Monero

## Privacy by Default - All transactions are private — sender, receiver, and amount hidden by default - Ring signatures hide sender — your transaction mixed with decoys - Stealth addresses hide receiver — one-time addresses for each transaction - RingCT hides amounts — transaction values encrypted - No transparent mode — unlike Zcash, privacy isn't optional ## Address Types - Standard addresses start with "4" — 95 characters long - Subaddresses start with "8" — recommended for receiving, unlinkable to main address - Integrated addresses include payment ID — for exchanges, starts with "4" - Never reuse addresses — generate new subaddress for each transaction ## Transaction Characteristics - Confirmations take ~2 minutes per block — 10 confirmations recommended for security - Transactions are larger than Bitcoin — more data for privacy features - Fees based on transaction size — typically $0.01-0.05 - No RBF — can't speed up stuck transactions - Unlock time: 10 blocks — funds locked for ~20 minutes after receiving ## Wallet Types - Monero GUI — official desktop wallet, full or remote node - Monero CLI — power users, scripting - Feather Wallet — lightweight desktop, recommended for most users - Cake Wallet — mobile, iOS and Android - Hardware: Ledger supports XMR — via Monero GUI or Feather ## Node Considerations - Running own node = maximum privacy — no one sees your queries - Remote nodes see your IP and query patterns — use Tor for privacy - Trusted remote nodes: community-maintained lists exist - Node sync takes days — hundreds of GB storage required - Pruned nodes save space — ~50GB vs ~150GB+ for full ## View Keys and Audit - View key allows seeing incoming transactions — but not outgoing or balances - Useful for accounting without spending access - Proving payments requires tx key — generated per transaction - No public explorer can track you — unlike Bitcoin ## Exchange Considerations - Some exchanges delisted XMR — regulatory pressure - KuCoin, Kraken, others still support — verify current status - Withdrawals may require extra confirmations — exchanges are cautious - No memo/tag needed — address only - Atomic swaps available — decentralized BTC-XMR swaps ## Mining - CPU mineable by design — ASIC resistant RandomX algorithm - Solo mining possible — GUI has built-in miner - Pool mining for consistent rewards — many pools available - P2Pool for decentralized mining — no pool operator trust needed ## Common Issues - "Wallet not synced" — wait for blockchain sync to complete - Balance shows 0 — wallet scanning blockchain, be patient - "Unlock time" — received funds locked for 10 blocks - Transaction stuck — wait, Monero doesn't have RBF - "Daemon not connected" — node connection issue, check settings ## Security Best Practices - Use subaddresses — main address should rarely be shared - Run own node or use Tor — remote nodes see your IP - Verify wallet software — download from getmonero.org only - Hardware wallet for large amounts — Ledger integration available - Keep seed phrase offline — standard crypto security ## Payment Verification - Provide tx key + tx ID + recipient address — proves payment - Receiver can verify without revealing their view key - Block explorers can't verify — privacy preserved - Useful for disputes — cryptographic proof of payment ## Regulatory Awareness - Banned or restricted in some jurisdictions — check local laws - Some exchanges refuse XMR — regulatory compliance - Travel rule compliance impossible — by design - Not illegal in most countries — but scrutinized