Battle of the Privacy Coins: Nine Month Update
For the One Month update, please click this link.
For the Two Month update, please click this link.
For the Three Month update, please click this link.
For the Four Month update, please click this link.
For the Fifth Month update, please click this link.
For the Sixth Month update, please click this link.
For the Seventh Month update, please click this link.
For the Eighth Month update, please click this link.
Biggest Gain
This month, the Loki Network saw a roughly 55% gain, with the $LOKI portion of the portfolio increasing from $225.40 to $349.53
Biggest Loss
This month, Bytecoin saw a loss of about 6%, with the $BCN portion of the portfolio dropping from $45.12 to $42.25
Current Standings:
By percentage gain/loss between for the month of March.
- $LOKI: Loki — Started at $100, last month was at $225.40 — is now at $349.53 (55%)
- $XVG: Verge — Started at $100, last month was at $65.88 — is now at $95.54 (45%)
- $BEAM: Beam — Started at $100, last month was at $28.18 — is now at $38.45 (36%)
- $DUSK: Dusk — Started at $100, last month was at $15.99 — is now at $21.15 (32%)
- $XZC: Zcoin — Started at $100, last month was at $69.03 — is now at $87.97 (27%)
- $ZEC: Zcash — Started at $100, last month was at $99.12 — is now at $121.04 (22%)
- $XMR: Monero — Started at $100, last month was at $87.53 — is now at $95.57 (9%)
- $ZEN: Horizen — Started at $100, last month was at $124.44 — is now at $132.92 (7%)
- $GRIN: Grin — Started at $100, last month was at $28.17 — is now at $29.96 (6%)
- $DASH: Dash — Started at $100, last month was at 101.71 — is now at $100.86 (-1%)
- $BCN: Bytecoin — Started at $100, last month was at 45.12— is now at $42.25 (-6%)
Interesting Notes:
- Our wildcard entrants are still holding up either end of the competition, with the Loki Network sitting in first place and the Dusk Network bringing it up the rear in eleventh
News & Updates
In order of overall standings…
Loki Network
Loki celebrated the 2nd anniversary of their mainnet launch in 2018. Loki Foundation Director, Simon Harman, put together a piece outlining some of the accomplishments made by the Loki team since their launch.
Both iOS and Android operating systems received major updates in May, with Desktop expected to come next.
You can now use Session to chat anonymously and securely with Melbourne Activist Legal. It’s good to see some of the partnerships come to light, but how exactly does Session add value to the Loki network and why is the Loki blockchain so important?
HASHR8 did an interview with the Loki team, if you missed it you can read it here.
Loki’s Weekly Dev Updates for April:
Horizen
This month was a big month for Horizen — lots of news and updates.
Horizen celebrated their 3rd anniversary toward the end of May. In just 3 years, Horizen have become cryptocurrency’s largest node network.
Horizen have a mascot and it’s named Zenny! The name was decided via community competition, which you can read more about here.
There was a mandatory update (ZEN v2.0.21) for all exchanges, mining pools, node operators and full node wallet users. The upgrade was focused mainly on maintenance but includes a couple of features you can read about here.
The Horizen team put together some guidelines for how you can keep your $ZEN safe from scammers. Check it out here.
Engineering Updates:
Sphere by Horizen:
- Sphere by Horizen v1.2.6b is here! The latest update focuses on fixes to the issues with MacOS compatibility. Version integrating sidechain commands is now ready for intermediate code review.
- Working on fixes, improvements, and compatibility with new zend software
- Next version in progress, scheduled for May 25th, will include new fixes, improvements, and compatibility with new zend software
Sidechain SDK:
- Final review of latus forger changes ongoing, zendoo cryptolib integration and snark proofs in backward transfer certificates is ongoing
- Finished the review of Latus Forger, approved and merged. Started review of Zendoo cryptolib integration and proof inclusion into certificates
- Changes in Bootstrapping tool, Sidechain Test Framework, and proof inclusion into certificate applied. Changes after internal review and integration of code ongoing.
