Step aside, Bitcoin. There’s a new king in town. Surprisingly, as we enter 2026, it appears that the new Bitcoin and Ethereum are Monero and Zcash.
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Monero
0.57%
Monero
XMR
Price
$711.04
0.57% /24h
Volume in 24 hours
$656.23 million
7d price
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even say on X that “it can and will” replace BTC and that the real use case for Bitcoin is “mass surveillance”.
$10,000 Monero Would Retire All Criminals, Ending Crime Worldwide
— CRONK
Crypto Reporter (@CryptoCronkite) January 12, 2026
Crypto Reporter (@CryptoCronkite)
Monero just did what privacy coins were never supposed to do again. XMR surpassed $797 this week, establishing another new all-time high and capping a rally of more than 57% over seven days.
At its peak, Monero’s market capitalization reached $13 billion, briefly placing it among the top 15 crypto assets by size. Trading volumes have followed the price rise and the $1,000 waiting room is open. Here’s what’s next for Monero and privacy trading in 2026:
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If Monero is banned, why is it reaching new highs?
In Europe, the Middle East and Asia, regulators are strengthening KYC and AML rules and tightening the screws on privacy coins. Dubai’s financial regulator recently banned DIFC privacy coins and the EU is preparing rules that would effectively ban anonymous crypto accounts by 2027.
The bans became a proof of concept. Demand exploded as governments made it clear they wanted the technology dead.
Riccardo Spagni, former head of Monero, put it simply: “There is a global shift towards recognizing that privacy is essential and essential to us as individuals and as a civilization. »
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Veteran trader Peter Brandt, a famous Bitcoin maxi, also weighed in to invest in Monero, citing structure rather than narrative.
Everyone notices Monero, even more than Zcash. This makes sense because Monero is the only other cryptocurrency whose founder is also anonymous.
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What does the TA show for Monero Crypto?
Data from CoinGecko shows that XMR is up over 120% year-over-year. Additionally, Monero’s liquidity has dwindled, with fewer coins available on centralized sites.
Meanwhile, broader cryptographic privacy tools have become a stated priority in Ethereum research and institutional circles, according to several 2025 developer roadmaps.
As for the technical structure of Monero, it consolidates after a strong impulse, but does not reverse itself.
Key levels to watch:
- Assistance: $700 to $705, then $675
- Resistance: $760, then the psychological zone of $800
- The 20-day SMA is rising and holding the price.
- The 200-day SMA remains well below, confirming trend control.
Finally, Bollinger Bands have extended on the breakout and are now compressing, classic post-impulse behavior. It really looks like Monero will hit $1,000 before ZEC.
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Overview
Privacy is no longer a fringe debate in crypto. This collides with the macro-surveillance, capital controls and digital identification of Orwellian-style governments.
I’ve seen enough “dead” stories brought back to life to know that this setup deserves respect. Monero not rallying despite regulations. That’s how things come together. This should make you very interested.
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Key takeaways
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Surprisingly, as we enter 2026, it appears that the new Bitcoin and Ethereum are Monero and Zcash.
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Privacy is no longer a fringe debate in crypto. This collides with the macro-surveillance, capital controls and digital identification of Orwellian-style governments.
The post Move Away Bitcoin, Monero Crushes $800 as Privacy Becomes a Macro Exchange appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
