Monero releases Stressnet v3.0 to test major privacy upgrades

Monero has released version 3.0 of its beta stressnet, a testing environment designed to evaluate major upcoming privacy upgrades. This release, tagged v0.19.0.0-beta.3.0, is intended to prepare the network for a planned hard fork scheduled for October 5 at block 3,102,800.

The update focuses on testing two significant developments: FCMP++ and CARROT. FCMP++, or Full-Chain Membership Proofs, aims to replace Monero’s current ring signature system. While the existing system uses a limited set of decoy outputs to obscure transactions, FCMP++ is designed to allow an input to prove it belongs to the entire set of eligible outputs on the blockchain. This could expand the anonymity set from a small group of decoys to over 150 million outputs.

CARROT is a proposed addressing upgrade intended to enhance security, privacy, and usability while maintaining compatibility with current addresses. The new stressnet version also introduces hot-cold wallet support, improvements to the transaction relay v2 protocol, and RandomX v2 support. The Monero team has urged community members to participate in testing and report any issues to ensure a smooth transition during the upcoming fork.