Mainchain:
- Code almost ready for next code review
- Started the review of new Mainchain changes, minor changes requested
- Reviewed of changes ongoing. Minor changes requested and are being applied.
Block Expolorer:
- First code review performed, changes requested and addressed. Extending and refining parsing mechanism of sidechain data.
- Parsing of sidechain related transactions in a mainchain block in new explorer, sidechain certs inside blocks
- Sidechain certificate parsing completed, all UTXOs coming from them are now included inside the database, implementing all the rules necessary to make them spendable. Unit test of the core libraries completed. Integration test designs in progress.
Zend:
- All partners and exchanges informed about upcoming deprecation cycle, contents being finalized
- In testing phase/almost complete. Publishing the new zend software soon. All partners and exchanges informed about next upcoming deprecation cycle
- zend 2.0.21 released
Horizen’s Weekly Insider Podcasts for May:
Zcash
The number of fully shielded Z-to-Z addresses has been growing month on month throughout 2020:
- January: 2,058
- February: 2,430
- March: 5,172
- April: 8,721
- May: 11,220
Electric Coin Company posted a blog outlining some of the resources and initiatives available to the Zcash developer community.
How are people using #Zcash? To pay for goods and services, for private charitable donations, and as a cross-border medium of exchange, to start. https://electriccoin.co/blog/the-state-of-zcash-adoption/
Unable to shake the rumors that privacy focused cryptocurrencies were only used for illicit means, Electric Coin Company CEO and Cypherpunk, Zooko Wilcox, hired the Rand Corporation (government contractor) to prove once and for all if and how privacy coins like Zcash are being used by criminals. You can read about it here.
Can Zcash become a privacy layer for other blockchains? The Zcash Foundation seem to think so. Here’s how they’re planning to bring privacy to Cosmos, using Zcash. This move comes as Zcash announce the Zcash Developer Alliance, an invite-only working group to advance Zcash development and interoperability. At this stage, the invite-only group appears to include Lightning Network startup Bolt Labs, a cross-chain technology startup Thesis, Ethereum congomerate Consensys, and two startups working on the Cosmos project, Agoric and Iqlusion.
As part of the Zcash Improvement Proposal and Network Upgrade Pipeline for Network Upgrade 4 (NU4) due in November 2020 — which will be named Canopy, the Electric Coin Company team have put together a document outlining the agreements reached between ECC and the Zcash Foundation. You can read which ZIPs will be implemented here.
Applications are open for the Zcash Major Grants Review Committee, applications will remain open until September 1st.
If you missed the Electric Coin Company Q2 2020 Livestream, you can still watch it here.
The Zcash Foundation announced a grant to the Tor Project to fund the specification of the Walking Onions protocol. If you’re interested, you can read more about Walking Onions and how it will help Tor scale.
An upgrade is expected for mid-July (Block 903000) which will support the activation of Heartwood on mainnet.
Electric Coin Co is joining forces with Gitcoin to launch a virtual hackathon. The hackathon begins June 15th and there will be a $6000 bounty up for grabs — more information here.
Zcash Weekly Update for May:
Dash
Dash partners with AnkerPay, South African cryptocurrency ATM and Point-Of-Sale provider, to grow the cryptocurrency ecosystem in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Results of the 2020 Dash Trust Protector Elections are now available.
Dash have announced a strategic partnership with IntoTheBlock, a cryptocurrency analytics platform that provides insights for investors and traders with over 60 intelligent signals about Dash, that aims to empower them to make intelligent trading decisions.
Listed on SwapSpace. Easily and instantly swap $DASH with more than 300 cryptocurrencies. Listed on VegaPay, VegaWallet’s cryptocurrency payment system that now supports invoicing and transaction creation with $DASH.
A revised treasury proposal his been issued by the Dash Investment Foundation.
