Monero blasted past its old peak to hit $598 Monday, up 19% in a day that has traders buzzing. Veteran chart expert Peter Brandt drew eyes to its chart, spotting a pattern like silver’s huge jump before a monster candle formed. This privacy coin now tops $10 billion in value for the first time. What sparked this fire, and can it keep burning?
Monero surged over 30% in days to claim a fresh record at $598. The coin traded at $574 by late Monday, with daily volume topping $395 million, the most in a month. Its market cap crossed $10.7 billion, leaving past highs in the dust.
This move ended years of struggle. Monero topped out near $517 back in May 2021. Since late 2024, it climbed steady, flipping old roadblocks into support. Buyers grabbed every dip, pushing price with force.
XMR dominance hit levels not seen since 2023. That measure shows its slice of the crypto pie growing fast. Price soared while dominance stayed low, a sign more cash could flow in.
Peter Brandt Sees Echoes of Silver’s Big Leap
Peter Brandt, a trader with 50 years calling markets, shared charts this week that lit up talk. He lined up Monero’s monthly view next to silver’s quarterly one. Both had two big tops years apart that drew a key resistance line.
Silver tested that line for decades before busting free. It then lit a “god candle,” a fat green bar signaling wild gains to $84 an ounce from late 2025 lows. Brandt skipped price guesses but let the charts speak. If Monero clears its line clean, history might repeat.
Traders know Brandt’s eye for patterns. His call adds weight as Monero holds above $570 support. One analyst noted buyers show no quit, with no sell-off signs yet.
Silver’s path offers clues. It consolidated long under pressure, then exploded on fresh demand. Monero mirrors that grind, now free after delistings and rules bit hard.
Privacy Push Ignites Rally in Coins Like XMR
Demand for hidden trades spiked amid tighter rules. Dubai’s finance watchdog banned privacy tokens Sunday over money wash fears. That spotlight proved Monero’s tech works too well, drawing users who want no traces.
Zcash stumbled hard. Its team quit January 7 over fights, tanking the coin 25% to $40. Cash rotated to Monero as the top pick for real privacy.
Geopolitical heat helps too. Reports show Iran funneled billions in crypto past sanctions. Stablecoins got frozen, like Tether’s $182 million grab from bad wallets. Folks flee trackable assets.
Here are main drivers behind the surge:
- Rule crackdowns boost need for untraceable cash.
- Zcash woes shift eyes and funds to Monero.
- Global tensions make privacy a must-have.
Monero hardened its guard last fall. The Fluorine Fermi update in October 2025 fought spy nodes that snoop relays.
Privacy Sector Heats Up, But Risks Linger
Monero leads a privacy coin bounce. Dash and others gained double digits, but none match XMR’s fire.
| Coin | 24h Change | Market Cap | Recent High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monero (XMR) | +19% | $10.7B | $598 |
| Zcash (ZEC) | -5% | $6.2B | $53 |
| Dash (DASH) | +12% | $1.1B | $45 |
Data from CoinMarketCap as of January 12, 2026.
Exchanges still shun Monero over regs. That scarcity adds edge but caps easy buys. Bulls eye $700 if the channel holds.
Short squeezes fueled part of the pop. Holiday lulls hid bets against it, now unwinding.
Monero’s run grabs hearts in a market chasing safety amid chaos. From quiet builds to breakout glory, it shows patience pays. Privacy stands tall as chains tighten, offering hope for those dodging the watch. This could reshape how we hide value in digital storms.

