Please express your interest in standing for election in the thread below. Do ensure you introduce yourself and why you are applying to the post and your experience/history with Firo.
3rd CFC Election Nomination Thread: https://forum.firo.org/t/nominations-for-the-3rd-community-fund-committee-cfc-are-now-open/31500
The 7 member CFC forms an important role in gradually decentralizing governance and sets up an independent fund (Firo Community Fund) to be used for the benefit of Firo. The FCF has been used to fund various community management efforts, audits, social media/marketing support and also to assist the core team where additional funds are required.
CFC Committee positions are at this point in time are done on a volunteer basis and we recommend only active and motivated members of the Firo community apply. There is no restriction of existing committee members seeking re-election.
Below is a reminder of the role of the CFC and the Firo Community Fund (FCF) it manages:
Firo conducted a series of community votes to adjust its tokenomics and established the Firo Community Fund. This process spanned several months and involved multiple vetted polls to ensure alignment with the community’s wishes. A committee comprising seven elected community members was established to manage fund allocation.
Following the nomination phase, nominees (who are new) undergo a vetting process, including an interview, to assess their eligibility and alignment with the community’s voting objectives. The interview, which can be conducted through text or online meetings, delves into the nominees’ beliefs in Firo, their grasp of Firo’s technology, personal background (without revealing sensitive information), and their vision for the fund’s utilization. Nominees not widely known in the community must provide proof of active participation for at least a year.
Moving on from these specifics, it’s essential to outline the responsibilities and prerequisites expected of a member of the Firo Community Fund Committee (CFC).
To decide along with taking into account community feedback on how the community fund should be utilized.
To help evaluate community requests for funding, do due diligence on applicants applying for funding, and obtain all necessary information to ensure sufficient detail for the scope of work.
To evaluate and approve payment of milestone requests
To make all reasoning of the CFC for approval/rejection public
CFC can request for core team’s feedback and opinion on proposals.
To always conduct themselves with professionalism without resorting to personal attacks or insults.
Be a recognized and active community member of Firo for at least a year, OR a recognized industry expert/specialist.
Solid understanding of Firo’s technology stack and current roadmap and goals
Cannot be a current full-time member of the Firo core team. Part-time contributors or contractors of Firo’s core team are allowed but must be disclosed.
Be able to attend a CFC meeting once a month or appoint a proxy to do the same (though proxies should be used sparingly).
While a technical or development background isn’t required, having a few committee members with some technical background would be helpful in evaluating proposals.
Be able to read, check and vote on proposals for funding at least once a week.
Be 18 years old and above.
If a CFC member is suspected or found to have been involved in fraud or scam or other deceitful behavior, the other CFC members can vote to remove them via majority vote.
If a CFC member has acted in a manner that is an unbecoming or unprofessional manner, the other CFC members can vote to remove them via a majority vote.
If a CFC member is absent for 2 meetings in a row without due cause, they shall be removed automatically.
If a CFC member has continuously failed to vote on proposals for funding, a vote shall be held at the next CFC meeting by the other CFC members on whether to remove them.
If a CFC member is removed, nominations should be open for the spot for the remaining term.
A meeting should be held at least once a month with CFC members. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss proposals or to choose how to allocate the FCF funds or any other matters arising. Given CFC members may be in different time zones, this should be taken into account when determining the time of the meeting and the opportunity to take turns for amenable timing.
Core team members or their representatives should always be allowed to observe and attend all CFC meetings, but shall not have a vote unless otherwise specified.
The minutes of these meetings shall always be publicly available.
The meeting can be conducted by text or online meetings.
A quorum should be 5 members. Votes are passed using a majority of votes. In the event of an equality of votes, the core team shall have a casting vote.
Proposals for funding can be approved without the need for a meeting and shall be voted on in the proposal thread itself.
When voting for or against a proposal for funding, all CFC members are required to state the reasoning behind their choice.
Anyone can open a proposal for funding, including CFC members.