Dash announce an exclusive partnership with ReadyRaider to bring cryptocurrency to the eSports and Gaming communities. User wallets are now live!
Dash joins the Messari Disclosures Registry. As a participating project, Dash has committed to transparency by providing regular project disclosures and updates.
Dash Electrum wallet is now available on Google Play — you can find it here.
Dash Core Updates for April:
Key Takeaways:
- Added Update & Remove Methods in SDK
- Error handling improvements for DashPay contact flows on iOS
- Added Support Many Contracts in Documents Batch Transition for #Dash Platform
Key Takeaways:
- Finished development for Create New Identity and associated network tx on DashPay for Android
- Began rollout of v7.0.6 of Dash Wallet for Android
- Added InstantSend Locks + ChainLocks to Evonet for next release
Key Takeaways:
- Finished Send/Receive/Search contact requests on DashPay iOS
- Implemented Get Identity by Public Key Endpoints
- Implemented Identity Top-up state transition in DPP
Monero
Monero Means Money, currently the #1 cryptocurrency documentary (according to IMDB) is now available for free on YouTube. Monero Talk recently interviewed Monero Means Money creator, Justin Ehrenhofer, on their show — you can view that episode here.
Monero’s Nitrogen Nebula (v0.16) has been released, which features Dandelion++ as well as some major verification performance optimizations for Bulletproofs.
OKEx have added $XMR pairings in $USD and $USDT on their Perpetual Swap trading platform.
The Monero Outreach group have started a grassroots campaign to help encourage merchant adoption of Monero. They’ve put together a helpful brochure outlining some of the benefits of accepting $XMR.
Meet Monero: A privacy cryptocurrency offering real anonymity advances, a blog piece by Kraken has been published which outlines some of the cryptographic advances made by Monero developers, its origin story, progression of real world adoption and roadmap for what’s to come.
Revuo Monero for April:
Verge
Who is Verge in 2020? The Verge team put together a blog going into who is involved with each of their more specialized teams, including the Verge development team, marketing and business development team, graphics team, and advisors.
Who is the Verge team in 2020? talks about who is in the dev team, who is in the marketing/biz dev team, graphics team, advisers
Remember that time Verge announced a partnership with PornHub, the adult cinema website — well, there have reportedly been over 15,000 transactions made with $XVG on the platform.
Continuining with the theme of big numbers as a result of partnerships made by the Verge team, $XVG has been listed on Mecon Cash’s network of 13,000 ATMs around South Korea — view the commercial here. If you’d like to read more about the Verge x Mecon Cash partnership, you can do so here.
So far the Verge website has been translated into over 20 websites, with a rumored 15 or so still in the works — you can keep up to date with the localization progress or even contribute on Verge’s PoEditor page.
Verge has been listed on RoyalExchange, where you can trade $XVG with $ETH, $BTC and $TRX pairings.
A rough estimate has surfaced for when the next Verge hardfork is expected, and currently that estimate places the hardfork date around July 4th 2020.
ChangeAngel are hosting a Verge GIF/meme competition. To enter, all you have to do is reply to this tweet with your Verge GIF or meme by June 18th. Winner receives $100 in $XVG.
Zcoin
Zcoin have announced the results of their year long feedback period over $XZC’s post-halving block reward, continued development funding, the establishment of a Reserve Fund, and the expiry of the Founders Reward.
You can now trade $XZC on AtomicDex. AtomicDex is a secure multi-coin wallet with the peer-to-peer trading functionality of a decentralized exchange.
PolisPay interviewed Zcoin COO, Reuban Yap, live on their YouTube channel — if you missed the original stream, you can catch up here.
Zcoin’s contribution to the Thai Democratic Party’s primary elections is mentioned in a Decrypt article asking whether blockchain voting can save elections during the COVID-19 lockdown.
What does Zcoin have to do with anonymous acquisition of a phone number? Well, with Phitbone you can use $XZC to make the purchase to temporarily rent a phone number to complete an SMS verification.
