The Monero Moon (Issue 67)
The Monero Moon (Issue 67)
The Monero Moon is a curated newsletter covering all the latest news within Monero (XMR). We are excited to return, driven by a compelling need to champion both freedom and financial privacy!
Table of Contents:
Development, Releases, and Technology
General News
Events
Exchanges and Merchants
Community Crowdfunding
Trading and Speculation
Network Metrics
Entertainment
Development, Releases, and Technology
Monero Observer provided a fantastic summary of the Monero Research Lab meeting held on May 15, 2024. The meeting included updates on various ongoing projects and open discussions. Key updates included work on Full-Chain Membership Proofs (FCMPs), implementing curve trees in C++ for FCMPs, and monitoring transaction patterns on the blockchain. Discussions addressed potential measures against black marble attacks, with a notable rise in specific transaction types linked to LocalMonero's cessation. There was also a detailed discussion on Pre-Seraphis FCMP research, focusing on input systems and the trade-offs between wasted work and space. The group agreed to move forward with an audit proposal for FCMP-RCT composition, including a forward secrecy property. For full details, refer to the Monero Observer’s MRL meeting summary, where you can also find the raw chat log.
Haveno has released version 1.0.5 with significant updates, including Tor improvements, fixes for the backup function, and various bug resolutions. Haveno is a decentralized exchange specifically designed for Monero, allowing users to trade XMR against various other cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies securely and privately. Users can download the installer for Linux, macOS, or Windows, or build from source. For the best performance, running a local Monero node is recommended due to potential Tor network slowness. Full details and installation instructions are available on their GitHub page.
HardenedSteel and retoaccess1 launched the first two public Haveno networks on Monero's mainnet, just 48 hours after the quick start guide was published. HardenedSteel's "haveno-mainnet" and retoaccess1's "haveno-reto" offer different fee structures, attracting traders to test the software with pre-built binaries or by cloning repositories. While the Monero community appreciates the initiative, there are concerns about the potential chaos from multiple fragmented Haveno networks. HardenedSteel has temporarily stopped working on their Haveno network. Users are advised to trade cautiously and use small amounts.
Nihilist has written a guide for Haveno DEX Direct Fiat to Monero transactions using the Face-to-Face (F2F) payment method. The tutorial covers the setup and execution of a Fiat to Monero trade on the decentralized Haveno exchange, emphasizing the importance of security deposits and the role of arbitrators in ensuring fair trades. It also includes detailed steps for installing Haveno, setting up accounts, and completing transactions. While F2F is not the recommended payment method, this guide provides valuable insights into using Haveno DEX for direct trades.
Bald Eagle has put forward a proposal that aims to create and manage a peer-to-peer trading room on Matrix for Monero enthusiasts to buy and sell Monero for fiat with no KYC. This room will leverage Matrix's secure, decentralized communication platform, accessible via Tor and various clients, to provide a private and user-friendly trading environment. The initiative is positioned as a crucial on/off-ramp solution amidst increasing restrictions on Monero trading by major exchanges. Community feedback has been mixed, with some members supporting the concept and others questioning the proposed costs and feasibility.
Kawaii Crypto has developed a Monero street price tracker, featuring price information from Bisq. Check it out at monero.boats.
Cake Wallet and their Monero-exclusive Monero.com wallet will soon support hardware wallets. In the meantime, if you use an Android device, you can use the Monerujo wallet with a Ledger hardware wallet.
Fengzie has proposed integrating Monero into Mobazha, a decentralized marketplace for privacy-focused e-commerce. Mobazha aims to function like a decentralized Amazon, allowing users to buy and sell goods and services with cryptocurrencies, focusing on privacy and using Monero for transactions. The project includes milestones for developing Monero wallet integration, supporting direct payments, and implementing a moderation system to prevent fraud. For more information, including demos and detailed plans, visit the Mobazha website and related links.
