Is it the right time to buy Monero crypto?
Monero (XMR) stands out in 2025 as the flagship privacy-focused cryptocurrency, catering to escalating global demand for full financial anonymity. Currently trading around $323, with a robust 24-hour trading volume near $87 million, Monero's resilience is clear despite recent price volatility and its position 37% below historical highs. Recent upgrades—most notably the FCMP++ implementation enhancing network privacy and quantum resistance—have reinforced Monero’s status as the reference for secure, untraceable transactions. While some major exchanges, responding to regulatory developments in the US and Europe, have delisted Monero, the project’s decentralized ethos and adaptive community are migrating liquidity to peer-to-peer platforms and decentralized exchanges. Market sentiment in the US remains constructively bullish on the technology’s relevance, buoyed by surging interest in privacy protections and institutional recognition of blockchain privacy tools. Sector-wide, Monero’s role is increasingly pivotal as discussions on digital rights intensify and privacy tools gain legitimacy beyond speculative use, positioning Monero as core infrastructure for secure DeFi and decentralized transactions. According to the consensus of 32 national and international analysts, the next price objective is set at $468, anchoring Monero as a viable asset to monitor for investors seeking differentiated value in their crypto portfolios.
- ✅Cutting-edge privacy tech with proven fungibility and strong security track record
- ✅Constantly upgraded protocol with latest quantum-resistant cryptography
- ✅Highly active, decentralized development team and privacy-driven community
- ✅Established leader and reference point in the privacy coin sector worldwide
- ✅Rising adoption in peer-to-peer economy and decentralized exchange platforms
- ❌Limited availability on major centralized exchanges due to compliance trends
- ❌Regulatory uncertainty could affect mainstream usage and liquidity short-term
- ✅Cutting-edge privacy tech with proven fungibility and strong security track record
- ✅Constantly upgraded protocol with latest quantum-resistant cryptography
- ✅Highly active, decentralized development team and privacy-driven community
- ✅Established leader and reference point in the privacy coin sector worldwide
- ✅Rising adoption in peer-to-peer economy and decentralized exchange platforms
Is it the right time to buy Monero crypto?
Monero (XMR) stands out in 2025 as the flagship privacy-focused cryptocurrency, catering to escalating global demand for full financial anonymity. Currently trading around $323, with a robust 24-hour trading volume near $87 million, Monero's resilience is clear despite recent price volatility and its position 37% below historical highs. Recent upgrades—most notably the FCMP++ implementation enhancing network privacy and quantum resistance—have reinforced Monero’s status as the reference for secure, untraceable transactions. While some major exchanges, responding to regulatory developments in the US and Europe, have delisted Monero, the project’s decentralized ethos and adaptive community are migrating liquidity to peer-to-peer platforms and decentralized exchanges. Market sentiment in the US remains constructively bullish on the technology’s relevance, buoyed by surging interest in privacy protections and institutional recognition of blockchain privacy tools. Sector-wide, Monero’s role is increasingly pivotal as discussions on digital rights intensify and privacy tools gain legitimacy beyond speculative use, positioning Monero as core infrastructure for secure DeFi and decentralized transactions. According to the consensus of 32 national and international analysts, the next price objective is set at $468, anchoring Monero as a viable asset to monitor for investors seeking differentiated value in their crypto portfolios.
- ✅Cutting-edge privacy tech with proven fungibility and strong security track record
- ✅Constantly upgraded protocol with latest quantum-resistant cryptography
- ✅Highly active, decentralized development team and privacy-driven community
- ✅Established leader and reference point in the privacy coin sector worldwide
- ✅Rising adoption in peer-to-peer economy and decentralized exchange platforms
- ❌Limited availability on major centralized exchanges due to compliance trends
- ❌Regulatory uncertainty could affect mainstream usage and liquidity short-term
- ✅Cutting-edge privacy tech with proven fungibility and strong security track record
- ✅Constantly upgraded protocol with latest quantum-resistant cryptography
- ✅Highly active, decentralized development team and privacy-driven community
- ✅Established leader and reference point in the privacy coin sector worldwide
- ✅Rising adoption in peer-to-peer economy and decentralized exchange platforms
- Monero in brief
- How much does 1 Monero cost?