Huobi Pool have launched their Zcoin staking program where $XZC deposits will receive Huobi Pool Tokens (HBT).
Donations for the Lelantus code audit are open on the Zcoin Crowdfunding System — donations are sitting around 10% of the required funding needed to carry out the audit.
Zcoin Development Update:
- Major headway being made on Lelantus
- They are also polishing and preparing Deterministic Masternodes and LLMQ for release
- Work is finished on the Signma mobile wallet, plus major improvements on the Zcoin Electron wallet GUI
Bytecoin
Same same…
- No blog posts in 2020 — the most recent being December 17, 2019
- No Twitter posts in 2020 — the most recent being December 26, 2019
- No GitHub commits in 2020 — the most recent being July, 2019
Bytecoin will remain a participant in the Battle of the Privacy Coins purely out of curiosity. How will a dead coin perform against the more active projects?
Beam
Development and testing for the upcoming fork is progressing nicely, with the fork expected around the 28th of June. For more details, hit up the announcement, and eye up all the exciting updates that come with it.
Part 3 of Beam’s Why Privacy Matters series is live — check it out here.
You can now tip $BEAM in the Beam Discord Server.
How did the Beam team achieve push notifications and price indicators without compromising the privacy of their wallets? Read about it here.
$BEAM mining pool is now live on Cruxpool. You can follow this guide for instructions on how to get set up mining $BEAM.
Key Takeaways:
- Eager Electron 5.0 — testing underway
- Atomic Swaps API — released with ongoing improvements
- Web Wallet — testnet incoming
Key Takeaways:
- Sneak peak into the future look and feel of the Beam wallet post-hardfork
- What is Beam Hash III and what does it mean for the Beam community
Key Takeaways:
- Beam hardfork is fast approaching with releases for both Testnet and Mainnet coming soon
- Beam in the top 5 most active GitHub repositories
Key Takeaways:
- Figure for locked $BEAM required to issue Confidential Assets set at 3000 $BEAM
- Eager Electron 5.0 release
- Work commencing on Eager Electron 5.1
Grin
Key Takeaways:
- Grin’s last PoW tweak has been announced
- Discussion ongoing to deprecate http(s) transaction building for v5.0.0
- Ongoing BLS research and review of previous papers
Key Takeaways:
- Big update from Grin++ and results from security audit published
- Slatepack RFC proposes a single Grin transaction building standard
- Disclosure of a node vulnerability that was patched in v3.1.0, there’s been no indication of an exploit
- It may not be required to lock outputs during transaction building, would improve usability considerably
Key Takeaways:
- Coindesk article proclaims Grin to be as good as dead. Long live Grin!
- Decision to go ahead with the deprecation announcement of http(s)
- Slatepack is converging to become the default transaction building protocol
- Roughly 2 weeks to go to beta releases of v4.0.0
Key Takeaways:
- Grin obituaries launched
- New service to check for wallets online via Tor
- The last governance meeting reviewed open RFCs
Dusk
New to the Dusk community? Take a look at their renewed About Us page to get to know the story of the Dusk Network.
The Dusk team have developed Cake!, ‘a sugared syntax’ to ease the creation of Smart Contracts on the Dusk Network. Check out the blog linked above and watch the demo to see the difference a bit of Cake! can make.
This month the Dusk team shared actual demos on how easy it is to build a zero-knowledge proof. You can read more about it here in the Dusk Development Update.
Why do enterprises choose Dusk Network?
- Strict on-chain data privacy
- Enterprise-grade blockchain without enterprise-level costs
- Permission management & control
- Direct settlement finality
Check out the Dusk team’s blog on 9 Privacy-Respecting Blockchain Usecases to demonstrate the potential of zero-knowledge proofs in public blockchain technology.
I hope you found this content helpful. If you have any suggestions for future content, please comment below. Alternatively, you can find us on Twitter at @ContrastCrypto.