If a CFC member is an applicant for funding, the member cannot vote on that proposal. Also, if a CFC member has a close relationship (e.g. family member, best friend, significant other, spouse) with the applicant for funding, the CFC member should disclose the relationship and put it to the other CFC members to decide whether the member should be allowed to vote or choose to abstain voluntarily.
If the CFC wishes to make funds available to the core team to assist them (for instance to cover a shortfall or to pay for a specific employee to retain them), a higher vote threshold is required, which is 5 members out of 7 instead of the usual majority of votes.
Trust needs to be earned. While anyone can propose to be funded from the FCF, the person’s track record needs to be evaluated, the necessary due diligence needs to be taken, and milestone payments adjusted appropriately.
The CFC can choose to employ contractors to embark on specific tasks, but shall seek community feedback. Where it involves core code, the CFC has to consult the core team.
The CFC should not be used to host parties or purely social events. Educational or awareness events are okay but should be done with appropriate evidence and not paid upfront.
The CFC is to be used and while there shouldn’t be pressure to spend the CFC funds, the CFC funds shouldn’t be hoarded.
CFC funds should always be utilized for the benefit of Firo. Research or development that does not directly benefit Firo should not be undertaken.
CFC funds should not be used for giveaways, even for the purpose of promoting adoption or participation. These have limited effects.
All CFC expenditure has to be disclosed. Contractors that prohibit this should not be engaged.
Should the CFC deem fit, FCF funds can be burnt by sending them to this burn address. (https://explorer.firo.org/address/aFiroBurningAddressDoNotSendrPtjYA 2)
FCF funds address can be viewed here which are from time to time anonymized.
Utilization of CFC funds and proposals can always be viewed on the Firo Community Crowdfunding page under the category of CFC.
The CFC are NOT representatives of the opinion of the Firo Community. They are only tasked with matters to do with the Community Fund and do not replace the usual process of getting feedback from the general community and core team in implementing large changes.
The CFC shall not represent itself as core team members or as representatives of the project.
3rd CFC Election Nomination Thread: https://forum.firo.org/t/nominations-for-the-3rd-community-fund-committee-cfc-are-now-open/31500
Follow the Community Fund Committee deliberations on Telegram and Discord
]]>This matter has been addressed several times before in our video updates and social channels, but we have noted that there is still a lot of misunderstanding surrounding this topic, so we would like to address the situation comprehensively.
The core team had been aware of the issue since September 2023, when Binance reached out to inform us of the new regulatory requirements being imposed on them. Even in early October, while we were aware of proposals from other projects to comply with these requirements, we were not confident that these would meet Binance’s regulatory requirements.
Because of the urgency of the matter, the core team proactively developed its own solution in the form of Exchange Addresses while communicating with Binance’s team. We also made sure to consult with the Firo community and got good support for the proposal. Binance’s team confirmed that our proposal was acceptable to their current requirements.
Our proposal was easy to implement both on the project and exchange side, didn’t require any complicated changes, and, most importantly, did not compromise users’ privacy more than the status quo. While other projects proposed alternative solutions, our Exchange Address approach was presented by Binance to these projects as the preferred solution for other privacy coins to adopt. To our knowledge, both Zcash and PIVX are adopting some form of Exchange Address type while Horizen has completely removed their privacy features. We are proud to have our solution adopted to protect our fellow privacy projects’ centralized exchange (CEX) listings.
We deployed the code for Exchange Addresses in November 2023, and it was successfully activated in January 2024 together with Lelantus Spark activation. This upgrade was supported by Binance. With the activation of Exchange Addresses, we were the first privacy coin on Binance to meet the new requirements. Coins that did not meet these new requirements such as Monero and Mobilecoin were delisted from Binance.
We continue to work closely with Binance’s team, which is in the midst of transitioning its infrastructure to use Exchange Addresses. Their rough estimate is that it will take about three months to implement on their end. After Exchange Addresses are implemented, their team had mentioned that we can explore reopening Firo markets in Europe again.
The Binance Monitoring Tag is reviewed once every quarter, and a decision has not been made on whether it will be removed at the next review or only after Binance has completed its Exchange Address integration. Thus far, no new regulatory requirements have been communicated, and we view the fact that Binance is in the midst of integrating Exchange Addresses as a positive sign along with their assurances that all is well at the moment.
