Zcash (ZEC) has seen its shielded supply surge to 4.5 million by mid-October, up from 2 million in January 2025, according to CoinMetrics data. This increase highlights a growing interest in privacy and decentralization within the cryptocurrency community. The sharpest rise occurred in October, reflecting heightened confidence among privacy-focused investors. Eli Ben-Sasson, co-founder of Zcash and leader of Starknet.io, attributes this renewed interest to fundamental values such as privacy and decentralization, rather than speculative motives. The trend aligns with broader discussions on enhancing privacy technologies in blockchain.