Monero Talk

Monero’s FCMP+ Upgrade Status with Diego Salazar of Cypher Stack | EPI 353

June 17th, 2025  |  1 hr 43 mins

bitcoin, blockchain, cbdc, crypto, cryptocurrency, cypherstack, diegosalazar, fungible, lukeszramowski, monero, monerotalk, monerotopia, privacy, privacycoin, rarar, xmr

TODAY'S SHOW: In this episode of Monero Talk, Douglas Tuman chats with Diego Salazar (Rarar) and Luke Szramowski from Cypherstack about Full Chain Membership Proofs (FCMPs), a breakthrough that will dramatically boost Monero’s privacy. Diego, a longtime Monero contributor and founder of Cypherstack, discusses Stack Wallet—an open-source, multi-platform wallet for privacy coins—and stresses the importance of user-friendly design in privacy tech.

The conversation dives into FCMPs, which will expand Monero’s anonymity set from around 16 to potentially every transaction ever made, with only a logarithmic increase in size. Luke, a mathematician and cryptographer, details the recent hurdles involving 'divisors'—key components that improve FCMP efficiency—and how they overcame complex security challenges to develop a secure version now under review by the Monero Research Lab.

Diego ranks privacy levels across cryptocurrencies, placing current Monero at a 1, Firo’s Lelantus Spark at 4, and Zcash’s Halo 2 Orchard at 10. With FCMPs, he believes Monero could reach 9 or 10—on par with Zcash. The discussion also covers post-quantum cryptography as the next big frontier, with Cypherstack already exploring solutions. Despite earlier setbacks, FCMP development is back on schedule, targeting a Q1 2026 deployment pending code compatibility checks led by MRL’s Justin Ehrenhofer.

Stablecoins are a backdoor CBDC w/ Aaron Day | EPI 352

June 7th, 2025  |  2 hrs 6 mins

aaronday, bitcoin, blockchain, cbdc, crypto, cryptocurrency, fungible, monero, monerotalk, monerotopia, paypal, privacy, privacycoin, xmr, zano

TODAY'S SHOW: In this episode of Monero Talk, Douglas Tuman and Aaron Day explore the growing threat of stablecoins as a covert form of CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency), with Aaron warning that the situation has worsened dramatically—“100 times worse than a year ago.” He critiques the Trump administration’s stance, noting that despite public opposition to CBDCs, its policies are paving the way for a backdoor digital currency through stablecoin regulation.

Key figures like Brian Brooks and Howard Lutnick—linked to major stablecoins and now in influential government roles—highlight what Aaron describes as a Silicon Valley and “PayPal mafia” takeover of policy. The proposed Genius Act and Stable Act would require stablecoins to be fully backed by U.S. Treasuries, effectively forcing users to fund government debt and surveillance systems.

With projections of $120 trillion in stablecoin transactions by 2030, Aaron calls this “turbo cancer for CBDC adoption.” The sheer scale of these numbers underscores the urgency he sees in resisting the push toward centralized digital money.

The conversation then shifts to solutions within the privacy coin space, emphasizing unity against technocratic control. Aaron highlights FUSD (Freedom Dollar), a private algorithmic stablecoin built on Zano, which offers an alternative by being over-collateralized with Zano rather than tied to government-backed assets. He discusses Zano’s technical advantages, including its deflationary model, while defending its pre-mine as a necessary step for development funding.

Both hosts stress the importance of collaboration across privacy projects like Monero, Tari, and Zano to resist systemic control. They also preview Porkfest, where they’ll host a privacy tent and welcome Ross Ulbricht and his mother Lynn, who is launching a new advocacy initiative.

A New Hardware Wallet for Monero? w/ Lixin Liu | Price, News & MUCH More! EPI 173

July 6th, 2024  |  3 hrs 13 mins

bitcoin, blockchain, cbdc, crypto, cryptocurrency, fungible, keystone, lixinliu, monero, monerotalk, monerotopia, monerotown, mtgox, privacy, privacycoin, tdev, xmr

MONEROTOPIA EPISODE 173 - Keystone hardware wallet adding Monero w/ Lixin Liu! + Monero Price Report with Bawdy, News of the week w/ Tux and MUCH MORE!

MoneroTopia EPI 170 - Monero Price Report, News & More!