In the meantime, we continue to improve liquidity on FIRO through other avenues and further bolster decentralized exchange (DEX) liquidity and integrations, such as with FiroDEX/Komodo Wallet, BasicSwapDEX, and DCRDex. We have also been in talks with other cross-chain DEX options, such as Serai and Maya Protocol. Showing community support in these other DEX communities would give further impetus for those projects to integrate with us and reduce reliance on centralized exchanges.
There has been some discussion with Binance on whether to retain the FIRO/BTC pair or just focus on the FIRO/USDT pair, as interest in the FIRO/BTC pair currently pales to that of the FIRO/USDT pair. These discussions are unrelated to any of these regulatory concerns. We have initiated a Hummingbot campaign to improve liquidity on FIRO/BTC and are using it to gauge community interest in the FIRO/BTC pair.
We also note that some privacy assets were excluded from the Monitoring Tag. We were advised that this was because their privacy features were not materially used when transferring to Binance and, therefore, were not a material concern, while Firo users regularly used Lelantus functions to deposit into Binance.
We would like to thank Binance for remaining open to working with privacy projects like ours on finding a path to remain listed despite immense regulatory pressure on them when the easy thing to do would be to delist. While we strongly disagree with the regulations which in our opinion are overreaching and misguided, we understand that centralized exchanges are bound by the laws that govern them. We continue to monitor the situation and would also like to reiterate that we would not take any steps that would materially compromise user privacy for the sake of compliance.
]]>Since the launch of our liquidity mining program, we have witnessed participation from 779 unique miners across various campaigns. The total filled order volume has reached an impressive $115 million as of November 27, 2023. We look forward to your continued participation in our campaigns and welcome new firofam to join us in earning rewards!
Start date: March 19, 2024, 12:00 AM UTC
Total reward pool*: ~US$4,000 (FIRO 248 per week)
Reward token: FIRO
Eligible token pair: FIRO/BTC
Eligible orders: maker orders placed with spreads of 2.0% or lower
Exchange: Binance
The links above contain referral links which would help support Firo’s core team’s efforts if you sign up to those exchanges through the link.
* Please see Hummingbot’s Liquidity Mining Policy
To get started:
Note that liquidity only counts towards rewards where they are within 2.0% spread or lower.
Help contribute to $FIRO’s liquidity and get rewarded!
Hummingbot’s Full article: https://support.hummingbot.io/miner/8-week-for-firo-liquidity-mining-campaign
]]>Lelantus Spark’s unique modular design allows the upgrading of its components, and in this case, curve trees would replace Spark’s use of one-out-of-many proofs. The research note covers the necessary modifications to implement curve trees in Spark to scale it to global anonymity sets.
We would like to thank Luke Parker (kayabanerve) and Aaron Feickert of Cypher Stack for their valuable feedback and help in grasping curve trees and how they would apply to Spark.
Related article:
]]>Do you have a knack for creativity and a way with words? We’re thrilled to announce the Firo Slogan Showdown! We’re looking for a catchy, impactful slogan that reflects the core message of our project and uplifts the values in our society. The new slogan can be proudly displayed on our project’s T-shirts or used as a tagline for the Firo community.
Join us in this exciting challenge to craft a slogan that resonates with our mission of privacy, security, and innovation. Your idea could be the next iconic statement for Firo!
As part of the event, an award will be given to the participant who comes up with the most creative and meaningful slogan. If you’re curious about what the award might be, we welcome you to join our event filled with surprises!
You can submit your entry with the hashtag #FiroSloganShowdown in the official Firo Telegram Channel, Firo Matrix Channel or reply to the Slogan Showdown post on Firo Twitter/X page.
At the end of the submission period, the team will select the top 3 slogans. The final selection will be voted on by the Firo community on Telegram and Twitter for 5 days via polls.
With your creativity, we believe we can take our project to greater heights! We eagerly await your submissions!
]]>Download Firo-QT wallet from Firo’s official download page, available for macOS, Linux, and Windows.
