monero

The analytical firm TRM Labs has recorded a noticeable shift in the financial infrastructure of the darknet: illegal online marketplaces are increasingly abandoning Bitcoin in favor of the cryptocurrency Monero. According to researchers, nearly half of shadow platforms launched in 2025 accept payments exclusively in XMR. The main reason for this transition is the growing effectiveness of blockchain analytics tools, which enable law enforcement agencies to trace transactions on the Bitcoin and stablecoin networks.
$XMR
Demand for Monero was further fueled by a series of high-profile incidents involving digital asset thefts. Part of the stolen funds was rapidly converted into XMR, triggering a sharp price increase and the setting of new all-time highs. Although the price later corrected, on a yearly basis Monero has shown significantly stronger performance than Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The rising popularity of XMR is occurring amid increased regulatory pressure. Following delistings from major centralized exchanges, including Binance, the majority of trading volumes have shifted to decentralized platforms with less stringent compliance requirements. This complicates oversight of fund flows and heightens concerns among regulators.

From a technological perspective, Monero already employs ring signatures and transaction obfuscation mechanisms, while upcoming upgrades are expected to further expand the pool of potential senders. Within the crypto community, this is viewed as a victory for the idea of financial privacy, while security experts warn of the risk of strengthening the shadow economy. The key challenge for the industry remains finding a balance between protecting users’ personal data and preventing the criminal misuse of cryptocurrencies.
#Monero #Privacy #Market_Update