BrandyJSon has started developing feather-atomic, a fork of Feather Wallet that integrates COMIT network’s XMR-BTC atomic swap tool. This new version aims to simplify Bitcoin-to-Monero swaps with features like an order book, custom rendezvous points, peer trading options, and a refund address field. For more details, check out the associated bounty, project’s GitHub, and related Monero Observer post.
Meowing Cat has proposed the Monero Poker Infrastructure Project, aiming to develop and enhance a Monero-based poker game platform named PokerUnicorn. The project includes a game server and client, supporting Monero deposits and simultaneous gameplay across multiple games. Meowing Cat, a self-taught full-stack software engineer and game developer, has already published the game server and client repositories. The proposal seeks funding for full-time development to improve and add more features to the game. Community feedback has been positive, noting the working prototype, and further discussions are scheduled to address market needs and differentiation from existing platforms like xmr.poker. Check it out and play the PokerUnicorn demo here.
Monero Observer has released a new Monero Dev Activity Report to provide a big-picture view of Monero's development activity throughout the past week. If you’re interested in the nitty gritty, check it out here.
It is highly recommended that you run a Monero node or mine to enhance network security. You can set up a node using old CPUs or mobile devices at home. Helpful guides can be found here and here, making it accessible even for non-technical users to run a Monero node.
General News
Curious about the upcoming Serai DEX? Watch a recent X (Twitter) Space recording to learn more! Serai is a groundbreaking decentralized exchange, initially supporting Bitcoin, Ethereum, DAI, and Monero. Built from scratch in Rust, it emphasizes user privacy and security through a liquidity-pool-based trading system and economically secured multisig wallets, ensuring a secure trading environment for all users.
Monero Talk interviewed Cryptocomicon, a software developer and long-time Monero community member who first featured on Monero Talk in 2022. They discuss Bitcoin's scaling challenges, Monero's emergence as a decentralized, private, and fungible alternative to traditional finance, and its role in facilitating peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries. The conversation also explores capital flight into Monero as a means of wealth preservation amidst potential financial turmoil and government crackdowns.
Monero Talk held a Monerotopia live stream Episode 166, featuring various segments and discussions. Highlights include guest segments with Nihilist and techleaks24, a price report with Bawdy, and the news of the week with Tux. Topics covered ranged from privacy issues with Bitcoin to climate change surveillance, meat consumption limits in NYC, and an executive order against Bitcoin miners from China. The episode also included a proposal from OfrnXMR, a discussion on Michael Saylor, and insights into the rise of Monero in terrorist financing. The live stream concluded with a viewers on stage segment and final thoughts.
Monero.com by Cake Wallet's Monero Minute is back with the latest updates, including the closing of LocalMonero, new releases from HavenoDEX, the upcoming MoneroKon 2024, and a Monero meetup in Tokyo with SirJaɱzAlot. Watch below or here!
Revuo Monero Issue #195 has been published. Check it out for a weekly dose of Monero news.
SirJaɱzAlot has uploaded a video on Odysee where they read last week’s issue (#66) of the Monero Moon newsletter. Check it out to catch up on the headlines from last week!
Spirobel is seeking someone to buy or take over three Monero-related websites: monerochan.news, monerochan.cash, and monerochan.city. Monerochan.city was intended for a browser wallet project, monerochan.news features articles and interviews about Monero, and monerochan.cash is a portfolio page for Monero projects that could be repurposed. Interested parties can contact Spirobel directly.
Events
SirJaɱzAlot is hosting a Monero Meetup in Tokyo, sponsored by Cake Wallet! The event is happening tonight, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 7:30 PM at The Pink Cow Akasaka, located at 2 Chome-7 Akasaka Minato-ku. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow Monero enthusiasts. Don’t miss out—get down there and check it out!
Cake Wallet will be hosting a Twitter Space with Seth For Privacy to discuss privacy within the Bitcoin and Monero ecosystems, including new developments like Silent Payments. Tune in to the discussion on Wednesday here.
