Monero (XMR) Payment Complete Guide
Monero (XMR) is the most private cryptocurrency for darknet transactions. Unlike Bitcoin, Monero transactions are untraceable by default.
Why Monero? Private by default • Untraceable • Fungible • No blockchain analysis possible
1. Why Monero Over Bitcoin?
| Feature | Bitcoin | Monero |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | ❌ Public ledger | ✅ Private by default |
| Traceability | ❌ Fully traceable | ✅ Untraceable |
| Addresses | ❌ Reusable = tracked | ✅ Stealth addresses |
| Amounts | ❌ Visible | ✅ Hidden (RingCT) |
2. Get a Monero Wallet
Desktop Wallets (Recommended)
- Monero GUI Wallet - Official, full node (getmonero.org)
- Feather Wallet - Lightweight, fast sync
- Cake Wallet - Mobile-friendly
Installation Steps:
- Download from official site only
- Verify PGP signature (advanced)
- Install and create new wallet
- CRITICAL: Write down 25-word seed phrase
- Store seed phrase offline (paper, encrypted USB)
3. Buy Monero
Option A: Direct Purchase (Requires KYC)
- Kraken, Binance - accept fiat, require ID verification
- ⚠️ Creates paper trail to your identity
Option B: Bitcoin → Monero (More Private)
- Buy Bitcoin on any exchange
- Send to your own Bitcoin wallet
- Exchange BTC for XMR using:
- ChangeNow - No account required
- FixedFloat - Quick exchanges
- Bisq - Decentralized P2P
- Receive XMR to Monero wallet
Option C: LocalMonero (Most Private)
- P2P marketplace (like LocalBitcoins)
- Buy from individuals
- Payment methods: Cash, bank transfer, gift cards
- No KYC required
4. Send Monero to Vortex Market
⚠️ NEVER keep XMR in market wallet longer than necessary!
- Log into Vortex Market
- Navigate to Wallet → Deposit
- Copy your XMR deposit address
- Open Monero wallet → Send
- Paste market address
- Enter amount needed for purchase
- Set priority: Normal (10 min) or High (faster)
- Confirm and wait for confirmations (typically 10 blocks = 20 minutes)
5. Withdraw After Purchase
- Withdraw remaining XMR to your personal wallet
- Don't leave funds on marketplace
- Markets can exit scam anytime
6. Monero Security Tips
- ✅ Use subaddresses for each transaction
- ✅ Run your own node (optional but best privacy)
- ✅ Wait for 10+ confirmations before spending
- ✅ Never reuse addresses (wallet handles automatically)
- ❌ Don't use web wallets (MyMonero = less private)
- ❌ Don't send from exchange directly to market
7. Transaction Fees
Monero fees are very low: typically $0.01-0.05 per transaction
- Low priority: ~2 cents
- Normal: ~3 cents
- High: ~5 cents
Advanced: Run Your Own Node
Maximum privacy - your wallet connects to YOUR node, not someone else's.
monerod --detach
Then connect wallet to 127.0.0.1:18081