Privacy Coins — Detailed Overview
Privacy coins aim to hide transaction amounts and/or participants. This page summarizes well-known projects. Informational only.
Monero (XMR)
Monero uses ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT so that all transactions are obfuscated by default. No optional privacy mode; the chain is designed for privacy. Widely used on darknet markets.
Zcash (ZEC)
Zcash offers optional “shielded” transactions via zk-SNARKs. Transparency is optional; default use on many exchanges is transparent, so privacy depends on user behavior.
Other Privacy-Focused Projects
Other coins and projects (e.g. Dash with PrivateSend, Grin, Beam) offer various privacy features. Adoption and audit status vary. Monero remains the most commonly cited default-privacy coin in open-source darknet reporting.