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7 Jun 2026, 14:00

Monero Next? Researcher Who Found The Zcash Flaw Targets XMR For Future Audit

The security researcher, who discovered the Orchard Pool vulnerability in Zcash, says he has added other privacy-focused coins, including Monero, to his audit queue. Researcher To Audit Monero After Finding Zcash Flaw Security engineer Taylor Hornby, who used the Claude AI Opus 4.8 model, has revealed that he intends to audit Monero, among other crypto projects, in the near future. “Absolutely! I’ll add Monero to my queue of things to audit,” Hornby responded when asked on X whether he could look for bugs in XMR and other privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. The Orchard Counterfeiting flaw, which could have enabled a bad actor to mint unlimited, undetectable amounts of counterfeit ZEC tokens, had gone undetected since May 2022. Hornby discovered the counterfeiting vulnerability in Zcash’s Orchard pool on May 29 and reported it to Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL), which coordinated an emergency network fix by June 2. The language in the public notice of the vulnerability emphasized that, while there was no evidence of exploitation, due to Zcash’s privacy property, there was no way to cryptographically confirm that the bug was not exploited during the period it went unnoticed. This impossible situation has cast doubt on the privacy feature in certain cryptocurrencies, such as Monero. Hornby explained that his close relationship with the Zcash developers and the impact of the crypto project on his life were the reasons he disclosed the flaw rather than exploiting it. Additionally, the security researcher revealed that he intends to apply for a Zcash coinholder grant while seeking voluntary donations to fund further work. The discovery of this vulnerability precipitated a level of FUD-driven capitulation in the crypto market, with ZEC losing nearly half of its value on the day. With Monero seemingly next on the list, anything less than a favorable security audit report could trigger the return of doubt into privacy-focused coins and the general cryptocurrency market. What’s The Next Move For The Privacy Coin? With no cryptographic way to confirm whether the counterfeiting vulnerability was exploited, Shielded Labs, alongside the ZODL and other key stakeholders, has launched a proposal called Ironwood. Ironwood is expected to enable users to verify the authenticity of ZEC’s circulating supply. According to the proposal, users would be able to independently verify the total circulating supply of Zcash by running a node. “As soon as Ironwood activates, users can verify from the consensus rules that no more than the correct amount of ZEC can be circulating,” the initial proposal read. As of this writing, the price of ZEC sits at around $400, reflecting an almost 4% jump in the past 24 hours.

6 Jun 2026, 11:45

Zcash Flaw Discoverer Taylor Hornby Plans to Add Monero to Audit Queue

BitcoinWorld Zcash Flaw Discoverer Taylor Hornby Plans to Add Monero to Audit Queue Security engineer Taylor Hornby, who recently uncovered a critical vulnerability in Zcash (ZEC) using Anthropic’s Opus 4.8 AI model, has confirmed plans to review Monero (XMR) as part of his ongoing audit work. The announcement, shared on X and reported by CoinDesk, signals a significant development for the privacy-focused cryptocurrency community. Discovery and Immediate Market Impact Hornby discovered the Zcash flaw on May 29. The vulnerability, which could have potentially allowed hackers to drain funds from Zcash’s privacy pool for years, sent shockwaves through the market. Following the news, Zcash’s price dropped by 38% within 24 hours, highlighting the severe financial consequences that can result from security weaknesses in digital assets. Monero in the Crosshairs When asked on social media whether he would investigate similar issues in Monero and other privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, Hornby confirmed he would add Monero to his audit queue. This decision places Monero, another leading privacy coin, under the microscope of a security researcher known for using advanced AI tools to identify complex vulnerabilities. Why This Matters for Privacy Coin Users Privacy cryptocurrencies like Zcash and Monero are designed to obscure transaction details, offering users financial anonymity. However, the complexity of their underlying technology can also hide critical security flaws. Hornby’s use of AI to find a bug that may have existed for years underscores the evolving nature of cybersecurity threats in the crypto space. For investors and users, this event serves as a reminder that even the most robust systems require continuous, independent auditing. Conclusion The discovery of a major flaw in Zcash, followed by the promise of a Monero audit, represents a pivotal moment for privacy coin security. Taylor Hornby’s work demonstrates the growing role of AI in vulnerability research, and his next audit will be closely watched by the cryptocurrency community. The incident also reinforces the importance of proactive security measures for maintaining trust in digital assets. FAQs Q1: What was the Zcash flaw discovered by Taylor Hornby? A: The flaw was a critical vulnerability in Zcash’s privacy pool that could have allowed hackers to potentially steal funds. Hornby identified the bug using Anthropic’s Opus 4.8 AI model. Q2: Why is Taylor Hornby auditing Monero? A: Hornby was asked on social media if he would investigate Monero and other privacy coins. He confirmed he would add Monero to his audit queue, aiming to uncover potential security issues similar to the Zcash flaw. Q3: How did the market react to the Zcash flaw? A: Following the news of the vulnerability, Zcash’s price fell by 38% within 24 hours, reflecting investor concern over the security of the network. This post Zcash Flaw Discoverer Taylor Hornby Plans to Add Monero to Audit Queue first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

