The Monero Moon (Issue 69)
The Monero Moon (Issue 69)
The Monero Moon is a curated newsletter covering all the latest news within Monero (XMR). We are 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 Konferenco, aka MoneroKon, an annual conference dedicated to Monero and privacy technologies, took place last weekend in Prague. Now in its fourth year, the event brought together the Monero community for insightful talks, workshops, and networking. Attendees explored the latest advancements in privacy tech, blockchain, and the future of Monero, highlighting the project's ongoing commitment to decentralization and financial privacy. The conference was live-streamed on YouTube, and some of the talks are available for viewing on the Monero Community Workgroup YouTube channel.
Congratulations to the winners of MoneroKon’s first hackathon, ‘Monerothon’! The Anti-Fragility Award went to the Fast-Sync feature in Cuprate. The Best Design Award was claimed by the project Spoke, and the Best Project Improvement Award was shared by Fast-Sync in Cuprate, the Monero Inflation Checker, and Walletudo. You can find more information here.
woodser has released Haveno v1.0.7, now supporting PayPal, CashApp, and Venmo as payment methods. This update includes improvements such as enhanced reliability for confirming payments, issue fixes for publishing trade statistics, and proof-of-work defense for Tor services. Additionally, it offers various bug fixes and updates, including full-screen terms of acceptance for readability and the latest monero-java 0.8.29 integration. Installation notes and the full changelog are available on GitHub.
COMIT has released v0.13.1 of its XMR-BTC atomic swap implementation, xmr-btc-swap. This tool allows for atomic swaps between Bitcoin and Monero, facilitating secure, decentralized exchanges without a trusted third party. The latest update includes retry logic for Monero wallet refreshes. More information can be found here.
woodser has released v0.8.29 of the monero-java library. This update includes changes such as catching unsatisfied link errors when loading native libraries to prevent core dumps, and deferring the loading of these libraries in MoneroUtils until they are actually required. The monero-java library is a Java library for creating Monero applications using RPC and JNI bindings, supporting various wallet types, multisig, view-only, and offline wallets. The full changelog is available on GitHub.
hinto-janai has completed the first milestone for their Cuprate CCS proposal, finalizing the initial RPC design and moving on to implementation. Cuprate is an alternative Monero node, built from scratch in Rust, designed to independently validate Monero consensus rules, thereby enhancing the network's security and redundancy. It also aims to minimize risks from implementation bugs and memory safety issues compared to monerod. For more details and updates, check out the discussion and repository links on GitHub.
anhdres from Monerujo announced the release of Sidekick, a new Android app that functions as a secure replacement for dedicated Monero hardware wallets. Although still in its super alpha phase, Sidekick is now available for testing. It allows users to keep their wallet keys on a separate, offline Android device, communicating with the Monerujo app via encrypted Bluetooth to ensure security. This setup bridges the gap between a hardware wallet and a regular hot wallet, offering enhanced security with the convenience of mobile technology. To get started, download both the Monerujo and Sidekick APKs, follow the setup instructions, and give them your feedback!
Cake Labs has released Cake Wallet v4.18.2, reintroducing the Cake Pay gift card marketplace integration within the app, which allows users to purchase gift cards with XMR. Additionally, Monero.com v1.15.2, a Monero-only wallet from Cake Labs, was also released.
MrCyjaneK has posted the third progress report for their Unnamed Monero Wallet (xmruw) CCS proposal. This wallet is designed to be highly portable and closely aligned with Monero's wallet2 API, emphasizing privacy, security, and user experience across multiple platforms. The latest update covers the completion of the migration to GitHub, enhancements for SailfishOS, and the addition of full UR support. Despite some delays, significant progress has been made. The wallet aims to be a comprehensive and secure Monero solution for various devices. More information and website links can be found here.
Nahuhh aka ofrnxmr has released v0.13.2-dev_wow of basicswap-bash, a suite of bash scripts designed to install and manage BasicSwapDEX across various platforms including Windows (via WSL), Debian, Ubuntu, Arch, and Fedora. Detailed installation instructions can be found on the GitHub release page.
FullmetalScience has released v0.1.0 of OGRE, a command-line and console interface for the TradeOgre crypto exchange, optimized for swing-trading XMR to BTC. OGRE allows users to manage their orders without the need to log in via a browser, simplifying the trading process. This tool is part of the sxmo-onfire collection of portable productivity tools and is not affiliated with TradeOgre. Installation instructions and a list of features can be found on GitLab. For more information, visit xmr.zone.
ditatompel has open-sourced the code for their Public Monero Remote Nodes aggregator, a website that allows users to monitor their favorite Monero remote nodes. This tool, available at xmr.ditatompel.com, features a server-client architecture where clients fetch and report node information to the server, which then provides a Web UI and API endpoint. The project is still in early development stages, so caution is advised for those wishing to use it on their own servers. The code is licensed under the GLWTPL. More information can be found here and here.
Mining or running a Monero node is crucial for the security and decentralization of the network. By participating, individuals contribute to the verification and validation of transactions, ensuring that the network remains censorship-resistant. This decentralized approach enhances privacy, making Monero a robust and secure cryptocurrency. Additionally, running a node supports the network's resilience and integrity, distributing power across many users rather than a few centralized entities. This collective effort not only strengthens the Monero ecosystem but also upholds the core principles of financial freedom and privacy for all users. 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.
spackle-xmr has released v250.18.3.3.1 of the Monero Stressnet Node, a hard fork of Monero’s main testnet at block height 2,508,830, designed to identify bottlenecks in database processing. This version adds more seed nodes, bootup instructions, and various updates. The stressnet is currently operating smoothly with nine nodes and is prepared for intensive testing, which is set to begin at 15:00 UTC on June 19th. The initiative, supported by contributors like Rucknium, aims to enhance Monero’s robustness. However, running a node on this stressnet provides a much smaller anonymity set compared to the mainnet, which may pose a privacy risk for users with high security needs. More details about how to get involved and help out can be found 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.