Join the upcoming OrangeFren.com meetup sponsored by eXch.cx in Lugano, Switzerland, set for Sunday, May 26, at the Impact Hub Ticino. The event will start at 15:00, offering a fantastic opportunity for community engagement and networking. Tickets are free. Sign up for the event here.
The MoneroKon Hackathon, scheduled for June 7-9, 2024 in Prague, Czechia, promises an engaging 48-hour event focused on enhancing security, privacy, and decentralization within the Monero ecosystem. Limited to 100 participants, the hackathon will feature projects aimed at developing the Monero core codebase and its broader ecosystem, providing attendees with free access to the MoneroKon conference, as well as complimentary food, drinks, accommodations, and the opportunity to win over $6,000 in prizes and bounties. For more details and to register, visit Monerokon.org.
DangerousFreedom1984 is rallying participants for a collaborative project at the MoneroKon hackathon, aiming to enhance moneroinflation.com. The focus is on improving user experience and optimizing real-time block verification, welcoming coders of all skill levels. Interested hackers can join for free and should contact via email for more details.
In related news, the next MoneroKon 2024 Planning Meeting is set for Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 1700 UTC in the #monero-events channel. This meeting will cover important updates and planning details for the upcoming conference. More information regarding the meeting can be found here.
MoneroKon 2024 itself will run concurrently with the hackathon in Prague. This annual event draws privacy advocates, cypherpunks, researchers, and developers from around the globe, dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of privacy-enhancing technologies and distributed systems.
The Monerokon 2024 event schedule can be viewed here.
The inaugural Copa Monero soccer tournament will debut live on Saturday, June 8th, during MoneroKon, with all games streaming on the Monero Talk YouTube Channel. The finals will be held on Sunday, November 17th, during the Monerotopia 2024 Conference, broadcasted on big screens in Huerto Roma Verde. Subscribe to Monero Talk to catch every match!
The next Community Workgroup Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 15:00 UTC in the #monero-community IRC channel. The Community Workgroup Meeting will discuss things such as CCS proposals and updates, community highlights, and workgroup reports.
A Monero Research Lab (MRL) meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 17:00 UTC. You can find more information about the meeting here, thanks to the Monero Observer. The MRL meeting will take place in the #monero-research-lab channels if you want to lurk in real-time.
A Seraphis Wallet Workgroup meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 27, 2024 1800 UTC in the #no-wallet-left-behind IRC channel. More information can be found about the meeting can be found here. You can learn more about Seraphis here.
https://github.com/seraphis-migration/strategy/wiki/Seraphis-Wallet-Workgroup
The next Cuprate Meeting is scheduled for May 21, 2024, at 18:00 UTC in the #cuprate channel on IRC. Cuprate is an alternative Monero node, written in Rust, designed to independently validate Monero consensus rules, providing added security, redundancy, and improved memory safety for the network. More information can be found here and here.
Exchanges and Merchants
Collectif Sortie De Banque is working on a project to map all Monero-accepting businesses worldwide. The Monero Map project, aiming to create a dedicated map for private means of exchange, is currently 33% funded with 1.6 XMR raised. A proof of concept has already been completed, listing 50 businesses on OpenStreetMap. The project seeks additional web developers and helpers to expand and maintain the map. For more information, to contribute, or donate, visit monero-map.org and their Kuno fundraiser.
Zia_tim has announced the launch of Trade in Monero (tim), an onion-only alternative to the now-defunct LocalMonero platform, designed to facilitate secure Monero transactions. The platform is currently in beta, and users are encouraged to test it and report bugs. Makers are charged a 1% arbitration protection fee. Personal information is retained only as long as necessary. Users are advised to test with small amounts due to the beta status and the lack of open-source code. More information about tim can be found here thanks to the Monero Observer.
