insights - Zcash (CRYPTO: ZEC) is a cryptocurrency that resembles Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) but incorporates optional privacy features to conceal transaction details, which could be a significant advantage or a potential risk [1][5][8] Price Performance - Zcash's price surged by 429% during the 30-day period ending October 21, indicating strong market interest and momentum [2] Investment Thesis - Zcash shares several characteristics with Bitcoin, including a hard supply cap of 21 million coins and a declining issuance model through halvings, which may drive its value upward over time [3][4] Privacy Features - The primary differentiator for Zcash is its privacy capabilities, allowing users to choose between transparent and shielded wallet addresses, with the latter utilizing zk-SNARKs for transaction confidentiality [5][9] - As of October, the value held in Zcash's shielded pool exceeds 4.5 million coins, representing approximately 25% of the circulating supply, although most users historically have not utilized these privacy features [6] Market Adoption - Despite the theoretical advantages of privacy in cryptocurrency transactions, the actual usage of Zcash's privacy features remains low, posing a challenge to its market appeal [8][9]