U.S. whistleblower and former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden has weighed in on the Zcash (ZEC) debate, calling the cryptocurrency the “best in this space.” Snowden’s apparent endorsement of ZEC over rival monero ( XMR) came amid renewed discussion of privacy coins, following ZEC’s surge of more than 1,000% in the past two months.

Despite its recent parabolic rally and growing visibility, critics argue that ZEC’s technology remains inferior to Monero’s because Zcash offers optional privacy. Zcash users must opt-in to shielded transactions, whereas Monero’s use of Ring Signatures, RingCTs, and Stealth Addresses makes privacy mandatory by default. This ensures that Monero’s anonymity set is always the largest possible, offering a more ironclad and fungible form of digital cash.

Consequently, some critics have attributed ZEC’s surge to its highest value in seven years to market manipulation or coordinated pump activity. Reports from outlets such as Bitcoin.com News suggest that social media posts by former BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes played a role in fueling the rally. Hayes’ bold price prediction was quickly followed by a sharp 30% jump in just 24 hours, a spike that analysts say triggered a month‑long FOMO frenzy among traders.

Other analysts argue the surge reflects a pump‑and‑dump scheme by unidentified whales, while some point to claims that North Korean hackers have used ZEC to launder stolen funds.

In a video circulating on X, Snowden — who was involved in ZEC’s launch — reaffirmed his support for the coin, while taking aim at Monero:

Zcash, I have said repeatedly, really does the best in this space, with their shielded transactions…. There are other cryptocurrencies like Monero, a privacy coin which is having a lot of trouble being listed on exchanges, which has a sort of privacy by default, but is a lower measure; they’re just playing a shell game, and those shell games really don’t last.

Snowden’s comments drew praise from ZEC supporters but provoked backlash from the Monero community, who accused him of self‑interest and faulted his lack of technical reasoning in dismissing XMR. They countered that Monero’s long‑standing adoption and proven resilience demonstrate its strength, regardless of Snowden’s stance.

• What did Edward Snowden say about Zcash? He called ZEC the “best in this space” and endorsed its shielded transactions.
• How does Zcash differ from Monero? ZEC offers optional privacy, while Monero enforces privacy by default with RingCTs and stealth addresses.
• Why has ZEC surged recently? Analysts cite social media hype, whale activity, and possible manipulation behind its 1,000% rally.
• What controversies surround the surge? Critics point to pump‑and‑dump schemes and claims North Korean hackers used ZEC to launder funds.

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