Background
This is an interview with iHostART, a web hosting company based in Romania. Interview was conducted over X.com.
Origin Story
What inspired you to create iHostART, and what problem were you trying to solve?
When I was a kid, I wanted to run my own Minecraft server. I didn’t have money for hosting, so I ran it at home on a DHCP connection with port forwarding. Eventually I realized I had a lot of spare resources (RAM/CPU), so I started renting those resources to others to cover the electricity bill. This began when I was 15; now I’m 19.
Because of that start, I’ve always focused on affordable prices. I also care deeply about freedom of expression—I was often criticized and bullied when I was younger, and I want to support open discussion within legal limits.
What We Do
In one or two sentences, what does iHostART do and who is it for?
iHostART provides hosting for people who value freedom of expression. We host a wide range of lawful viewpoints without taking sides.
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Examples of expression we host
- Forums that are pro-LGBTQ as well as forums that are critical of LGBTQ topics
- Content that is anti-neo-Nazi as well as content discussing controversial politics
- Pro-Ukraine or pro-Russia communities, as well as opposing viewpoints
These are just examples. We are not here to decide whether we should be for or against a topic; we host anything that is legal.
Monero Start Date
When did you start accepting Monero (XMR)?
We’ve accepted Monero for a long time. It’s enabled by default through our crypto processor (Cryptomus), which we’ve used since around 2022.
How Payments Work
How do Monero payments work on your end (gateway/self-hosted, confirmations, refunds/credits)?
We use Cryptomus as our payment processor. They do not require KYC/AML from customers to pay.
Refunds / Credits
Unfortunately, due to the “Crypto Travel Rule,” refunds may require KYC through the processor. If you think you might need a refund and prefer not to complete KYC, our recommendation is to avoid placing an order to prevent complications.
Privacy & Security
What steps do you take to protect customer privacy and data?
- We do not require customers to provide real personal information when ordering.
- Accounts can be created with minimal details, within the boundaries of applicable laws.
What Sets Us Apart
How is iHostART different from other hosts that accept XMR?
- We ignore DMCA takedowns (jurisdiction: Romania) and focus on legal compliance under local law.
- We allow adult content and strongly support lawful free speech.
- We are based in Romania and prioritize affordability.
Roadmap (Next 6–12 Months)
- CPU upgrades: Move VPS KVM SSD nodes to Xeon Gold 6254 (2019), replacing older E5 hardware.
- Network redundancy: Add another upstream provider to improve resilience and uptime.
For the Community
How can the Monero community support you?
- Share feedback on features and services you’d like to see.
- If our services work well for you over time, recommend us to your friends.