AllArk has introduced mail-based cash exchanges for cryptocurrency in Europe, expanding their Monero services. Since 2022, AllArk has facilitated Monero conversions through bank transfers, mailed cash, and debit card transactions in the US. Now, partnering with OTC trading desks within the EU, AllArk offers tracked and insured mail-based cash exchanges to all EU member states, ensuring delivery within three business days. Check out this post for more information.
Monezon is a new service that allows you to shop on Amazon and pay with XMR, ensuring user anonymity through encrypted communications and order deletion post-delivery. Utilizing a wishlist system, Monezon enables purchases without sharing your physical address, maintaining privacy throughout the shopping process. You can now ship to an Amazon locker, and Trocador has been integrated for purchasing with altcoins. More information can be found on their website. You can also earn $3 in XMR for each order when you join their affiliate program and others use your referral code. Feel free to use ours by clicking here.
NoOnes.com has added Monero (XMR) to both their classic OTC and SilentPool Marketplaces. NoOnes.com is a self proclaimed innovative P2P Bitcoin marketplace and messenger. Check them out here.
MoneroUK have re-released their Monero hats, available for 0.24 XMR or £25, with delivery included within the UK. These hats are ideal for MoneroKon attendees, and a 20% discount is available for in-person delivery at the event. Order soon to avoid missing out due to the lead time. More information can be found here.
Community Crowdfunding
Several crowdfunding proposals are awaiting community feedback before they can start accepting funds through the Community Crowdfunding System (CCS). For now, they are just proposals, but if they receive some positive feedback from the community they will be moved to a “Funding Required” stage so that they can accept Monero donations through the CCS.
Trading and Speculation
On the daily XMR/USD chart, the price has reached the upper boundary of the Ichimoku cloud. A close and consolidation above this cloud would indicate continued bullish momentum for XMR.
RizeSenpai says that despite XMR being delisted from Binance, it has shown resilience by holding above a crucial price level. During the delisting, XMR saw significant sell-offs, but the support level remained intact, suggesting potential accumulation. The price has since stagnated, hinting at a possible upward trend as the bearish trend appears to be ending.
Network Metrics
Total Monero in Circulation — 18,439,426 XMR
Monero Total Marketcap — $2,580,392,789
Coinmarketcap Ranking — #49
XMR/USD Price — $140 USD
XMR/BTC Price — 0.001972 BTC
Monero.Boats’ Monero Street Price — $150 USD
Average Transaction Fee — 0.00034 XMR ($0.048)
Monero Network Hashrate —2.45 Ghash/s
Monero Mining Pools Hashrate Distribution —
Entertainment
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Past Issues
Issue 66 / Issue 65 / Issue 64 / Issue 63 / Issue 62 / Issue 61 / Issue 60 / Issue 59 / Issue 58 / Issue 57 / Issue 56 / Issue 55 / Issue 54 / Issue 53 / Issue 52 / Issue 51 / Issue 50 / Issue 49 / Issue 48 / Issue 47 / Issue 46 / Issue 45 / Issue 44 / Issue 43 / Issue 42 / Issue 41 / Issue 40 / Issue 39 / Issue 38 / Issue 37 / Issue 36 / Issue 35 / Issue 34 / Issue 33 / Issue 32 / Issue 31 / Issue 30 / Issue 29 / Issue 28 / Issue 27 / Issue 26 / Issue 25 / Issue 24 / Issue 23 / Issue 22 / Issue 21 / Issue 20 / Issue 19 / Issue 18 / Issue 17 / Issue 16 / Issue 15 / Issue 14 / Issue 13 / Issue 12 / Issue 11 / Issue 10 / Issue 9 / Issue 8 / Issue 7 / Issue 6 / Issue 5 / Issue 4 / Issue 3 / Issue 2 / Issue 1
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DISCLAIMER: This publication contains opinions for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Information may contain errors and omissions. Use solely at your own risk. The author of this publication and/or the authors of articles linked to or from this site may have financial investments that may bias their opinions, including ownership of Monero currency. Always do your own research, form your own opinions, and never take risks with money or trust third parties without verifying their credibility.
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