General News
Two more ‘general-themed’ videos from MoneroKon 2024 are now available on the Monero Community Workgroup YouTube channel. One is by Juraj Bednar, titled "Cypherpunk: Past, Present, and Future," and the other is by Jan Jílek & Tomáš Elbert, titled "Self-custody Inheritance and Its Risks." These videos offer valuable insights into the evolution of cypherpunk philosophy and the challenges of self-custody inheritance. Check them out for some thought-provoking content!
Monero Talk hosted a live stream of Monerotopia #169 from Monerokon. The stream featured a number of special guests. It included a price report by bawdyanarchist, provided a comprehensive overview of the latest Monero developments, news of the week, and engaging discussions. The live stream also included games from the CopaMonero pre-show and more. For those who missed it, check out the highlights and catch up on all the insights from MoneroKon!
Monero.com by Cake Wallet has released a new episode of their Monero Minute, a concise news recap covering the latest developments in the Monero ecosystem. Check it out here.
Revuo Monero Issue #198 has been published. Check it out for a weekly dose of Monero news.
In the first report on the use of encrypted communications in criminal investigations, the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security highlights Monero as the most commonly used privacy coin. The report, developed by various EU agencies including Europol and Eurojust, explores the balance between securing private communications and enabling investigations. It claims that while Monero provides enhanced privacy features, it has not surpassed Bitcoin in popularity among criminals due to its lower liquidity and delisting from many exchanges, which impacts compliance with anti-money laundering regulations. Read the full report here.
Freedom Tools has published a straightforward and easy-to-follow guide for newcomers on how to obtain Monero. Despite its delisting from many exchanges, the guide outlines two main methods to acquire Monero: using a centralized exchange (CEX) or exchanging peer-to-peer (P2P). The guide also emphasizes the importance of transferring XMR to a non-custodial wallet for added security. Check out the guide here.
LIBERECO has published a new blog post by Untraceable titled "Monero's ASIC Resistant Resilience." The article explores how Monero's commitment to an ASIC-resistant mining algorithm, RandomX, enhances its resilience and censorship resistance compared to other cryptocurrencies. It highlights the advantages of CPU mining in maintaining a decentralized and accessible network, and the challenges of ASIC dominance in other coins like Bitcoin. The post also addresses the potential drawbacks, such as botnet mining, but underscores the importance of maintaining Monero’s privacy and security standards. Read the full post on LIBERECO's blog.
Events
OrangeFren.com, with the support of Cake Wallet, is organizing a Monero community meetup in Berlin, Germany on Saturday, June 29. The event will take place at Betahaus on Rudi-Dutschke-Straße 23, starting at 15:00. Attendees will receive a free Cake Wallet waterproof jacket. This meetup aims to keep the momentum going after MoneroKon. Sign up at OrangeFren.com or Meetup.com for more details and to join the event!
A Monero Research Lab (MRL) meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 19, 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 channel if you want to lurk in real-time.
Exchanges and Merchants
Untraceable posted that Haveno, Monero's peer-to-peer exchange, now boasts over 200 XMR in liquidity and is facilitating over $15,000 in weekly exchange volume. This significant milestone highlights Haveno's growing role in the Monero ecosystem.
Exercise caution if you are currently using Haveno-Reto. Rumors are circulating on the dark web that the Reto fork of Haveno may be a honeypot. More information can be found here.
A set of physical Monero coins by Lealana is available for purchase on the BitcoinTalk forum. The set includes 25XMR, 50XMR, and 100XMR coins, each loaded with XMR, and comes with original paper and digital certificates. The seller, dazedfool, is asking for 200XMR or the equivalent in BTC. For more details and to make an offer, visit the BitcoinTalk forum post.
Monero Master has released a new video outlining practical steps for building a Monero circular economy. This video provides actionable insights on how to integrate Monero into everyday transactions, encouraging widespread adoption and usage.
Schmidt has shared a straightforward list of websites where you can spend your Monero (XMR) for various goods and services. Contrary to the misconception that Monero can't be used for shopping, these sites make it easy to use XMR:
XMR Bazaar (User: beta, Pass: tester)
Explore these platforms and discover how simple it is to use Monero for everyday purchases.
Monero Market, a platform where users can buy and sell goods and services using Monero, has just launched direct payments on their website, MoneroMarket.io. This feature allows for seamless, peer-to-peer transactions, enhancing the ease and security of using Monero for everyday purchases.
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.
Spirobel is seeking funding to continue development on Monerochan.news and Monerochan.cash. These projects aim to enhance Monero-related news and transaction services. To support Spirobel’s work, visit the fundraiser page or contact via Twitter.
There are also a large number of independent fundraisers taking place over on Kuno. Kuno is a decentralized fundraising platform that emphasizes privacy and transparency, enabling users to create and support projects with Monero. It ensures secure and anonymous transactions for campaign contributions. Check it out here.
Trading and Speculation
Network Metrics
Total Monero in Circulation — 18,449,340 XMR
Monero Total Marketcap — $3,300,003,124
Coinmarketcap Ranking — #30
XMR/USD Price — $176 USD
XMR/BTC Price — 0.002640 BTC
Monero.Boats’ Monero Street Price — $183 USD (+3.59%)
Average Transaction Fee — 0.00042 XMR ($0.07)
Monero Network Hashrate —2.53 Ghash/s
Monero Mining Pools Hashrate Distribution —
Entertainment
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