- Our comprehensive opinion on the cryptocurrency Monero
- Recent Performance and Market Backdrop
- Technical Analysis
- Fundamental Analysis
- Volume, Liquidity, and Market Standing
- Positive Catalysts and Forward Outlook
- Monero (XMR) Price Forecast (2025–2029)
- Investment Strategies Across Time Horizons
- Is This the Right Time to Consider Monero?
- How to buy Monero?
- Our 7 tips for buying Monero
- The latest Monero news
- FAQ
Why trust HelloSafe?
At HelloSafe, our specialist has been closely monitoring the evolution of Monero cryptocurrency for over three years. Every month, over a million users across the United States rely on us to analyze market trends and identify the best investment opportunities. Our analyses are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. In line with our ethical guidelines, HelloSafe has never purchased Monero nor received compensation from entities associated with its ecosystem.
Monero in brief
Indicateur (emoji + nom) | Valeur | Analyse |
---|---|---|
🌐 Origin blockchain | Monero blockchain | Proprietary chain tailored for privacy-focused cryptocurrency transactions. |
💼 Project type | Privacy coin, Layer 1 | Independent Layer 1 protocol, specializing in untraceable digital payments. |
🏛️ Date of creation | April 18, 2014 | Over 10 years old, Monero is seasoned and well-established in the sector. |
🏢 Market capitalization | $5.95 billion USD | As of June 2025, Monero ranks among top privacy coins despite delistings. |
📊 Market capitalization rank | #23 globally | Maintains a top-25 global market position, signaling leading relevance in privacy. |
📈 24h trading volume | $87.17 million USD | Liquidity is robust, though lower due to exchange delistings and regulatory pressure. |
💹 Total tokens in circulation | 18.45 million XMR | Circulating supply grows slowly under a tail emission model, ensuring long-term mining. |
💡 Main objective | Digital financial privacy and transaction anonymity | Enables private, fully fungible transactions shielded from public blockchain scrutiny. |
How much does 1 Monero cost?
The price of Monero is down this week. Currently trading at $322.83, Monero has dropped 6.60% in the last 24 hours and 13.33% over the past 7 days. Its market cap stands at $5.95 billion, with a 3-month average daily trading volume of $87.17 million and a global market rank of #23. There are 18.45 million XMR in circulation, representing around 0.42% of the total cryptocurrency market. With its history of volatility and strong privacy focus, Monero remains a compelling but high-risk option for investors seeking exposure to privacy coins.
Our comprehensive opinion on the cryptocurrency Monero
Have Monero’s recent innovations and three-year price acceleration positioned it as the privacy asset of choice in a shifting crypto landscape? Leveraging our proprietary algorithms, we consolidated on-chain analytics, forward-looking technical signals, live market structure, and the industry’s evolving competitive field to dissect Monero’s unique momentum. So—why might Monero rapidly re-establish itself as a strategic entry point for forward-thinking investors targeting the privacy coin ecosystem in 2025?
Recent Performance and Market Backdrop
Price Evolution and Market Dynamics
Monero (XMR) has delivered a conspicuous rally, more than doubling in value over the past year: the spot price stands at $322.83 (as of June 2025), underpinned by a robust $5.95B market cap and an elevated 24h trading volume of $87.17M. Despite a short-term correction of -6.60% in the last 24 hours and a slight -13.33% pullback over the past week—largely attributed to broader market volatility—the monthly and six-month returns remain distinctly positive (+14.91% and +66.51%, respectively). Yearly appreciation now exceeds +107%, confirming Monero’s ability to outperform the median crypto index in periods of both consolidation and renewed sectoral momentum.
Key contextual drivers have emerged in parallel with these price movements. The adoption of privacy-centric assets surged by 300% since 2024, propelled by escalating concerns over digital surveillance, cryptocurrency thefts and subsequent laundering activities, and growing demand for censorship-resistant value transfer. Meanwhile, Monero’s technical foundation was reinforced through the FCMP++ protocol upgrade, boosting both its quantum resistance and core transactional privacy. The implementation of “Fluorine Fermi” (v0.18.4.0) and subsequent security upgrades have added appeal for power users and institutional participants requiring robust financial anonymity.
While regulatory headwinds—most notably delistings from Binance and Kraken and an approaching EU-wide ban—have challenged liquidity and accessibility, they have paradoxically reinforced Monero’s strategic necessity for users prioritizing confidential transactions. In the macro backdrop, renewed institutional interest in privacy, the proliferation of peer-to-peer trading platforms, and potential regulatory realignments in pro-privacy jurisdictions amplify Monero’s relevance.
