Zcash differs from Bitcoin through its optional shielded transactions, which use zero-knowledge proofs to hide transaction details such as the sender, recipient and amount.

Privacy is not mandatory across the entire Zcash network. Users can still transact through transparent addresses, where transaction information remains publicly visible. The Block recently reported that nearly 5 million ZEC, or roughly 23% of the circulating supply, was held in shielded pools.

What has changed recently is the amount of activity using those privacy features.

Zcash recorded 62,375 shielded transactions in the week ending September 24, the highest weekly level since 2022. The network also processed around $23.88 billion in transfer volume during the same period.

That rise matters because it gives the current rally a usage narrative beyond price speculation. At the same time, the 2022 comparison needs some context because earlier transaction activity was affected by a spam attack, making sustained activity in the coming weeks more important than a single weekly record.