16h ago
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$ZEC
Zcash is widely known as a āprivacy coināā¦ but hereās the truth š
Itās not fully private.
Letās unpack why, even with cutting-edge encryption, Zcash transactions can still leak information š§µ
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Zcash was built for optional privacy.
It has two address types:
1. t-addrs = transparent (like Bitcoin)
2. z-addrs = shielded (private with zk-SNARKs)
Problem?
Most users still stick with the transparent option.
4/
Even when you use shielded transactions, leaks can happen.
Each time coins move between shielded and transparent pools, patterns emerge.
Analysts can correlate timing, amounts, and behaviour to de-anonymize users.
Check out @zachxbt 's post on this
5/
Zcash also kept optional transparency for regulatory reasons.
This makes it easier for exchanges and institutions to adopt,
but it inherently weakens the overall privacy of the ecosystem.
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Then thereās usability.
Shielded transactions need more computational power and wallet support.
Most exchanges, wallets, and custodians donāt support full shieldingā
so users are nudged toward transparency.
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Finally, thereās metadata.
Even if the blockchain data is encrypted, network-level data (like IP or timing)
can still leak info about whoās transacting.
Without Tor or network obfuscation, privacy isnāt bulletproof.
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So in simple terms:
Zcashās tech is powerful, but usability, ecosystem choices, and adoption patterns limit its real-world privacy.
Itās a privacy option, not a privacy default.
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Monero went all-in on default privacy.
Zcash chose flexibility and regulatory compatibility instead.
Both paths have trade-offsābut only one is truly āprivate by default.ā
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TL;DR
Zcash isnāt completely private because:
-optional privacy (not default)
-low shielded adoption
-behavioural linkability
-compliance trade-offs
-metadata exposure
Itās a hybrid between privacy and transparencyāby design.
11/
If you want full privacy, you need:
-default shielding,
-network obfuscation,
-user adoption,
-privacy-preserving infrastructure.
Zcash nailed the tech, but culture + convenience still keep it halfway there.
12/
Please note: ZEC has been my best trade this quarter.
This is not FUD, these are facts.
If you enjoyed this thread please give me a follow @jedifractal and a repost would be hugely appreciated.
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