The Winklevoss twins are putting fresh money behind crypto privacy, donating more than $1 million worth of Zcash tokens to support development of the privacy-focused blockchain.
Summary
- A Winklevoss donation underscores the twins’ broader bet on Zcash as a leading privacy protocol.
- Shielded Labs said the funds will be used to bolster the network’s long-term security, sustainability, and scalability.
- ZEC is up about 626% from last year around this time.
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders of crypto exchange Gemini, donated 3,221 ZEC—valued at about $1.4 million—to Shielded Labs, an independent organization that funds core work on the Zcash network.
Privacy is the next frontier in crypto. It’s the point at which government and corporate overreach end and your freedom and self-sovereignty begin. @ShieldedLabs is committed to building Zcash — unstoppable private money. That’s why @tyler and I are supporting their mission. https://t.co/Y63ynX0TGY
— Cameron Winklevoss (@cameron) January 20, 2026
Cameron Winklevoss called Zcash “unstoppable private money,” saying privacy represents crypto’s next major frontier amid growing government and corporate surveillance.
The donation underscores the twins’ broader bet on Zcash as a leading privacy protocol. Beyond the gift, they back Cypherpunk Technologies, a crypto treasury company that holds roughly 290,000 ZEC worth more than $100 million.
Shielded Labs said the funds will be used to bolster the network’s long-term security, sustainability, and scalability.
Zcash, which allows users to transact without publicly revealing addresses or amounts—while still offering optional disclosure for compliance—was one of crypto’s standout performers last year, surging more than 600% amid renewed interest in privacy coins.
Despite that rally, ZEC is down about 30% year to date and was trading near $357 on Tuesday, highlighting the volatility that continues to define the sector even as prominent backers deepen their support.
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