Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz Declares Privacy Indispensable for Digital Assets to Retain Value

Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Helius Labs, asserted on November 25, 2025, that privacy is a non-negotiable component for any digital asset to function as a genuine store of value. In a widely circulated social media post, Mumtaz stated, > "in some sense, you cant have a store of value without privacy you can only have a lease of value, at best if it can be seen, it can be seized." This declaration underscores a growing debate within the cryptocurrency community regarding true ownership and financial autonomy.

Mumtaz, a prominent advocate for privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, has consistently highlighted the importance of shielding transaction data from public view. His "His privacy thesis" posits that without robust privacy features, digital assets remain vulnerable to surveillance and potential seizure by authorities or malicious actors, effectively reducing ownership to a temporary "lease." This perspective gains traction amidst increasing global financial surveillance and the development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

The Helius Labs CEO has been a vocal proponent of Zcash (ZEC), a privacy coin utilizing zk-SNARKs technology to enable confidential transactions. Recent months have seen a renewed interest in privacy tokens, with Zcash notably experiencing a significant surge, including a 450% increase over one month and a 38% weekly gain, defying broader market downturns in October 2025. Analysts attribute this resurgence to a shifting market sentiment and a desire for alternatives to transparent blockchain systems.

However, the push for privacy in digital assets faces considerable regulatory hurdles. Jurisdictions like the EU and UK have shown reluctance to accommodate privacy coins due to concerns over anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) compliance. This ongoing tension between user privacy and governmental oversight continues to shape the future landscape of digital finance, as advocates like Mumtaz argue for the fundamental right to private transactions.