comparison · Privacy coins
Firo vs Pirate Chain
Both are listed in Privacy coins. The table below pulls directly from each service’s data sheet; see each entry for sourcing.
| Field | Firo | Pirate Chain |
|---|---|---|
| KYC | no KYC | no KYC |
| Category | Privacy coins | Privacy coins |
| Jurisdiction | protocol — independent open source | protocol — independent open source |
| Payment methods | crypto | crypto |
| Fiat on-ramp | no | no |
| Custodial | no | no |
| Open source | yes | yes |
| Founded | 2016 | 2018 |
| Last verified | Jan 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Firo — summary
Firo (formerly Zcoin) is the original Sigma / Lelantus / Spark protocol implementation.
- + Lelantus Spark provides zero-knowledge privacy without a trusted setup.
- + Independent research lineage (Lelantus, Spark) is well-published.
- − Smaller user base than XMR or ZEC.
- − Privacy is opt-in; anonymity set scales with shielded usage.
- − Facts need re-verification by operator (last seeded 2026-01).
Pirate Chain — summary
Pirate Chain takes Zcash and forces shielded-only transactions.
- + All transactions are shielded; no transparent pool option.
- + Built on the Zcash codebase, so the cryptographic underpinnings are reviewed.
- − Smaller user base and liquidity than Monero or Zcash.
- − Smaller dev team; track record of timely upstream-Zcash adoption matters.
- − Facts need re-verification by operator (last seeded 2026-01).
When to choose which
Treat this section as heuristic. Privacy properties depend on how you use the service, not just which one you pick.
- Choose Firo if lelantus spark provides zero-knowledge privacy without a trusted setup..
- Choose Pirate Chain if all transactions are shielded; no transparent pool option..
- Either way, re-check the entry’s last verified date — the Privacy coins category churns.
Compared as of .