A Monero coin on a digital screen with a cryptocurrency chart in the background

Monero coin on green stock chart background. Source: FellowNeko - stock.adobe.com

Key Takeaways:

Monero is considering a masternode-based second layer to counter 51% attacks after a mining pool allegedly gained majority hashrate control.
The proposed system would introduce staked masternodes for added security and governance, inspired by Dash’s ChainLocks.
Community debate persists over Qubic’s actual dominance, with some accusing developers of downplaying the threat and others pushing for hybrid consensus changes.

Monero is facing heightened scrutiny after reports suggested that Qubic, a mining pool tied to an AI-focused blockchain, briefly controlled over 50% of the network’s hashrate.

This raised fears of a potential 51% attack, where a single entity could manipulate transactions and undermine network integrity.

#Monero folks accuse the #Qubic pool of faking its hashrate. For some reason Qubic's info matches mined blocks. I guess some Monero devs run own pools and inflate their hashrate to make it look like the situation is less severe than it actually is. :trollface: pic.twitter.com/ttYCF7LulL
— Come-from-Beyond (@c___f___b) August 19, 2025

Although some community members dispute whether Qubic ever held true majority control, the situation prompted Kraken to temporarily halt Monero deposits and later impose stricter confirmation requirements.

To address these concerns, the Monero community is exploring significant changes to its proof-of-work (PoW) consensus model.

One leading proposal is the introduction of a masternode-based second layer, similar to systems used by Dash and Firo.

Masternodes, which require collateral staking, could help decentralize decision-making, secure the blockchain against reorganizations, and add governance features.

Supporters argue that integrating mechanisms like Dash’s ChainLocks would make it nearly impossible for malicious actors to reorganize the chain, even with majority hashrate control.

The debate remains divisive, with questions about hashrate data accuracy and skepticism around Qubic’s influence.

Nonetheless, momentum is building toward a hybrid model combining PoW with governance and economic incentives to strengthen Monero’s long-term resilience.