E
vsM
Ergo vs Monero
Privacy: Mandatory vs Programmable
Programmable Privacy
Ergo's Sigma Protocols allow selective disclosure - prove what you need without revealing everything
Smart Contracts
Full DeFi capabilities that Monero's privacy model doesn't support
Regulatory Flexibility
Optional privacy with audit capabilities vs mandatory opacity
Fair Launch
Both had fair launches with no premine - aligned cypherpunk values
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Ergo | Monero |
|---|---|---|
| Consensus | PoW (Autolykos v2, GPU-friendly) | PoW (RandomX, CPU-friendly) |
| Launch & Distribution | Fair launch: No ICO, no premine, no VC | Fair launch: No premine |
| State / Accounting Model | eUTXO (Programmable UTXO) | UTXO (ring signatures) |
| Smart Contracts | ErgoScript + Sigma Protocols | None (privacy-focused) |
| L1 Privacy | Programmable privacy (Sigma Protocols) | Default privacy (ring signatures) |
| Demurrage / Storage Rent | Storage rent on inactive boxes (~4+ years) | None |
| MEV Resistance | MEV-aware design (eUTXO + local ordering) | Low MEV (no DeFi) |
| Fees & Finality | ~$0.01 fees; ~2 min blocks; stable PoW finality | Low fees; ~2 min blocks |
| Light Clients | NiPoPoWs (trustless, ~1MB proofs) | Remote nodes (trust-based) |
| Censorship Resistance | Strong (PoW, no validators to pressure) | Strong (PoW + privacy) |
| Native Assets | Native L1 tokens (no wrapper contracts) | None (XMR only) |
indicates advantage in that category. Last updated: 2025-11-26
Deep Dive
Privacy Philosophy
Monero believes privacy should be mandatory and universal - every transaction is private. Ergo believes privacy should be programmable - users choose their privacy level and can prove specific properties without revealing everything.
Ergo Advantage
Selective disclosure enables use cases like tax compliance proofs, age verification, or credit checks without full transparency.
Smart Contract Capabilities
Monero's privacy model (ring signatures, stealth addresses) is incompatible with complex smart contracts. Ergo's Sigma Protocols work within the eUTXO model, enabling private DeFi applications.
Ergo Advantage
Private DEXs, lending protocols, and stablecoins are possible on Ergo but not on Monero.
Regulatory Landscape
Monero has been delisted from many exchanges due to regulatory pressure on mandatory privacy coins. Ergo's optional privacy model provides more flexibility while still enabling strong privacy when needed.
Ergo Advantage
Better exchange accessibility while maintaining privacy capabilities for those who need them.
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