6 Jun 2026, 09:38

Researcher who found Zcash's bug with AI adds Monero to his audit queue

Taylor Hornby, who uncovered the Orchard flaw that sent Zcash down 38%, says other privacy coins are on his list too.

4 Jun 2026, 09:40

Monero rebounds from $330 lows as bulls eye major breakout

Monero (XMR) traded around $352 on Thursday after recovering from recent lows near $330, even as Bitcoin, Ethereum and several major cryptocurrencies remained under pressure. Recent gains have coincided with renewed interest in privacy-focused digital assets. Market observers have pointed to capital rotating away from large-cap cryptocurrencies and into sectors supported by distinct use cases, allowing privacy coins to outperform during the latest market downturn. Among those beneficiaries, Monero has drawn attention following a major network upgrade that strengthened its privacy model and reignited interest in the asset's long-term utility. Privacy upgrade continues to support sentiment The recent rally has been partially supported by Monero's Full Chain Membership Proofs, or FCMP, initiative and the related FCMP++ framework introduced through the Carrot testnet. The upgrade replaces Monero's previous ring signature design, which relied on 16 decoys, with a system capable of proving transaction validity against the network's entire history. Supporters of the proposal have argued that the change expands the anonymity set to more than 150 million outputs while addressing concerns raised by previous research into transaction tracing techniques. Interest surrounding the rollout helped push XMR to a local high above $437 in early May as traders positioned ahead of the upgrade. However, after the initial surge, profit-taking activity emerged and pulled the token back toward key support levels. Technical indicators point to key levels ahead Chart data shows Monero rebounding after testing a demand zone near $330 to $355. On the 4-hour timeframe, price recently bounced from the lower Bollinger Band while the MACD indicator produced a bullish crossover and moved back into positive territory, suggesting buying momentum has improved in the short term. XMR/USD 4-hour price chart. Source: TradingView. Despite that recovery, the daily chart still presents obstacles for bulls. XMR remains below its 20-day, 50-day, 100-day and 200-day exponential moving averages, which are clustered between roughly $370 and $375. Technical traders often view such areas as significant resistance zones. XMR/USD 1-day price chart. Source: TradingView. Liquidation data from CoinGlass also highlights substantial concentrations of leveraged positions around those levels. XMR 24-hour liquidation heatmap. Source: Coinglass. The largest nearby upside liquidity cluster sits between approximately $370 and $375, while additional liquidation pockets are visible near $380 and above. On the downside, CoinGlass data shows one of the largest liquidity zones between $343 and $345, with further clusters extending into the $330 region. Those levels could attract attention if selling pressure returns. Beyond the immediate technical picture, Monero continues to benefit from demand among users seeking transaction privacy and censorship resistance. Supporters of privacy-preserving cryptocurrencies have argued that tighter regulatory scrutiny of anonymous financial activity in several jurisdictions has reinforced the appeal of decentralized alternatives rather than reducing interest in them. For now, market participants appear focused on whether Monero can reclaim resistance near $370. A successful move above that area would place the next major liquidity pockets in view, while failure to hold current support could push the price toward the heavily populated $343 to $345 liquidity zone, with additional downside interest concentrated around the $330 area, according to CoinGlass data. The post Monero rebounds from $330 lows as bulls eye major breakout appeared first on Invezz