To use Monero, the first thing you are going to need is a wallet. Visit our Downloads page and get the right wallet for you. The Monero wallets are available for a variety of platforms and contain everything you need to use Monero immediately.
Monero is a currency and can be exchanged for goods, services and other currencies, privately and with very low fees. Many entities will gladly accept XMR for payments; take a look at our 'Merchants' page.
We've heard a lot of questions over the years and have compiled a thorough and varied FAQ. Don't worry, if your questions are not in there, you can always ask the community.
The community has put together a vast amount of resources and documentation. Users can find useful info and guides about common configurations andtips in the 'User Guides' section. Developers can find everything they need to build a service based on Monero or simply communicate with the networkin the 'Developer Guides'. The Library offers publications and books downloadable for free, including the full 'Mastering Monero' and 'Zero to Monero' books.
The MRL (Monero Research Lab) is a very important part of Monero. Researchers and cryptographers from all over the world meet to find new ways to improve Monero. Read their papers and join them!
If you are looking for places to spend your Monero, the directories below have some options. Please remember to do your own research before trusting them with your money:
"Please note: these links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement by the Monero community of any products, services or opinions of the corporations or organizations or individuals listed. The Monero community bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of these external sites. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content. As always, caveat emptor ('buyer beware'); you are responsible for doing your own research. Always use judgement when making online purchases."
As stewards of the project, the Core Team manages and maintains infrastructure where centralization cannot be avoided (domains, website, github repositories...). Its members act as mediators as they see fit and aim to weigh consensus in the community, perpetuating the quality interactions that made Monero the successful project it is today. The Core Team does not and has never received any financial compensation.