New users can skip this section. After completing the installation, you will be prompted to unlock your wallet using your passphrase upon the first launch to activate Spark support. This step ensures your wallet is ready to use Spark’s features.
Upon logging in, the main interface—comprising ‘Overview,’ ‘Send,’ ‘Receive,’ ‘Transactions,’ and ‘Masternodes’ tabs—will greet you. This is your command center for managing Firo assets, where you can:
The ‘Send’ tab is your gateway to transferring Firo. It offers:
Under the ‘Request’ tab, select your preferred address type—Spark for anonymity or Transparent. Enter the payment details, and generate a QR code and payment request to share with others.
The ‘Transactions’ tab catalogs all inbound and outbound transactions.
Details of transactions via Spark address are displayed, anonymizing sender information with Lelantus Spark.
For more information and support:
Since then, it has gone through several revisions and improvements and has undergone two cryptography audits (Hashcloak, Daniel (Linfeng) Zhao) and a code and implementation audit.
Please ensure you’re updated to the latest version of Firo.
Let’s do a quick run-through of what’s new in this update!
Users can now use Spark addresses where people can directly send FIRO to them and have them automatically anonymized. These addresses are not searchable on the blockchain or an explorer and therefore no one can look them up to find out when you have received or sent money or how much funds you have in it. Moving forward, we foresee Spark addresses to be the primary way users interact with each other and are the default way to send and receive FIRO within our official wallets.
Spark addresses on mainnet have a prefix of “sm” and are 144 characters long.
Spark transactions hide sender, receiver and amounts while everyone can still verify the blockchain state through the use of zero-knowledge proofs. This is the key feature of Spark, which preserves financial privacy while allowing universal verifiability that makes blockchain technology possible.
Spark transactions have very high anonymity sets and are less susceptible to statistical analysis on coin age or taint when compared to other privacy protocols such as RingCT. It also does not require any special trust requirements like zkSNARK constructions and employs a modular approach where specialized zero-knowledge proofs respectively prove specific things vs more complex circuit designs. This allows easier formal security analysis and allows for upgradability where components can be switched out.
This update also introduces Exchange Addresses which allow exchanges to maintain compliance with regulations without affecting user privacy. Users do not need to create these addresses.
Exchange addresses differ from regular transparent addresses in that they cannot directly receive funds from Spark, Lelantus, mining or masternode rewards. If you have funds in Spark/Lelantus or from mining or masternode rewards, you would need to send these funds to a transparent address first before sending them to an Exchange Address.
Below is a quick summary of what funds Exchange Addresses can use.
❌Spark / Lelantus —> Exchange Address
❌Mining/masternode rewards —> Exchange Address
✅Transparent address —> Exchange address
✅Spark / Lelantus → Transparent address → Exchange address
✅Mining/Masternode rewards → Transparent address → Exchange address
These addresses can be identified with an EX prefix and are 36 characters long.
For e.g. EXXazVWwJNbNPBo7b2sqVtveudqHSxGVGzgJ
In the immediate short term, the core team will be focusing on getting the rest of the ecosystem using Spark and Exchange Addresses and also several user experience improvements.
These include:
Thereafter, in the following months, we’ll be focusing on increasing Spark address use with the following:
Concurrently, we are in the midst of developing and/or researching:
Spark is not a completion of a journey but the beginning of a new era of privacy.
Lelantus Spark would not have been possible if not for the support and efforts of many people and organizations. We would like to thank Aram Jivanyan and Aaron Feickert (CypherStack) for creating and improving Lelantus Spark, Levon Petrosyan, Petr Shugalev for contributing the vast majority of Spark implementation code, Anwar P for the tireless hours on tests, CypherStack for supporting us in many ways including the implementation of Spark in their Stack Wallet and HashCloak for their constant support and the excellent work in the Spark audit.
Additionally, the generous donations of Arcadia Group , Rasikh Morani, Firo Fam and the support from the Community Fund Committee have allowed us to continue development and research during the depths of the bear market. We would also like to thank MAGIC Fund for administering the Firo MAGIC fund that has allowed us to fund our research and security services.
