Dusk (DUSK) has experienced a significant rally, surging over fourfold in January, as investors shift focus from larger privacy coins like Monero (XMR) and Dash (DASH) to smaller market-cap alternatives. On January 19, DUSK rose 40% to over $0.22, marking its highest level since January 2025, while Bitcoin and other altcoins saw declines. Trading volume for DUSK on centralized exchanges reached $1.4 billion, indicating strong retail interest. DUSK's appeal lies in its advanced encryption technology, integrating zero-knowledge proofs and zk-SNARKs to balance privacy and regulatory compliance. This approach contrasts with fully anonymous coins, potentially offering a more compliant solution. However, on-chain data from Arkham suggests potential risks, as exchange inflows spiked, indicating possible profit-taking by early investors. The rotation into smaller-cap privacy coins may signal a nearing cycle end, increasing risks for those entering at current levels.