June 16th, 2024  |  3 hrs 18 mins

birdflu, bitcoin, blockchain, cbdc, crypto, cryptocurrency, fungible, monero, monerotalk, monerotopia, privacy, privacycoin, trump, usccrypto, xmr

MONEROTOPIA EPISODE 170 - Monero Square at upcoming @PorcFest in NH, Monero Price Report with Bawdy, News of the week w/ Tuxsudo and MUCH MORE!

The Imminent Threat of CBDCs w/ Aaron Day | EPI 309

April 29th, 2024  |  1 hr 36 mins

aaronday, bitcoin, blockchain, cbdc, crypto, cryptocurrency, digitaltyranny, fungible, governmentcontrol, monero, monerotalk, monerotopia, privacy, privacycoin, xmr

TODAY'S SHOW: Douglas Tuman interviews Aaron Day - an author, activist, and former presidential candidate. Aaron discusses the potential threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and the need for decentralized alternatives.

He also covers the history and motivations behind the push for CBDCs and just how close we may be to seeing them implemented. They explore the challenges faced by existing cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in terms of scalability, privacy, and resistance to government control.

The conversation highlights the importance of privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like Monero, to create a parallel economy as an alternative to CBDCs. They also discuss strategies for onboarding people to preserve individual liberties in the face of potential digital tyranny.

MoneroTopia EPI #154 - Monero Price Report, News & More!

February 10th, 2024  |  3 hrs 32 mins

bitcoin, blockchain, cbdc, crypto, cryptocurrency, development, fungible, monero, monerotalk, monerotopia, news, obama, pricereport, privacy, privacycoin, putin, xmr

MONEROTOPIA 💃🏽🏝🕺🏼 EPISODE 154 - Monero Price Report with Bawdy, News of the week w/ tuxsudo, and MUCH MORE!

Digital Privacy w/ Simplified Privacy, Monero Price Report, News & More! | EPI# 152

January 27th, 2024  |  3 hrs 42 mins

bitcoin, blockchain, cbdc, crypto, cryptocurrency, darkweb, digitalprivacy, fungible, monero, monerotalk, monerotopia, privacy, privacycoin, simplifiedprivacy, wasabiwallet, xmr

MONEROTOPIA 💃🏽🏝🕺🏼 EPISODE 152 - Monero Price Report with Bawdy, Co-host and News of the week w/ Tony, Special Guest Simplified Privacy, and MUCH MORE!

Anonymity & Secure Communications w/ prancing389, Monero Price Report, News & More! | EPI# 151

January 20th, 2024  |  2 hrs 42 mins

anonymity, bitcoin, blockchain, cbdc, crypto, cryptocurrency, fungible, milei, monero, monerotalk, monerotopia, privacy, privacycoin, securecommunications, trump, wef, xmr

MONEROTOPIA 💃🏽🏝🕺🏼 EPISODE 151 - Monero Price Report with Bawdy, Co-host and News of the week w/ Tony, Special Guest prancing389 who will discuss how once can have secure communications & anonymity in this current day in age and MUCH MORE!

Buying a Car using Monero w/ Monero Mac, Monero Price, News & MORE! | EPI #149

January 6th, 2024  |  2 hrs 46 mins

ai, bitcoin, blockchain, car, cbdc, crypto, cryptocurrency, cryptoregulation, fungible, kyc, monero, moneromac, monerotalk, monerotopia, privacy, privacycoin, xmr

MONEROTOPIA 💃🏽🏝🕺🏼 EPISODE 149 - Monero Price Report with Bawdy, Co-host and News of the week w/ Tony, Special guest Monero mac to chat about how he purchased a car using Monero and MUCH MORE!

Nam Sardar on true cash in the digital age

May 28th, 2022  |  1 hr 29 mins

bitcoin, blockchain, cakewallet, cbdc, crypto, cryptocurrency, decentralized, digital cash, digital gold, monero, moneronews, nam sardar, neel capital, privacy, privacycoin, technology, xmr, xmrnews

TODAY'S 🎙SHOW: Douglas Tuman interviews Nam Sardar. Nam needs no introduction in Moneroland.

Doug and Nam sit back and chat about the importance of digital cash and why they see Monero as the best shot at having true cash in the digital age.