XmR

XMR is the native cryptocurrency of the Monero project, launched in 2014. It is designed to be private, fungible digital cash, with transaction details designed to be obfuscated and to resist tracing.

Monero relies on CryptoNote-based technologies to obscure transaction data. Ring signatures mix a real input with decoys, stealth addresses create one-time addresses for recipients, and RingCT hides transaction amounts. Bulletproofs further reduce transaction size, improving efficiency.

Fungibility and privacy are central to Monero. Because transactions are hard to trace, each XMR unit is generally interchangeable with any other, which contrasts with some transparent ledgers. The project promotes privacy by default.

Supply and emission: Monero has no fixed supply cap; it uses a diminishing block reward that gradually approaches a small perpetual tail emission to ensure ongoing security funding.

Mining and network: Monero uses the RandomX proof-of-work algorithm, designed to be CPU-friendly and to resist ASICs, promoting decentralization. Upgrades are implemented through community consensus and hard forks.

Governance and development: Monero is maintained by a decentralized community of researchers, developers, and volunteers. Proposals and changes are discussed openly, with improvements formalized through Monero Improvement Proposals and implemented in network upgrades.

Usage and reception: XMR is traded on many exchanges, held in wallets, and used for private payments. Its privacy features have drawn regulatory scrutiny in some jurisdictions, reflecting tensions between privacy and law enforcement.