The one and only driving forces for a blockchain is immutable transactions. Additional driving forces apply to BTC including but not limited to it not being deflationary, difficulty adjustment, calculated mining rewards, open ledger.

If you haven't used privacy coins before, i give you an example. Say you want to send Dash to someone, then what you do is this:
1. You send the amount to someone's address

Then

2. You give the transaction ID and the amount.

If the two match then Bob's your uncle.

I don't like privacy coins.