Bitcoin News Today: Monero’s Privacy Promise Faces Security Crossroads

Monero (XMR), the privacy-focused cryptocurrency, currently trades at $265.65, representing a 51% decline from its all-time high of $517.62, which was reached on May 7, 2021 [1]. The price drawdown is part of an ongoing correction in 2025, with Monero’s price dropping 23.01% over the last 30 days and 10.32% in the past week [1]. Despite the downward trend, the coin’s market capitalization remains at $4.89 billion, with a fully diluted valuation of the same amount [1]. This is supported by a circulating supply of approximately 18 million XMR tokens and a trading volume of $85.97 million over the last 24 hours [1].

The current volatility and price weakness have been exacerbated by a contentious issue within the Monero community: the potential risk of a 51% attack. Qubic, an AI-focused blockchain and mining pool, claimed to have achieved control over 51% of Monero’s hashrate, raising concerns about network security and the possibility of block reorganization [2]. This development has triggered a broader debate among Monero developers and users about potential upgrades to the network’s consensus mechanism. Proposals under consideration include switching to a merge mining model, adopting ChainLocks technology similar to Dash’s solution, and other innovations to harden the network against potential attacks [2]. However, the community remains divided, with some members disputing the extent of Qubic’s influence and its impact on the network [2].

Monero’s price movements in 2025 have also been influenced by broader market dynamics. The cryptocurrency outperformed Bitcoin and other major coins for part of the year, with a 75.69% increase in price compared to one year ago [1]. However, the recent drawdown has placed pressure on XMR, especially against Bitcoin and Ethereum. Monero is currently down 13.24% against Bitcoin and 10.32% in the past week [1]. Analysts have noted that the coin’s performance is closely tied to broader trends in the privacy sector and investor sentiment around decentralized networks [1].

Looking ahead, several crypto market analysts and prediction platforms have published their forecasts for Monero’s price in 2025 and beyond. For example, 3Commas predicts that XMR will range between $267.85 and $269.47 by mid-August, with a generally bullish outlook through the end of 2025 [3]. LiteFinance and TradingBeasts also project a gradual rise in the price, with average values expected to hover around $270.83 per coin by the end of the year [3]. However, these predictions are based on technical analysis and historical price data, and should not be interpreted as guarantees of future performance [3].

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding Monero’s network security has also led to operational adjustments by major cryptocurrency exchanges. For instance, Kraken temporarily suspended Monero deposits and required 720 confirmations before crediting accounts with XMR, citing concerns over the network’s security [2]. This move highlights the broader implications of the 51% attack debate and underscores the need for robust consensus mechanisms in decentralized networks [2].

Despite the challenges, Monero’s privacy-centric model continues to attract a niche but dedicated user base. The project, launched in 2014 as a fork of Bytecoin, has consistently focused on enhancing user anonymity through features like ring signatures, stealth addresses, and confidential transactions [1]. These innovations have positioned Monero as a leader in the privacy coin space, even as regulatory scrutiny of privacy-focused cryptocurrencies has increased in various jurisdictions [1]. The long-term success of Monero will likely depend on its ability to address network vulnerabilities while maintaining its core commitment to privacy and decentralization [1].

Source:

[1] Monero Price, XMR Price, Live Charts, and Marketcap (https://www.coinbase.com/price/monero)

[2] 51% attack on Monero prompts proposal to overhaul ... (https://cointelegraph.com/news/51-attack-monero-prompts-proposal-overhaul-consensus)

[3] Monero (XMR) Price Prediction 2025, 2026, 2027 (https://3commas.io/predictions/monero)