Bitcoin has long been known for its anonymous transactions, making it difficult to trace. But how does it compare to Monero, a cryptocurrency that is even more private? A recent interview with prominent crypto journalist Laura Shin revealed the answer.

Using Alphabay, a darknet market, as a case study, cybersecurity author Andy Greenberg explained that Alphabay came back online and now only accepts Monero. This means that the darknet market was able to rise back and continue operation after finding a more suitable private way to accept payments.

Bitcoin transactions are anonymous, as the sender and receiver’s names are not revealed. However, the wallet’s address and the amount received are revealed on the block explorer. Monero transactions, on the other hand, are even more private. The transactions are hidden for anyone looking on the block explorer, and the amount involved is also hidden.

Greenberg stated that Monero’s privacy features make it “far far harder” to trace than Bitcoin. However, a leaked Chainalysis document suggests that Monero transactions can be traced in 60% of cases to get a usable lead. This means that while Monero transactions are difficult to trace, it is not impossible.

Monero’s privacy features have made it popular in the crypto community, as well as among individuals and groups involved in illicit activities. With reports now suggesting that the asset’s transactions may not be as untraceable as previously thought, using cryptocurrency for illegal purposes may not be the best option.

Over the past 24 hours, the Monero token (XMR) has been in a bullish trend, up by 1.1%. At the time of writing, Monero currently trades at $152 after falling from a high of $186 on January 29. Despite XMR’s significant surge since the beginning of the year, it is still down 71% from its all-time high of $542 seen 5 years ago on January 9, 2018.