Monero Test Network Fork Scheduled for October 5
A test network fork is scheduled to occur on October 5, 2026, at Monero, but it will not affect the main network or the value of XMR holdings. The fork is part of a test environment called a stressnet, designed to simulate heavy traffic and stress on the protocol.
The test network, known as FCMP++ and Carrot stressnet v3.0, will fork away from its previous test network at block height 3102800. The developers released version v0.19.0.0-beta.3.0 on September 25, 2026, to prepare for the fork.
FCMP++ is a cryptographic procedure that replaces ring signatures with a proof against the entire chain history, making it more difficult for investigators to track transactions. Carrot is a new addressing protocol that brings additional properties in security, privacy, and usability, while remaining backward compatible with existing addresses.
The Monero price remains relatively stable, standing at around $550 at midday on Sunday, with a weekly high of $563.50 and a weekly low of $525. The price has not shown any significant reaction to the announcement of the test network fork.
The developers are working on a rebuild of the Monero protocol, which will introduce significant changes to the privacy features. However, there is no mainnet date announced yet, and the project roadmap lists the rebuild as an ongoing process.