In the fast-paced world of crypto, where gains can make or break narratives overnight, Helius Labs CEO Mert has stepped up to defend what he calls the "pioneering privacy project" in the space. If you're new to this, Zcash is a cryptocurrency designed with privacy at its core, using zero-knowledge proofs—fancy tech that lets you prove a transaction happened without revealing who sent what to whom. It's like sending money in a sealed envelope that only the recipient can open, keeping prying eyes out.

Mert's recent tweet, posted on November 25, 2025, takes aim at critics who are apparently dismissing Zcash's performance because it "only" outperformed by 50% this month. Here's the tweet in full:

there are grown men on this app trying to put down the pioneering privacy project in crypto because it's only outperformed by 50% this month

lol

imagine trying to root for a future nanny state

$10,000

You can check out the original thread on X for the full context, including some lively replies.

What's striking here is Mert's jab at those favoring a "nanny state"—a world where governments or big entities monitor every move on the blockchain. Privacy coins like Zcash stand in stark contrast, offering a shield in an era where data is gold. And with Mert predicting a whopping $10,000 price tag, it's clear he's all-in on this conviction play. This isn't just hot air; Mert has been vocal about privacy as the next big frontier in crypto, even calling it the "last 1000x opportunity" in a detailed thesis he shared earlier.

This buzz comes amid a broader resurgence in privacy altcoins, as highlighted in recent discussions on why they're suddenly pumping. Projects like Zcash are gaining traction not just for their tech but for the ideological stand they represent. In a landscape dominated by transparent blockchains like Ethereum and Solana—where Mert's own Helius provides RPC infrastructure—privacy tools are becoming essential for users who want to keep their finances under wraps.

Now, tying this back to the meme token scene we love here at Meme Insider: While Zcash isn't your typical dog-themed pump-and-dump, its community-driven defense has that same viral energy. Threads like this one spark rallies, much like how a single tweet can send a meme coin to the moon. In the replies, you'll even spot shills for emerging memes like $ANAGO, a Solana-based token with a cute dog mascot, showing how privacy narratives bleed into the fun, speculative side of crypto. Imagine private meme trades where your wallet stays anonymous— that's the kind of innovation that could supercharge the next wave of on-chain culture.

Critics might want to "send Zcash to 0," as one reply quipped, but with institutional interest in privacy tech from players like Zama and StarkWare driving the revolution, it's hard to bet against it. Mert's not alone; even the COTI Foundation has chimed in on expanding privacy beyond basics in response to his takes.

If you're a blockchain practitioner eyeing the latest trends, this is a reminder: Privacy isn't just a feature—it's a movement. Whether you're trading memes or building dApps, keeping an eye on Zcash could pay off big time. Who knows, that $10,000 prediction might just become the next big meme.