Monero surged to a new all time high this week as ZEC falters. XMR crossed $590, breaking its previous record from 2021.
Author: Sahil Thakur
12th January 2026 – Monero surged to a new all time high this week as traders rotated into privacy coins. XMR crossed $590, breaking its previous record from 2021. The move stood out as much of the broader crypto market remained range‑bound.
At the same time, Zcash moved in the opposite direction. Governance turmoil inside the Zcash ecosystem pushed ZEC sharply lower. As a result, traders appeared to treat Monero as the safer privacy exposure.
High Signal Summary For A Quick Glance
Matthew Hyland
@MatthewHyland_
$XMR (Monero) 10 year ascending triangle has been broken IMO $10k-$125k over the next 5-20 years https://t.co/RhaaCHOvLF https://t.co/ixfvaiXVjn
$XMR (Monero) 9 year ascending triangle: https://t.co/r77Fk5LMTx
01:33 AM·Jan 12, 2026
John
@0xJon23
Nobody is talking about $XMR ATH. The strongest crypto ever. There’s nothing you can do about it. See you higher. https://t.co/o6Vi8rbKi8
10:35 PM·Jan 11, 2026
𝙶𝚒𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚘
@gialloxmr
$XMR Monero is about to go in price discovery after 10 years of accumulation https://t.co/Z9xxWu7igm
10:58 PM·Jan 10, 2026
The rally in Monero followed a major shakeup at Zcash. Earlier this week, the full Electric Coin Company team resigned. They cited governance disputes and breakdowns with the Bootstrap Project board.
Soon after, ZEC sold off aggressively. The token dropped more than 20 percent in a matter of days. Prices briefly touched the low $360 range before stabilizing.
Meanwhile, Monero benefited from the contrast. With Zcash leadership in flux, traders favored Monero’s simpler governance and longer operational history.
Beyond the Zcash fallout, Monero also drew support from broader market trends. Several institutional research reports highlighted privacy as a growing theme for 2026. Analysts pointed to tighter financial surveillance and declining cash usage as long‑term drivers.
As a result, privacy‑focused assets held up better than many other crypto sectors late last year. Monero’s breakout appears to extend that trend into early 2026.
Still, liquidity remains a factor. Much of Monero’s trading occurs on offshore venues. This structure can amplify price moves, both upward and downward.
From a technical perspective, Monero now sits in price discovery after all time high. However, history urges caution. Similar breakouts failed multiple times in past cycles. Each attempt ended with deep corrections.
If this pattern repeats, XMR could revisit the $200 to $270 zone. That area aligns with long‑term trend support. On the other hand, a sustained hold above the $500 to $520 region would weaken the bearish case.
In that scenario, Monero could follow other assets that broke multi‑year ranges in 2025. That path could open the door toward the $750 area later this year.
Our Crypto Talk is committed to unbiased, transparent, and true reporting to the best of our knowledge. This news article aims to provide accurate information in a timely manner. However, we advise the readers to verify facts independently and consult a professional before making any decisions based on the content since our sources could be wrong too. Check our Terms and conditions for more info.
