What Monero hides, and what it does not
An honest map of Monero's privacy so you do not rely on protection you do not have.
5 min read · checked 2026-10-30
Hidden on-chain
- Sender (ring signatures; ring size 16)
- Receiver (one-time stealth addresses)
- Amount (RingCT commitments + Bulletproofs+)
Not hidden by the protocol
- Your IP address (unless you use your own node, Tor or I2P)
- Timing: when you send and receive
- Exchange records: KYC exchanges know their own deposits and withdrawals
- Anything you share: a tx key, view key or proof reveals that payment to whoever receives it
- Real-world data: shipping addresses, emails, account names
Statistical limits
Ring signatures hide the real input among 16 members, not among all outputs. Researchers keep studying decoy selection; follow upgrades (e.g. FCMP++) and keep your wallet updated.