Crypto investor and broadcaster Ran Neuner believes privacy-focused cryptocurrencies could become the next major theme in digital assets — and he's betting on Zcash (ZEC).
Speaking to TheStreet Roundtable host Scott Melker on Nov. 17, Neuner argued that Bitcoin (BTC) remains a strong store of value but lacks the privacy required for mainstream or institutional use.
" Bitcoin is amazing, it's a great store of value, but it's not private,"he said. "Every barista can see your balance, every wallet you've interacted with — that's not really practical."
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The rise of 'compliant privacy'
Neuner contrasted the current U.S. administration's approach to privacy coins with the previous one, which he described as "very hostile to crypto and much, much more hostile to private crypto." He noted that authorities' earlier actions against projects like Tornado Cash made it nearly impossible for privacy solutions to thrive.
"The new administration actually acknowledges the right to privacy,"Neuner said. "They've opened up a new narrative — privacy, but compliant privacy."
According to Neuner, Zcash fits this mold because it allows users to either shield or unshield transactions while maintaining auditability.
"It's got the same proof-of-work protocol that Bitcoin's got, the same 21 million coins, the same halving cycle — only that Zcash uses zero-knowledge proofs to remain private, if you want it to be private,"he said.
Related: Vitalik Buterin Hopes Zcash and Dogecoin Will Switch to Proof-of-Stake Soon
Zcash as the 'private Bitcoin'
Neuner described Zcash as "compliant private money" and suggested that even a modest market share could dramatically increase its valuation.
"Even if private money only equals 10% of non-private money, that gives Zcash a valuation of $10,000," he said, revealing he has been buying since "about a hundred bucks."
He added that the same cypherpunk culture that once rallied behind Bitcoin's decentralization is now pivoting toward privacy.
"The same people are now moving toward another goal — privacy — and the private money is Zcash,"Neuner said.
Neuner also mentioned ZK Sync, a layer-2 solution using zero-knowledge technology, as another project gaining traction in the emerging "privacy narrative."
While cautioning that Zcash's recent rally — up 1,000% in two weeks — makes it risky in the short term, Neuner maintained it could be a solid long-term hold.
"I think this privacy narrative is real,"he said. "It's something you can't discount."
This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Nov 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the Innovation section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
