Zcash is a proof-of-work cryptocurrency launched October 28, 2016, built on Bitcoin's codebase with one central addition: optional shielded transactions using zk-SNARKs, letting value move without revealing sender, receiver or amount on-chain.
It shares Bitcoin's 21 million cap and halving cadence. The rainbow chart on this site tracks its transparent market price; the privacy tech is the reason the asset exists.