Riccardo Spagni Launches Tari Universe Mining App

According to Odaily, Riccardo 'Fluffypony' Spagni, the former lead maintainer of the privacy blockchain Monero, has introduced a new mining application called Tari Universe. This application aims to democratize cryptocurrency mining by utilizing an ASIC-resistant hashing algorithm, allowing users to mine using standard computers. Following the recent launch, Spagni expressed his goal of making mining more accessible to everyone. 'We want to create an experience where the technology gradually fades into the background. Tari Universe is about empowering users rather than suppressing them,' he stated. Despite promoting this L1 protocol, Spagni faces fraud and forgery charges from his former employer, Cape Cookies. A report by Mybroadband in June revealed that Spagni allegedly defrauded Cape Cookies of approximately $83,400 between October 1, 2009, and June 8, 2011. However, South African authorities only took action in August 2021, requesting U.S. authorities to arrest him. Since his arrest and subsequent extradition to South Africa, Spagni has maintained his innocence and sought to have the arrest warrant dismissed. Nonetheless, the South African Supreme Court of Appeal has denied this request.