ZEC-USD vs. BTC-USD
ZEC-USD (ZCash) and BTC-USD (Bitcoin) are both cryptocurrencies. Over the past 5 years, ZEC-USD returned 27.93%/yr vs 12.33%/yr for BTC-USD. A 0.58 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
ZEC-USD vs. BTC-USD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ZEC-USD achieves a -15.43% return, which is significantly higher than BTC-USD's -27.34% return.
ZEC-USD
- 1D
- 5.84%
- 1M
- -24.49%
- YTD
- -15.43%
- 6M
- -4.27%
- 1Y
- 763.69%
- 3Y*
- 157.88%
- 5Y*
- 27.93%
- 10Y*
- —
BTC-USD
- 1D
- 3.47%
- 1M
- -21.00%
- YTD
- -27.34%
- 6M
- -31.30%
- 1Y
- -41.49%
- 3Y*
- 34.89%
- 5Y*
- 12.33%
- 10Y*
- 56.84%
ZEC-USD vs. BTC-USD - Yearly Performance Comparison
Correlation
The correlation between ZEC-USD and BTC-USD is 0.47, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.48 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 31, 2016 | 0.58 |
The correlation between ZEC-USD and BTC-USD shifts across timeframes, from 0.47 (1 year) to 0.58 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
ZEC-USD vs. BTC-USD — Risk / Return Rank
ZEC-USD
BTC-USD
ZEC-USD vs. BTC-USD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ZCash (ZEC-USD) and Bitcoin (BTC-USD). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ZEC-USD | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +5.79 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +5.31 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 0.86 | +0.53 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 10.64 | -0.81 | +11.45 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 20.22 | -1.42 | +21.64 |
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Drawdowns
ZEC-USD vs. BTC-USD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ZEC-USD drawdown since its inception was -97.92%, which is greater than BTC-USD's maximum drawdown of -85.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZEC-USD and BTC-USD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ZEC-USD | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -97.92% | -85.30% | -12.62% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -71.77% | -51.21% | -20.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -71.77% | -51.21% | -20.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -93.77% | -76.67% | -17.10% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -83.80% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -50.99% | -49.02% | -1.97% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -80.94% | -42.34% | -38.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 44.39% | 34.89% | +9.50% |
Volatility
ZEC-USD vs. BTC-USD - Volatility Comparison
ZCash (ZEC-USD) has a higher volatility of 55.77% compared to Bitcoin (BTC-USD) at 12.11%. This indicates that ZEC-USD's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BTC-USD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ZEC-USD | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 55.77% | 12.11% | +43.66% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 98.06% | 34.67% | +63.39% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 131.54% | 35.64% | +95.90% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 91.57% | 44.75% | +46.82% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 98.00% | 56.63% | +41.37% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ZEC-USD and BTC-USD have a correlation of 0.47, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ZEC-USD has higher volatility (55.77%) compared to BTC-USD (12.11%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ZEC-USD dropped -97.92% vs BTC-USD's -85.30%.
ZEC-USD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.83 vs -0.97), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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