Zcash has experienced a 75% increase over the past week, although it remains 22% below its peak of $735 six months ago, according to Santiment. The surge comes as privacy-focused cryptocurrencies gain attention from retail traders amid growing distrust in government and concerns over surveillance. These assets are increasingly seen as hedges against tightening exchange regulations and the expansion of AI data tracking by financial platforms. Santiment notes that if global stablecoin and KYC regulations continue to tighten, there could be a renewed demand for decentralized privacy networks. Additionally, the relatively low market capitalization of many privacy coins makes them attractive to traders seeking high upside potential during the moderate altcoin rally in May.