On Oct. 9, the privacy-focused blockchain Monero rolled out a new network upgrade, CLI v0.18.4.3, also known as Fluorine Fermi. The update is designed to enhance user protection against so-called “spy nodes” by implementing stronger security measures.
In the Monero community, spy nodes refer to malicious actors — often large node clusters or botnets — that can potentially link IP addresses to specific network transactions.
One of the key features of the Fluorine Fermi upgrade is a smarter peer selection algorithm, which helps nodes avoid connecting to large subnet groups commonly linked to surveillance activity. Instead, it prioritizes connections with safer, more trustworthy peers.
The update attracted widespread attention across the crypto media space, with the original announcement garnering 71 reshares and over 15,000 views. Typically, such a major mainnet upgrade would be expected to positively impact the project’s token price.
However, that hasn’t been the case for Monero (XMR). Despite the upgrade, the token’s price continued its downward trend, falling 0.8% in the past 24 hours to a daily low of $328. This contrasts with its recent performance — a 2.2% increase over the past week and a 26% rise over the past month.
Monero Price Analysis
On Oct. 10, XMR saw a modest pullback following the Fluorine Fermi update, briefly dipping to $328 before recovering slightly. At the time of writing, Monero is trading around $336.81, down about 0.27% in the last few hours. The chart reflects short-term volatility in the aftermath of the upgrade.
Currently, XMR appears to be approaching the $340 resistance level, with potential downside momentum that could push it below $335 before stabilizing near its 30-day moving average of $336.90.
The recent dip in XMR’s price may reflect short-term market uncertainty as traders assess the impact of the Fluorine Fermi upgrade, which brought enhanced network security and efficiency improvements. Historically, Monero updates tend to trigger initial volatility as miners and nodes adapt to new consensus rules, often followed by a stabilization period once the network settles.
If XMR can hold the $335 support level, the token may consolidate before attempting to retest the $340–$342 resistance zone. On the other hand, a drop below $333 could pave the way for further declines toward $328, particularly if overall market sentiment remains cautious.