]]>To learn more about LetsExchange, we have posted a blog about regarding the partnership between LetsExchange here.
Below, you will find a recap of the AMA questions answered by the Let’sExchange team.
1) Can you explain how LetsExchange.io can enhance #Firo’s accessibility to a wider user base?
With LetsExchange, users can exchange FIRO for any of the 3,900 coins and tokens supported by our platform. For example, users who have received rare coins in airdrops, or as a result of their affiliate activities, or bought them, can swap them to FIRO with no issues. Users who believe that the future of cryptocurrency is in privacy-focused coins can exchange their crypto holdings to FIRO.
Our business tools help provide access to FIRO to thousands of users worldwide. For example, our API will make the asset available in many crypto wallets. Additionally, the project can count on our extensive marketing support, such as reviews, AMA sessions (like the one we are having, and in the voice format), and cross-promo activities such as joint quests, among others. We believe all these things can benefit the project and the FIRO community and will serve new users by helping them explore the project’s benefits and perspectives.
2) What measures does LetsExchange.io have in place to ensure #privacy and security for #Firo users during transactions?
Privacy and user security are our main priorities. The platform allows users to swap funds without account registration (even though this option is available and offers more benefits, including access to the affiliate program). Thus, all your swaps are absolutely private.
Non-custodial security is another feature that allows us to ensure the security of users’ funds during each swap. We don’t store users’ funds but instantly swap one cryptocurrency to another. If a user keeps his funds in a non-custodial wallet, they are totally safe.
3) How did LetsExchange started and came to be?
LetsExchange was launched in 2021 by a team of experts in blockchain and crypto. In just a year, the platform has become one of the top 5 services that provide instant crypto swaps. Now, LetsExchange is ahead of most competitors in many parameters, including presence in the key markets, number of supported assets, etc.
4) What makes LetsExchange.io different from the other similar services out in the market?
Our main advantage is the number of supported coins and tokens (over 3,800) and an extensive range of tools for our partners. A widget with Swap and DEX modes and an off-ramp and on-ramp functionality, affiliate links, and a customized Telegram bot are just some of the solutions that we offer. We are constantly implementing new features and functionalities to ensure that our users and partners can benefit from the latest trends in the market.
5) Will LetsExchange.io support Lelantus Spark transaction if one were to buy/sell FIRO?
LetsExchange is one of the leading exchanges in supported coins, and we are working constantly to improve our services. We believe that anonymity and privacy are two of the core elements of the crypto world. This is why account registration is not mandatory, and even if our users decide to open an account, they can do it only with a valid email address.
We are currently working on letting our users swap $ZEC anonymously by using z-addresses. Soon, the feature will be implemented, and our users will be able to benefit from it.
In the future, we will also consider implementing the support of #LelantusSpark. We believe this innovative technology can move the use of crypto to a qualitatively new level.
6) With the recent MiCA regulations in the EU, How would you deal with Privacy Coins on your platform?
This question requires a comprehensive response. First and foremost, LetsExchange closely monitors legislative changes in various countries and regions, adapting its policies and operational activities when legislative adjustments are required.
We believe that legislative regulation will ultimately stimulate the industry’s development rather than hinder it, as it will allow institutional investors to enter. This implies colossal industry capitalization growth, rapid technological advancements, and other benefits.
Simultaneously, we are confident that privacy is one of the key elements of the crypto ecosystem. Without it, cryptocurrency would lose its meaning. That’s why, while complying with regulatory requirements, especially regarding AML policies and blocking transactions from sanctioned countries, we maintain support for anonymous cryptocurrencies and the option to exchange funds without registration.
7) Where is LetsExchange.io based?
LetsExchange is registered in Seychelles. But being real crypto enthusiasts, our team is spread worldwide. Our team members work from the USA, the UK, Ukraine, Mexico, and other countries.
8) What joint marketing activities are planned between LetsExchange and Firo, and how will they promote Firo’s growth?
We offer a lot of joint marketing activities, with AMA sessions being just one of the possible options. Other popular marketing activities among our partners are reviews, quests, and interviews, among others. Also, we are open to any suggestions that will help our partnership with FIRO grow and mutually benefit both communities.