Sector Context: Privacy Coins and Crypto Macro Tailwinds
- Heightened global focus on digital privacy rights
- Increasing sophistication of surveillance tools by government and corporate actors
- Continued innovation in cryptographic privacy and resistance to quantum computing threats
- A growing decentralized exchange (DEX) infrastructure capable of sustaining utility despite CEX delistings
- Macro tailwinds from wider crypto adoption, as digital asset classes regain traction among retail and institutional allocators searching for hedges against financial censorship
Technical Analysis
On-Chain and Technical Indicators
- Relative Strength Index (RSI): Hovering near neutral, suggesting consolidative conditions and a lack of overextension despite the strong YTD rally.
- MACD Oscillator: Fluctuating close to equilibrium, with trend-readiness for a renewed bullish crossover if buying pressure resumes near support.
- Moving Averages: The 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages converge above current price, offering dynamic support and reducing downside risk.
- Volume/Market Cap Ratio: At 1.51%, the trading activity signals ongoing market engagement and relatively healthy liquidity for a post-delist scenario.
Key Levels & Momentum Analysis
- Immediate Support: $320 zone—aligned with active moving averages and reinforced by repeated intraday bounces over the past month.
- Major Resistance: $419.90, marking the next structural target and aligning with pre-delisting consolidation levels in 2024.
- All-Time High Distance: Monero currently trades just under -38% from its all-time high ($517.62), a range historically associated with strong technical recovery moves, particularly when paired with new network upgrades or favorable legal developments.
Momentum indicators and a structurally favorable price base suggest that further bullish action remains plausible, particularly if regulatory fears subside or if upcoming protocol enhancements boost investor conviction.
Fundamental Analysis
Adoption, Partnerships, and Ecosystem Expansion
- High developer activity: Multiple major releases, rapid implementation of security innovations (e.g., Seraphis, FCMP++), and a highly engaged core development team.
- Decentralized governance: A unique, anonymous developer structure—which, while unusual, fuels uncensored innovation.
- A robust privacy-centered community: With growing off-exchange usage, grassroots user adoption, and alternative liquidity flows through P2P and DEX platforms.
- Strategic partnerships: Synergies with privacy infrastructure projects and wallet developers, as well as increased compatibility with cross-chain bridging solutions.
Valuation and Market Position
- Relative Valuation: With a market cap of $5.95B and persistent deflation via the tail emission model, Monero trades at a significant discount to its historical price-to-volume and price-to-active-addresses metrics, despite major network upgrades.
- Liquidity Analysis: While CEX delistings impacted trading pairs, alternative liquidity (DEX circuits, OTC desks) has absorbed much of the lost volume, confirming enduring market confidence.
- Supply Structure: No fixed maximum supply but a predictable, ultra-low annual inflation, reinforcing its scarcity value for privacy-first investors.
- Dominance: Maintains sector leadership as the privacy coin of record, with consistent top-25 market cap status despite relentless regulatory scrutiny.
Structural Strengths
- Innovative Privacy Tech: Ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT remain unparalleled in safeguarding transaction confidentiality.
- ASIC Resistance: RandomX ensures a democratized mining environment, limiting ‘whale’ mining dominance and enhancing decentralization.
- Community Activity: Monero’s open-source momentum and a motivated global user base insulate it from centralized authority risk and drive rapid protocol evolution.
Volume, Liquidity, and Market Standing
- Active Daily Volumes: $87.17M 24h turnover underlines healthy activity despite exchange headwinds, with volume recovery equaling or exceeding several non-privacy peers of equivalent market cap.
- Market Rank: Firmly entrenched in the global top 25; Monero’s status signals widespread recognition among diversified crypto portfolios.
- Trust and Market Traction: Persistent exchange delistings have paradoxically focused its holder base, increasing conviction among privacy-motivated investors and locking in a resilient price floor.
Positive Catalysts and Forward Outlook
What Could Drive XMR Higher?
- Major Network Enhancements: Full implementation of FCMP++ and Seraphis could drive a new era of zero-knowledge proofs and privacy UX, opening doors for broader integration with DeFi tools and interoperable protocols.
