Defensive Crypto Is Evolving — and Privacy Is Part of It
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Grayscale attributes the Q4 strength in privacy tokens partly to defensive positioning within crypto markets. In its framework, privacy assets fall under the “currencies” subsector — tokens primarily used as stores of value or mediums of exchange rather than application platforms. While this subsector still declined overall, it outperformed smart contract platforms, AI tokens, and consumer-focused crypto segments.
Traditionally, defensive behavior in crypto has centered on Bitcoin, often framed as digital gold. But as Bitcoin’s correlation with tech equities has grown, that role appears to be shifting. In Q4, amid marketwide liquidations and structural stress, investors increasingly gravitated toward privacy assets — suggesting that in uncertain conditions, confidentiality itself may be emerging as a form of digital defense.
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monero just quietly doing its thing as usual