The Cedric Crispin Mining Pool, which added Firo support in 2023, has now integrated Spark Names and Spark Addresses for block reward payouts. This enhancement allows miners to receive their Firo rewards directly into their Spark Names or Spark addresses, ensuring full confidentiality for their earnings.
Miners can begin mining Firo with the Cedric Crispin pool by visiting their website at https://firo.cedric-crispin.com/. The available stratum servers are:
- •firo.cedric-crispin.com:4064
- •firo.cedric-crispin.com:4065 (SSL)
A comprehensive guide on how to mine Firo on the Cedric Crispin pool is available here.
Understanding Spark Names and Spark Addresses
Spark Addresses are a core component of Firo's Lelantus Spark protocol. This protocol enables transactions that obscure the sender, receiver, and transaction amount, while still maintaining full verifiability. This functionality is crucial for achieving true financial privacy on the blockchain.
Spark Names simplify the process of using these private transactions by providing human-readable identifiers, akin to usernames, that replace long and complex Spark addresses. This feature significantly lowers the barrier to entry for users wanting to leverage Firo's privacy features, all while keeping the underlying transactions completely private.
Appreciation for Cedric Crispin's Support
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Cedric Crispin Mining Pool for their ongoing commitment to Firo. Their recent implementation of Spark Names and Spark Addresses for block reward payouts is a significant step forward, allowing privacy-focused miners to receive their rewards directly into their private Spark addresses.
An Interview with Cedric Crispin
Q: You have been a dedicated supporter of Firo, operating a mining pool for an extended period. What initially motivated you to establish one?
As a computer science graduate and an enthusiast of technology, running a mining pool felt like a natural progression. It combines my passions for networking, coding, and blockchain technology. My aim was also to contribute actively to the blockchain ecosystem.
Q: What specifically attracted you to Firo, and are there any aspects of the project that particularly excite you?
Firo, originally known as ZCOIN, was one of the very first cryptocurrencies I mined. The project has consistently championed Proof-of-Work (PoW), and the transition from MTP to FIROPOW solidified this commitment. When the opportunity arose to contribute by providing stratum pool software, I embraced it without hesitation.
Q: Why do you believe many miners involved with other PoW coins appear indifferent to hashrate decentralization?
This is a complex issue, but I believe the primary drivers are often greed, a lack of ethical considerations, and insufficient education. Regrettably, some mining pools do not shy away from exploiting these behaviors for their own financial gain.
Q: Are there any developments or features you would like to see introduced in Firo or its ecosystem?
Certainly, I would advocate for further decentralization of PoW. Additionally, I hope to see increased miner engagement in community discussions, debates, and contributions. Firo has already introduced remarkable and essential features such as Lelantus Spark and FIRODEX. My hope is that the project will continue to develop tools that mitigate the incentive for excessive selling pressure solely for fiat conversion.