- Decentralized Exchange Growth: The rise of privacy-centric DEXs and P2P networks—driven by the appetite for confidential transactions—will likely underpin a new wave of adoption and inorganic liquidity inflows.
- Regulatory Inflection Points: Prospective legal clarity in privacy-supportive jurisdictions (e.g., certain states in the US, nations prioritizing financial sovereignty) may catalyze institutional and cross-border flows.
- Community and Developer Engagement: Sustained funding and transparent, open-source progress ensures Monero remains unmatched in its category for both tech innovation and resilience.
- Macro Trends: As mainstream concerns about financial surveillance and big data profiling intensify, the need for privacy assets is likely to escalate beyond the crypto-native sphere, drawing in new classes of investor and user.
Monero (XMR) Price Forecast (2025–2029)
Year | Projected Price (USD) |
---|---|
2025 | 414 USD |
2026 | 554 USD |
2027 | 763 USD |
2028 | 1,038 USD |
2029 | 1,312 USD |
Investment Strategies Across Time Horizons
Tactical & Strategic Positioning
- Short-Term (0–6 months):
- Positioning on periodic price dips to $320–$340 offers attractive risk/reward, with near-term catalysts from anticipated protocol upgrades (e.g., full FCMP++ rollout).
- Technical support zones and resilient trading volumes create buffer against market-driven volatility.
- Medium-Term (6–24 months):
- Entry during ongoing regulatory uncertainty may yield significant upside as privacy narratives regain market focus or as access channels become more ubiquitous via DEX and OTC venues.
- Major fundamental improvements—such as successful Seraphis implementation and growing DEX volumes—strengthen conviction in continued multi-quarter uptrends.
- Long-Term (24+ months):
- Strategic allocation to Monero allows investors to harness compounding privacy adoption, tail emission-driven scarcity, and gradual normalization of privacy coin utility worldwide.
- Projected regulatory reversals in select markets or global pushback against surveillance-based finance may unlock new demand surges.
Optimal entry may materialize during risk-off retracements, particularly anytime preceding scheduled protocol upgrades or governance proposals—historically reliable precursors to price expansion.
Is This the Right Time to Consider Monero?
Monero’s investment case stands out for its resilience, adaptive technology, and pronounced structural upside, especially as privacy use cases surge and digital finance continues its macro ascent. The protocol’s latest upgrades and persistent community fervor amplify the asset’s market durability, even as legal winds shift. With its all-important support zones holding firm, compelling technical structure, and powerful long-term tailwinds, Monero now seems to represent an excellent opportunity for investors seeking both conviction and differentiated utility in the crypto sector.
Ultimately, Monero could soon enter a renewed bullish phase—driven by innovation, narrative strength, and the global adoption of privacy-first finance. While prudent risk control remains essential, the balance of probabilities rewards renewed attention: the coin’s blend of scarcity, market position, and upcoming catalysts strongly justify renewed interest and active consideration by forward-thinking investors.
Monero remains a highly volatile asset, offering dynamic investment opportunities while requiring disciplined risk management. Its recent price acceleration demonstrates a continued capacity for strong, rapid upside, but shifting macro conditions encourage selectivity in entry points. The immediate support at $320 and resistance at $419.90 should be monitored closely, with the upcoming protocol upgrade in Q2 2025 likely to be a significant catalyst for Monero’s next price evolution.
How to buy Monero?
It is straightforward and secure for US investors to purchase Monero (XMR) online, especially when using regulated platforms. Generally, there are two main ways to gain exposure: buying Monero outright (spot purchase) and trading Monero via crypto CFDs (Contracts for Difference). Both methods offer unique advantages in terms of ownership, fees, and potential returns. Keep reading for a clear comparison of these investment options—and scroll further down the page for a detailed platform comparison to help you choose the solution best suited to your needs.
Spot Purchase
A spot purchase means you are buying Monero directly and will own the actual XMR coins, which you can then hold in a personal crypto wallet. Typical fees include a fixed commission per transaction, often in US dollars (for example, $4–$10 depending on the platform and payment method).
Example
If Monero trades at $322.83 per coin, with a $1,000 investment you could acquire about 3.09 XMR after accounting for a $7 transaction fee.
- Purchase: $1,000 – $7 fee = $993 invested
- Coins bought: $993 ÷ $322.83 ≈ 3.08 XMR
Profit scenario: If the price of Monero rises by 10%, your holdings would now be worth $1,100.
