Comparing $XMR with $ZEC

Monero (XMR) is the better privacy coin overall and has significantly more daily users and real usage than Zcash (ZEC) right now, as of late February 2026.
Privacy Strength Explained Simply
Monero gives you full privacy automatically on every single transaction. No one can see who sent money, who received it, or how much — it's hidden by default using tools like ring signatures (which mix your transaction with others), stealth addresses (hidden receivers), and confidential amounts. This makes Monero truly private and hard to trace, which is why many call it the gold standard for anonymity.
Zcash has very strong privacy tech too (using something called zk-SNARKs for "shielded" transactions), but privacy is optional. Most Zcash transactions are public and transparent, like regular Bitcoin. You have to choose shielded mode to hide details, and even then not everyone uses it. This optional approach makes Zcash more flexible for some people (like businesses that need audits), but it means less overall privacy in practice and lower fungibility (not every coin is equally private).
If you want maximum, no-compromise privacy that works every time without extra steps, Monero is clearly stronger.
Daily Usage and Number of Users
The best way to measure real users and daily activity is by looking at on-chain transactions (actual moves of coins on the blockchain), because this shows people actually using it — not just trading on exchanges.
Monero: Around 27,000 to 30,000 transactions every day recently. For example, recent data shows figures like 30,192, 28,769, or 27,561 in the last 24 hours. All of these are fully private. This level has stayed pretty stable for years, showing steady real-world use (like private payments, remittances, or in places where privacy matters most).
Zcash: Much lower, usually 5,000 to 7,000 transactions per day. Recent numbers include 5,595, 5,034, or up to around 6,941. Only a smaller portion are the private shielded ones, so actual private activity is several times lower than Monero's (often 4x to 6x less).
This gap has been consistent. Monero has 4–6 times more daily on-chain activity, pointing to a larger active user base for privacy-focused transfers. Zcash sometimes sees hype-driven trading volume spikes (exchange buys/sells), but real everyday usage trails behind.
Other Quick Comparisons
Market size and liquidity: Both coins are in the multi-billion dollar range, but Monero often holds a slight edge or stays close in privacy-coin leadership.
Real-world fit: Monero is the top choice for people who need strong, reliable privacy (like in censorship-resistant or sensitive payments). Zcash attracts users who like the option for transparency when needed, or who think it might face fewer regulatory issues long-term.
Recent trends: Privacy coins had ups and downs in 2025–2026 with market moves and regulations, but Monero's steady transaction numbers show more consistent demand from dedicated users.
In short, Monero wins if you care about the best privacy and the coin with the most actual daily users and usage. It offers stronger default protection and far higher real on-chain activity (thousands more private transactions every day). Zcash is solid if you prefer optional privacy or think its tech might appeal more in regulated settings, but it doesn't match Monero's current lead in everyday adoption.
#Altcoins are extreme risky
Do your own research
Not financial advice