This recent rally in Monero's price is expected to heighten investor interest in privacy coins, as discussions continue about the demand for anonymity in financial transactions.

The use of Monero in laundering operations raises concerns about its potential misuse, particularly in the context of crypto theft and illicit activities.

Despite concerns about privacy coins like Monero being used for criminal activities, most illicit transactions still utilize mainstream cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum due to their liquidity.

Following this spike, Monero's price briefly reached around $339 before retracing to approximately $267, reflecting strong performance amidst significant market movements.

Monero's acceptance is growing, with two Spar supermarket locations in Switzerland recently beginning to accept XMR payments, showcasing its increasing mainstream adoption.

As the largest privacy-focused cryptocurrency, Monero boasts a market cap of $5.3 trillion, ranking as the 27th largest cryptocurrency by value.

Historically, Monero has fluctuated between $112 and $214 since 2022, with significant price movements reminiscent of earlier patterns observed in 2021.

If Monero maintains its current price trajectory, analysts predict it could break above the $300 mark in the near future.

On April 28, 2025, Monero (XMR) saw a remarkable 51% price surge, driven by a suspicious transfer of 3,520 BTC, valued at approximately $333 million, linked to hackers laundering stolen Bitcoin.

The surge was triggered by whale trading activity, prompting automated tracking systems to activate due to the large market movements.

Monero's design incorporates advanced privacy features, such as ring signatures and stealth addresses, making it difficult to trace transactions compared to Bitcoin or Ethereum.

These privacy features have made Monero a popular choice for illicit activities, including money laundering, as highlighted in Chainalysis's 2025 Crypto Crime Report.