Introduction
This edition of the Monero weekly newsletter has been an active one in the Monero ecosystem, with significant developments across various fronts, including software releases, community bounties, and ongoing discussions about future improvements. The Monero community, known for its focus on privacy, security, and decentralization, continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and collaboration. This report provides a detailed overview of the latest movements in Monero, in this newsletter focusing on GitHub contributions, bounty proposals, and updates from community platforms such as bounties site and the CCS proposals site.
Monero GitHub Activity
Latest Releases and Updates
The Monero development team has been actively working on improving the software, as evidenced by recent updates on GitHub. The latest release, v0.18.3.4 “Fluorine Fermi”, introduced several key changes and improvements:
- Removal of Locked Transfers: The release officially removes support for locked transfers, enhancing the overall functionality of the Monero network.
- Daemon Enhancements:
- Skipped privacy networks without outgoing connections.
- Fixed issues with duplicate transactions in the fluff queue and unintended disconnections.
- Resolved bugs in the ZMQ DaemonInfo module.
- Wallet Improvements:
- Added support for Ledger Flex hardware wallets.
- Fixed stagenet wallet restore height estimation.
- Bug Fixes: Addressed issues with the log rotation mechanism.
This release involved contributions from eight developers who made 39 commits, adding 535 lines of new code. Contributors include 0xFFFC0000, j-berman, vtnerd, tobtoht, Boog900, luigi1111, selsta, and jeffro256.
Community Contributions
The Monero community continues to play an essential role in the ecosystem’s development. For instance, woodser recently released updates for Monero-related libraries, including monero-java v0.8.34 and monero-ts v0.11.2, which are vital tools for developers building applications on Monero.
Additionally, the Monero Dev Activity Report for Week 1 of 2025 highlights the submission of 18 pull requests and the resolution of four issues, showcasing the community’s ongoing efforts to refine and enhance the Monero software.
Monero Bounty Proposals and Community Initiatives
Active Bounties
The Monero community has seen several new bounty proposals aimed at improving the ecosystem:
- Monero-CPP Python Bindings Module: A bounty proposed by “everoddandeven” seeks to develop Python bindings for the Monero-CPP library. This initiative aims to make Monero development more accessible to Python developers, potentially expanding the ecosystem’s reach.
- Haveno UI Fixes: Another bounty proposal by “Anon” focuses on fixing user interface issues in Haveno, a decentralized exchange built on Monero. This project aims to enhance the user experience and usability of the platform.
- Gupax Fork with Integrated Bonus Hashrate Raffle: A proposal by “XMRvsBeast” offers a 20 XMR bounty for creating a Gupax fork with an integrated “Bonus Hashrate Raffle” feature for P2Pool miners. This initiative aims to incentivize mining and strengthen the Monero network.
Completed Monero Initiatives
The Monero Observer reported the completion of the Cuprate Development CCS by Boog900. This milestone reflects the community’s dedication to funding and executing projects that enhance Monero’s functionality and user experience.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
The Monero community has several important meetings scheduled for the coming week:
- Monero Tech Meeting: Scheduled for January 13, 2025, at 18:00 UTC, this meeting will focus on long-term development topics such as Seraphis/JAMTIS and Full-Chain Membership Proofs (FCMPs). The meeting will take place on the #no-wallet-left-behind IRC-Libera/Matrix channels.
- Monero Research Lab Meeting: Set to occur on January 15, 2025, at 17:00 UTC, this meeting will provide a platform for discussing ongoing research and development efforts.
Monero Wallet Recommendations for 2025
As privacy and security remain paramount in the cryptocurrency space, selecting the right wallet is crucial for Monero users. Recent articles have highlighted the top Monero wallets for 2025:
- Monero GUI Wallet: Recommended for advanced users, this official wallet allows full-node access and supports custom transaction settings.
- Ledger Nano X: A hardware wallet offering unmatched security for Monero holdings.
- Monerujo and Cake Wallet: Mobile-friendly solutions for users seeking convenience without compromising privacy.
- MyMonero: A lightweight wallet ideal for users who prioritize ease of use.
Conclusion
This week has been a testament to the Monero community’s dedication to privacy, security, and decentralization. From significant software updates to innovative bounty proposals and community-driven initiatives, the ecosystem continues to thrive. As Monero moves forward, the collaborative efforts of developers, researchers, and users will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping its future. These Monero newsletter updates will now be delivered weekly to supplement community excitement and provide them with transparency of work rendered.