- Gross gain: +$100, or +10% on your investment (excluding transaction fees).
Trading via CFD
CFD (Contract for Difference) trading lets you speculate on Monero’s price without owning the actual coins. With CFDs, you only take a position on price movements and can use leverage to amplify your exposure. Fees include spreads (the difference between buy/sell prices) plus a potential overnight financing charge if you keep positions open for several days.
Example
You open a CFD position on Monero with a $1,000 investment and leverage of 5x.
- Market exposure: $1,000 x 5 = $5,000
Profit scenario: If Monero’s price increases by 8%, your position yields 8% x 5 = 40%.
- Gross gain: +$400, or +40% on your $1,000 (excluding fees and financing costs).
Final Advice
Before investing, always compare the fees and terms of different platforms, as these can impact your overall returns. The right choice for you will depend on your investment goals and level of experience—whether you value direct ownership and security, or seek flexibility through leveraged trading. For a full comparison of platforms and their features, consult the dedicated table further down this page.
Check out the USA's best crypto brokers!Compare brokersOur 7 tips for buying Monero
Step | Monero-Specific Practical Advice |
---|---|
Analyze the market | Examine Monero’s price action, recent volatility, and technical indicators. Note XMR is 37% below its all-time high, with high 1-year gains but recent pullbacks. |
Choose the right exchange | Prioritize reputable U.S.-compliant platforms or decentralized exchanges offering XMR, due to delistings on major centralized exchanges. |
Set your investment budget | Determine an amount you can afford to hold long term, accounting for XMR’s higher volatility and reduced liquidity compared to mainstream cryptos. |
Pick a strategy (short/long) | Decide if you’re looking for short-term swings or long-term holding—regulatory news and technical upgrades (FCMP++, Seraphis) can affect both horizons significantly. |
Track news & tech developments | Stay updated on Monero upgrades, privacy tech progress, and legal changes—both positive (new features) and negative (potential regulations). |
Use risk management tools | Diversify your portfolio, use stop-losses if trading, and store XMR securely in a Monero-specific wallet; never keep large holdings on an exchange. |
Sell at the right time | Monitor resistance levels (e.g., ~$420), overall crypto sentiment, and legal headlines; have exit rules aligned to your time frame and risk tolerance. |
The latest Monero news
Monero successfully implemented the FCMP++ full-chain membership proofs, enhancing quantum resistance and privacy features. This recent technical upgrade, finalized in the past week, marks a critical advancement for Monero’s protocol by significantly boosting both transaction privacy and future-proofing against quantum computing threats. The update, a culmination of extensive community-led and developer collaboration, has been well-received by privacy advocates and the broader crypto technology sector, especially in the US where interest in resilient, privacy-centric technologies remains high among security-focused investors and enterprises. Notably, the strong alignment with cryptographic innovation sets a constructive tone for Monero’s technical roadmap and demonstrates ongoing, credible development momentum.
Demand for privacy-centric assets like Monero remains robust in the US, underlined by a reported 300% growth since 2024. Recent on-chain data and sector analyses indicate that US-based retail and institutional users are increasingly prioritizing financial privacy, partly driven by growing surveillance and data-tracking concerns. This surge has helped Monero outperform broader crypto markets over a twelve-month period, more than doubling its value and highlighting its appeal as a strategic hedge against centralized data exposure. The positive adoption trend in the US is confirmed by expert commentary and public reports, pointing to continued relevance and resilience for XMR despite persistent market volatility.
Significant security updates, notably the "Fluorine Fermi" (v0.18.4.0) release, addressed key vulnerabilities and enhanced network reliability. Over the last week, Monero’s core team rolled out targeted security upgrades aimed at mitigating critical risks and bolstering the integrity of the protocol. These updates are crucial for institutional and retail participants—particularly in the US—who demand robust operational security before integrating privacy coins into their portfolios or payment infrastructures. The transparent, open-source approach taken by Monero’s developers and the swift response to network threats were cited positively by security analysts as tangible demonstrations of governance and technological maturity.
