In the fast-paced world of crypto, opinions from influential figures can spark trends overnight. Ryan Bethencourt, a biotech entrepreneur, investor, and host of the DeSci Pilled podcast, recently shared a tweet that's got the community buzzing. He declared, "I think I've been converted on $ZEC. Never fade @naval @balajis & our man @0xMert_. Onwards with Encrypted BTC." You can check out the full tweet here.

For those not deep in the crypto weeds, $ZEC stands for Zcash, a cryptocurrency launched in 2016 that's all about privacy. Unlike Bitcoin, where transactions are public on the blockchain, Zcash uses advanced cryptography called zero-knowledge proofs (zk-proofs) to let users hide transaction details while still verifying they're legit. Bethencourt calls it "Encrypted BTC," which captures its essence as a privacy-enhanced version of Bitcoin. It's not a meme token per se, but its focus on anonymity has inspired plenty of meme-like hype over the years.

Bethencourt's shoutout isn't coming out of nowhere. He's crediting big names like Naval Ravikant (co-founder of AngelList and a crypto philosopher), Balaji Srinivasan (former CTO of Coinbase and a vocal futurist), and @0xMert_, who is likely Mert Mumtaz, the CEO of Helius Labs and a key player in the Solana ecosystem. These folks have been pushing ideas around privacy, decentralization, and the future of money, and it seems their influence has swayed Bethencourt.

What's particularly interesting for us at Meme Insider is how this ties into the meme token scene, especially on Solana. Just a day before his $ZEC conversion tweet, Bethencourt posted about privacy heating up on Solana, naming tokens like $UMBRA, $DARK, $ZERA, and $NULL as part of the wave—explicitly linking it to $ZEC's momentum. Solana, if you're new to it, is a high-performance blockchain known for lightning-fast transactions and low fees, making it a hotbed for meme tokens and experimental projects.

These mentioned tokens appear to be riding the privacy wave:

• $DARK: Associated with Dark Protocol, a project aiming to bring zero-knowledge compute and cheaper private transactions to Solana. It's part of efforts to make privacy a native feature on the chain.

• $ZERA: This one seems tied to emerging privacy tools, possibly inspired by zero-knowledge tech, though details are still bubbling up in the community.

• $NULL: Linked to initiatives like Nulltrace, which is building a full-stack privacy layer on Solana, including DEXes, AI integrations, and wallets for confidential DeFi.

• $UMBRA: Another privacy-focused player, potentially drawing from broader Solana privacy advancements like confidential balances and zk-token extensions.

While some of these might lean more toward utility than pure memes, the crypto world blurs those lines. Meme tokens thrive on hype, community, and timely narratives, and privacy is a killer theme right now. With global concerns over data surveillance and financial tracking, tokens that promise anonymity can go viral fast—think of how Monero ($XMR) has its cult following, which Bethencourt even predicted Zcash might flip in an earlier post.

Bethencourt's background adds extra weight here. As a founder in biotech (IndieBio, Wild Earth) and now deep in DeSci—decentralized science, where blockchain meets research—he sees privacy as crucial. In DeSci, protecting intellectual property, patient data, or collaborative research without central gatekeepers could be game-changing. If $ZEC and Solana privacy tokens enable that, we're looking at real-world utility blending with meme energy.

So, is this the start of a privacy meme token boom? Bethencourt's evolution from calling $ZEC and $XMR "dino coins" to embracing $ZEC suggests a shift. Keep an eye on Solana's meme scene; tokens like $DARK and friends could pump if more influencers pile in. As always, do your own research—this space moves quick, and volatility is the name of the game.

If you're into meme tokens with a tech twist, privacy ones might be the next frontier. What do you think—will $ZEC's glow-up lift these Solana underdogs? Drop your thoughts in the comments!