Dash (DASH) posted a 102.5% weekly gain to become the strongest performer among privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, driven by a spike in trading volume and new fiat on‑ramp access.
DASH breached the $88.5 level as volumes expanded sharply. Trading volume topped $1.3 billion over the period, making Dash the most actively traded asset in the privacy-coin segment, according to market data cited in the report. Monero (XMR) also rallied, recording roughly a 60% weekly gain and reclaiming highs near $800, but its rise lagged DASH’s faster short‑term appreciation.
Zcash (ZEC) posted strong year‑to‑date performance — highlighted as an 800% gain in the wider 2025 story — yet it did not match DASH’s immediate weekly momentum. The broader sector registered gains across most tokens; the report noted about 80% of privacy coins rose in 2026, signalling a sector‑wide revival rather than an isolated spike.
The analysis reported that DASH is accepted by 1.682 merchants compared with Monero’s 1.225, giving Dash a measurable edge in real‑world utility. Analysts cited in the coverage placed short‑term price targets between $98 and $103, while cautioning that technical indicators provide possibilities, not certainties.
Regulation, catalysts and risks
The rebound in privacy tokens has been driven by growing demand for transactional anonymity amid heightened global regulatory scrutiny. The report linked this dynamic to recent policy moves such as the U.S. legislative proposals mentioned and the EU’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets framework (MiCA), which together have increased focus on AML/KYC compliance and triggered some delistings of privacy assets.
On january 13, Alchemy Pay announced fiat on‑ramp support for DASH in 173 countries, improving accessibility and reducing a long‑standing adoption barrier. That integration, together with merchant acceptance, was presented as a key catalyst for capital rotation into Dash from rivals like Zcash and Monero.
Regulatory headwinds remain material. The report noted a proposed EU measure to ban anonymous crypto accounts is slated to take effect in 2027; that implementation would affect market structure and could curtail certain on‑ and off‑ramp pathways for privacy coins. Investors should weigh potential delisting risk, changing exchange policies and compliance costs alongside adoption metrics.
Investors are now watching whether DASH can sustain higher volumes and merchant usage to justify elevated valuations. The short‑term technical strength has drawn capital, but continued outperformance will depend on measurable adoption and how exchanges and regulators react as the 2027 EU measures approach.