9) How does LetsExchange.io align with Firo’s values and vision, particularly in terms of financial privacy and decentralization?
LetsExchange is a privacy-focused platform. It doesn’t ask for mandatory account registration. Users who opt to register an account with us need to provide only a valid email address, and that’s it. We don’t ask for personal or financial information other than the information needed for a swap. Soon, we will support z-addresses for swaps. In the future, the implementation of Lelantus Spark technology or another technology that enables private transactions is possible.
10) What benefits does LetsExchange offer to Firo’s community of users?
LetsExchange will enable users to buy #FIRO with 3,900 coins and tokens. In the future, more assets will be added. We offer round-the-clock customer support and are ready to reply to all questions or solve any issues. Additionally, FIRO users can create an account on the platform and benefit from our affiliate program.
We have mentioned that 3 questions from the audience will have a chance to win some FIRO in this AMA. These are the selected 3 (in no specific order):
Q: Security and anonymity are always prioritized by BlockChain projects in the development of project platforms and technologies. So, does @firoorg have any technological solutions or plans to enhance user trust in these issues?
A: On top of Lelantus Spark, which we just released (activating in January 2024), you can read about it Here, The integration of technologies such as Dandelion++ and LLMQ ChainLocks enhances the overall security of both Firo’s blockchain and network. Dandelion++ helps obscure the originating IP of transactions, and LLMQ ChainLocks provide additional security against potential attacks. These measures collectively reflect Firo’s commitment to maintaining high standards of security and anonymity.
2) @W120VOLT
Q: In what ways does Firo address the challenges posed by the increasing digitization of fiat currencies and the potential loss of control over personal finances?
A: For the most part the digitization of fiat currencies have already happened but is evolving into something else which is a digital currency that is directly controlled by a Central Bank. While often touted for its benefits, we are already seeing the beginnings of the impacts of CBDCs which is setting rules and limits as to how you can spend your money and the ability for governments to cut you off from the financial system.
Firo in particular was designed to address these type of concerns as with privacy, our transactions are uncensorable and even the core developers cannot break that privacy or choose what you can or cannot use your money for. This is exactly the ethos of what cryptocurrency set out to do and one that is often overlooked and arguably even abandoned by Bitcoin.
3) @Boa_Noble
Q: Many day-to-day projects promise great utility and functionality, but end up throwing the rug out a few days later. How do you really know that your project won’t throw the rug out? What guarantees do investors have?
A: We’ve been around since 2016 and constantly developing and delivering updates :). If this is a rug, it’s a pretty long one ;)
]]>BasicSwap stands as a decentralized, cross-chain trading exchange (DEX) that ensures privacy and security without relying on a central point of failure. This platform empowers users to seamlessly exchange cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin or Firo, free from restrictions or third-party intervention. Crafted by the cypherpunks at Particl, BasicSwap is deliberately constructed with an unwavering commitment to uncompromised privacy and security. This design is a direct response to the emerging challenges to freedom, reflecting a proactive stance against potential threats.
Firo can swap as both the offerer and the participant of an adaptor signature swap. Adaptor signature swaps present themselves as multi-signature transactions, concealing the true nature of the transaction and leaving no trace suggesting a connection between two transactions on distinct blockchains
To learn more head to Particl’s blog for a comprehensive explanation.
Currently BasicSwapDEX is only avaliable for Windows users but will come to other operating systems (MacOS, Linux) shortly.
To obtain the installer, visit BasicSwap Github repository and download the installation wizard from the Releases page or directly from BasicSwapDEX.com.
Once downloaded, launch the installer as an administrator by right-clicking on the executable file and selecting “Run as Administrator.” Follow the on-screen instructions for a seamless installation process. For more detailed information, refer to the README file.
]]>Lelantus Spark will be activated on Block 819300 (approximately 18 January 2024). Please ensure you have upgraded your wallets and masternodes to the latest Firo release before then!