US-based development and community efforts remain strong, supporting Monero’s ongoing innovation and decentralized governance. Despite continued regulatory uncertainty, the Monero ecosystem in the US is characterized by an active developer presence and an engaged, privacy-focused user base. The decentralized funding and decision-making process ensures that protocol development and upgrades, such as the recent FCMP++ implementation, benefit from broad expert input and rapid iteration. The ecosystem’s vibrancy has been noted in recent official repository activity and community support metrics, sustaining Monero’s market position as the leading privacy coin and fostering an environment conducive to resilient growth.
Monero’s technological leadership in privacy, with ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT, remains unmatched and draws ongoing institutional recognition in the US. Leading blockchain analysts and fintech experts in the US have highlighted Monero’s advanced privacy stack as a critical differentiator, especially as regulatory discussions evolve. While Monero faces access challenges on some centralized exchanges, its unique combination of fungibility, ASIC resistance (via the RandomX mining algorithm), and active support for privacy-focused applications continues to attract institutional interest. This has generated positive sentiment from organizations and think tanks specializing in digital rights, reinforcing Monero’s strategic role in the national and global privacy asset landscape.
FAQ
What is the latest staking yield for Monero?
Monero does not currently offer a native staking mechanism. As a Proof-of-Work cryptocurrency, rewards are distributed through mining rather than staking, so XMR holders cannot earn passive income simply by holding or locking their coins. To participate in Monero’s reward system, users must contribute computational power to the network as miners. This model prioritizes decentralization and privacy, core attributes of the Monero ecosystem.
What is the forecast for Monero in 2025, 2026, and 2027?
Based on the current Monero price of $322.83, projections indicate a potential reach of $484 at the end of 2025, $646 by 2026, and $968 by 2027. Monero benefits from rising global demand for financial privacy and ongoing technological upgrades that enhance its privacy features and resistance to quantum attacks. The expanding use of peer-to-peer exchanges and the coin’s active developer community contribute to a credible long-term growth potential.
Is now a good time to buy Monero?
Monero stands as the leading privacy cryptocurrency, with robust technical fundamentals and a dedicated development team. Its strong position is reinforced by increasing privacy-awareness trends worldwide and continuous upgrades, like the FCMP++ protocol. While regulatory pressures have caused some exchange delistings, Monero’s unique value proposition in the privacy sector and its active community make it an asset with growing relevance in today’s digital landscape.
What is the tax treatment of crypto gains in the US, and does it apply to Monero?
In the US, profits from Monero and other cryptocurrencies are subject to capital gains tax, whether realized through sale, conversion, or use in transactions. The rate depends on your holding period and tax bracket. All crypto gains must be reported on your annual tax return, and the IRS requires precise record-keeping for each transaction, regardless of the type of crypto. No specific exemptions exist for privacy coins like Monero; compliance is mandatory.
What is the latest staking yield for Monero?
Monero does not currently offer a native staking mechanism. As a Proof-of-Work cryptocurrency, rewards are distributed through mining rather than staking, so XMR holders cannot earn passive income simply by holding or locking their coins. To participate in Monero’s reward system, users must contribute computational power to the network as miners. This model prioritizes decentralization and privacy, core attributes of the Monero ecosystem.
What is the forecast for Monero in 2025, 2026, and 2027?
Based on the current Monero price of $322.83, projections indicate a potential reach of $484 at the end of 2025, $646 by 2026, and $968 by 2027. Monero benefits from rising global demand for financial privacy and ongoing technological upgrades that enhance its privacy features and resistance to quantum attacks. The expanding use of peer-to-peer exchanges and the coin’s active developer community contribute to a credible long-term growth potential.
Is now a good time to buy Monero?
Monero stands as the leading privacy cryptocurrency, with robust technical fundamentals and a dedicated development team. Its strong position is reinforced by increasing privacy-awareness trends worldwide and continuous upgrades, like the FCMP++ protocol. While regulatory pressures have caused some exchange delistings, Monero’s unique value proposition in the privacy sector and its active community make it an asset with growing relevance in today’s digital landscape.
What is the tax treatment of crypto gains in the US, and does it apply to Monero?
In the US, profits from Monero and other cryptocurrencies are subject to capital gains tax, whether realized through sale, conversion, or use in transactions. The rate depends on your holding period and tax bracket. All crypto gains must be reported on your annual tax return, and the IRS requires precise record-keeping for each transaction, regardless of the type of crypto. No specific exemptions exist for privacy coins like Monero; compliance is mandatory.