Monero is the privacy-focused cryptocurrency launched in 2014 as a fork of Bytecoin. It was originally known as BitMonero before the name was shortened to Monero, a word meaning “coin” in Esperanto.
Monero was designed to make transaction details difficult to link publicly. Its privacy technology has included ring signatures, stealth addresses, and confidential transaction methods. These features aim to obscure the sender, recipient, and amount, although privacy systems can still face implementation, wallet, or operational risks.
Monero is based on CryptoNote-related technology and uses a proof-of-work mining system. It is often compared with Zcash, another privacy-oriented cryptocurrency, but the projects use different technical approaches and privacy models. Monero’s emphasis is private-by-default transactions rather than transparent public transaction histories.