If you haven’t been keeping up with Firo, let’s briefly overview Lelantus Spark. Representing the next evolutionary step in Firo’s commitment to privacy, Lelantus Spark is a refined and enhanced version of Firo’s preceding privacy protocols. Spark combines some of the best privacy technology while remaining trustless, easy to audit, and upgradable. We are also proud that our innovations in Spark have inspired work in creating similar constructions, such as Monero’s upcoming privacy protocol, Seraphis, set to launch in a few years.
Key features include:
Spark Addresses
Lelantus Spark introduces a new, non-interactive addressing system that greatly enhances the privacy of the transaction recipient. Funds kept in Spark addresses are hidden, meaning no one will know how much you hold and when you send funds from it—enabling private storage of your Firo. Spark addresses also cannot be looked up on a blockchain explorer!
View Keys for Enhanced Visibility
With Lelantus Spark, users have the flexibility of view keys. Wallet owners can grant third parties opt-in visibility into incoming and/or outgoing transactions, offering practical use cases for accounting, auditing, and more.
Computation offloading
Lelantus Spark’s flexible key structure allows for offloading transaction creation, chain scanning and balance computation without delegating spend authority. This means that low-powered devices like hardware wallets can support Lelantus Spark transactions by offloading the heavy computation to your PC or phone.
Multisignature
Spark supports efficient signing and multisignature operations through the use of a modified Chaum-Pedersen discrete logarithm proof. This has proven useful in custody and decentralized exchanges, as well as in any scenario where you want more than one party to approve a transaction.
Modular design
Spark’s modular design uses well-understood cryptographic building blocks like Pedersen commitments, range proofs, zero-knowledge one-of-many proofs, and discrete logarithm equality proofs that enable straightforward security analysis without the need for a trusted setup.
You can read more about Lelantus Spark below: Blog Post: https://firo.org/2021/08/24/presenting-lelantus-spark.html
Eprint: https://eprint.iacr.org/2021/1173
You must upgrade your wallets and masternodes before mainnet activation on Block 819300 (approximately 18 January 2024).
Download the binary release from the following links:
Windows: https://github.com/firoorg/firo/releases/download/v0.14.13.0/firo-0.14.13.0-win64-setup.exe
MacOS: https://github.com/firoorg/firo/releases/download/v0.14.13.0/firo-0.14.13.0-macos.dmg
Linux: https://github.com/firoorg/firo/releases/download/v0.14.13.0/firo-0.14.13.0-linux64.tar.gz
As always, Be sure to back up your wallet before upgrading.
For those using mobile wallets, Stack Wallet will push an update over the next few weeks to fully support Spark.
The Firo Core team proposed Exchange Addresses following discussions about the upcoming MiCA regulations and their potential impact on Firo and other privacy assets. The community has largely agreed with this proposal and this release will also introduce Exchange Addresses (EX-addresses).
EX-addresses operate similarly to transparent addresses, with the distinction that they won’t accept Lelantus/Lelantus Spark spends and coinbase transactions (mining and masternode rewards). In essence, EX-addresses exclusively permit funds originating from transparent addresses. You can easily identify EX-addresses as they bear an ‘ex’ prefix. It’s important to note that this feature is designed for exchanges, and regular users will not need to take any action on their end nor would they be creating EX-addresses.
Even as we launch Spark, we are already researching upgrades to Spark, such as curve trees and expanding its functionality with Spats! We will also be implementing Helsing to allow masternodes to use Spark addresses to hold their collateral.
Spark is the combined work of many talented people and also made possible by everyone’s support.
Firstly we would like to thank Aram Jivanyan and Aaron Feickert (CypherStack) for coming up with this amazing privacy protocol and Levon Petrosyan and Peter Shugalev for bringing Spark to reality.
We would also like to thank all Firofam that made this possible, from the generous donations from Arcadia and other community members, HashCloak for their security support and audits, CypherStack for playing a key role in our work and building StackWallet and members of the Monero community including koe, kayabanerve and Nikolas Kratzschmar whose discussions and disclosures helped make Spark better and lastly but not least, everyone of you who have cheered us on and made our work meaningful.
See you on Spark mainnet activation!
You can stay tuned on these developments by following our socials below:
Youtube (please subscribe)
]]>