Move Aside Bitcoin, Monero Smashes $800 as Privacy Becomes a Macro Trade

Move aside, Bitcoin. There’s a new king in town. Shockingly, as we enter 2026 it’s looking like the new Bitcoin and Ethereum are Monero and Zcash.

Some fans of

Monero
XMR

$711.04


0.57%

Monero
XMR


Price

$711.04

0.57% /24h





Volume in 24h

$656.23M



Price 7d

Learn more

are even saying on X that “it can and will” replace BTC and Bitcoin’s actual use case is “mass surveillance.”

Monero to $10K would retire every criminal thus ending crime worldwide

— CRONK Crypto Reporter (@CryptoCronkite) January 12, 2026

Monero just did what privacy coins were supposedly never allowed to do again. XMR surged past $797 this week, setting another new all-time high and capping a seven-day rally of more than 57%.

At its peak, Monero’s market cap cleared $13 Bn, briefly pushing it into the top 15 crypto assets by size. Trading volumes followed the price higher and the $1,000 waiting room is open. Here’s what’s next for Monero and the 2026 privacy trade:

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If Monero Is Banned, Why Is It Pumping to New Highs?

Market Cap

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Across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, regulators are tightening KYC and AML rules and tightening the screws on privacy coins.  Dubai’s financial regulator recently barred privacy coins from the DIFC and the EU is preparing rules that would effectively ban anonymous crypto accounts by 2027.

The bans became proof of concept. Demand exploded the moment governments made it clear they wanted this technology dead.

Riccardo Spagni, former Monero maintainer put it simply:  “There’s a global shift toward recognizing that privacy is instrumental and critical to us as individuals and as a civilization.”

Top Gainers in 24h

Veteran trader Peter Brandt, an infamous Bitcoin maxi, also stepped in to invest in Monero, citing structure rather than narrative.

Everyone is taking notice of Monero, even more so than Zcash. It makes sense as Monero is the only other cryptocurrency where the founder is also anyonomous.

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What Does the TA Show For Monero Crypto?

CoinGecko data shows XMR is up more than 120% YoY. Moreover, Monero’s liquidity has been thinning, with fewer coins available on centralized venues.

Meanwhile, broader crypto privacy tooling has become a stated priority across Ethereum and institutional research circles, according to multiple 2025 developer roadmaps.

As for Monero’s technical structure it is consolidating after a sharp impulse, yet not rolling over.

Key levels to watch:

• Support: $700–705, then $675
• Resistance: $760, then the psychological $800 zone
• The 20-day SMA is rising and holding price.
• The 200-day SMA remains far below, confirming trend control.

Lastly, the Bollinger Bands expanded on the breakout and are now compressing, classic post-impulse behavior. It really does seem like Monero will hit $1,000 first before ZEC.

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The Bigger Picture

Privacy is no longer a fringe crypto debate. It’s colliding with macro surveillance, capital controls, and digital ID Orwellian-styled governments.

I’ve watched enough “dead” narratives come back to life to know this setup deserves respect. Monero isn’t rallying despite regulation. It’s rallying because of it. That should make you very interested.

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