Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Firo, privacy technology, masternodes, mining, and more.
Overview
Where can I download Firo?
Open the wallet directory, choose the required platform and compare the release with the linked upstream source. Protect existing recovery material before an upgrade; a familiar filename alone does not authenticate a file.
As a truly private cryptocurrency, won't Firo be used for terrible things?
Financial privacy can protect personal and business information, but no tool determines how it will be used. This guide explains technical properties and operational limits; it does not claim anonymity is absolute or provide a legal assessment.
What is Firo's mission?
The Firo project focuses on privacy-preserving digital payments and protocol research. This website is an independent educational guide, not the project team. See the project overview and its primary references.
Privacy
How does Firo's privacy mechanism work?
Lelantus Spark is designed to conceal transaction information using cryptographic proofs. Its binary release was announced in November 2023; it should not be described as an upcoming feature. Read the protocol overview and current wallet instructions for practical limits.
How does Firo compare to other privacy preserving cryptocurrencies?
Compare the transaction model, privacy defaults, cryptographic assumptions and supported wallet behavior separately. The privacy overview links to the relevant guides; it does not assign an absolute safety ranking.
Why aren't Firo transactions private by default?
Privacy behavior depends on the wallet, address type and operation. Verify these in the current wallet documentation before sending, especially when an exchange requires a specific address format. Do not infer privacy properties from the asset name alone.
What is trusted setup?
Some proof systems need an initial parameter-generation ceremony with additional trust assumptions. The Spark design avoids that kind of trusted setup, but this does not remove implementation, device or operational risks. See the technology guide.
Economics
Where can I buy Firo?
The acquisition guide lists verification steps and existing service references. Availability, fees, supported networks and eligibility can change; confirm them directly with the service before depositing funds.
What will Firo's Development Reward be used for?
Development funding supports project work under the network’s allocation rules. For current allocations and spending reports, consult the project’s publications. The economy guide separates protocol mechanics from investment outcomes.
What is the total supply and distribution of Firo?
Emission and reward allocation depend on the applicable network rules and block height. Check current consensus documentation and explorer data instead of relying on an undated percentage table. See supply and emission context.
Mining
What mining algorithm does Firo use?
Firo uses FiroPoW, a GPU-oriented proof-of-work algorithm. Before selecting mining software, verify support for the current network and your hardware in the linked project and miner documentation.
What is FiroPoW?
FiroPoW is a GPU-oriented mining algorithm in the ProgPoW family. Algorithm design is distinct from a guarantee about future hardware markets or mining returns. Read the mining overview before choosing a setup.
How can I mine Firo?
Start with the mining guide: prepare a receiving address, verify miner software and pool settings, then test on one device. Compare measured power costs and accepted work before expanding.
Masternodes
What are Masternodes for?
Masternodes provide services within Firo’s network design. Participation has collateral, availability and software requirements; consult the masternode overview and current project instructions before committing resources.
What do I need to host a Firo masternode?
The project’s setup guide specifies collateral held in your own wallet, a suitable server and current node software. Confirm the current amounts and system requirements at the time of setup. Use the setup checklist; never send collateral or private keys to a hosting provider as a setup step.
Are my coins safe on a Firo masternode?
Separate node-operation credentials from wallet spending keys. A compromised host can still disrupt service or expose credentials. Secure the wallet and backups independently; collateral ownership does not make every hosting arrangement safe. See backup precautions.
How much are the rewards from hosting a masternode?
Payments depend on current reward rules, eligible-node participation and uptime. They are not a fixed yield. Include hosting, maintenance and asset-price risk when reviewing the operating requirements.
Technical
Where are your blockchain explorers?
Use the explorer guide to find the existing project explorer links and learn which information a public explorer can and cannot show. A private wallet balance may not be publicly visible.
Why do some blocks deviate significantly from the target block time?
Proof-of-work block discovery is probabilistic, so an individual interval can differ substantially from the target. Check multiple blocks and current network data before treating a delay as a wallet fault.
Community
Do you have a blog?
Project news and release references are linked from the community guide. Check the publication date and distinguish an announced plan from a released feature.
How can I get involved with the Firo community?
Start with the existing channels in the community directory. Verify the channel and moderator identity before following links; legitimate help should not require recovery phrases or private keys.
Still have questions?
Use the Firo Discord or Telegram channels to seek help from project contributors and other users.