Question 1

What is Ergo in simple terms?

Accepted Answer

Ergo is a secure Proof-of-Work blockchain for powerful smart contracts, enabling decentralized financial applications.

Question 2

Is Ergo a company?

Accepted Answer

No, Ergo is a decentralized, open-source protocol.

Question 3

What does a "fair launch" mean?

Accepted Answer

Ergo had no Initial Coin Offering (ICO) or pre-mined tokens for founders.

Question 4

How is Ergo different from Bitcoin or Ethereum?

Accepted Answer

vs.

Question 5

What is eUTXO?

Accepted Answer

The Extended UTXO model attaches data and logic directly to "boxes" of money.

Question 6

What is ErgoScript?

Accepted Answer

ErgoScript is the powerful and secure programming language for writing smart contracts on Ergo.

Question 7

What are Sigma Protocols?

Accepted Answer

These are advanced zero-knowledge proofs built into Ergo's core, enabling privacy features like ErgoMixer, complex multi-party contracts, and secure multi-signature schemes.

Question 8

What is the ERG coin used for?

Accepted Answer

ERG is used for transaction fees, collateral for stablecoins (SigmaUSD), participating in DeFi applications, powering dApps (NFTs, gaming), and incentivizing miners.

Question 9

How can I get ERG?

Accepted Answer

You can acquire ERG on various cryptocurrency exchanges, through peer-to-peer trades, or by mining.

Question 10

Which wallet is best for beginners?

Accepted Answer

The official mobile wallets (Android/iOS) or the Nautilus Wallet (browser extension) are excellent, user-friendly starting points.

Question 11

What kinds of dApps are on Ergo?

Accepted Answer

Ergo's ecosystem includes DeFi platforms (Spectrum, Duckpools), privacy tools (ErgoMixer), NFT marketplaces (SkyHarbor), cross-chain bridges (Rosen), and more.

Question 12

What is ErgoMixer?

Accepted Answer

ErgoMixer is a non-custodial service that increases your transaction privacy by mixing your ERG with others, making it difficult to trace your transaction history.

Question 13

Who governs Ergo?

Accepted Answer

Ergo is decentralized and community-driven.

Question 14

How can I contribute if I'm not a developer?

Accepted Answer

You can help with community support, content creation (articles, videos), translation, testing dApps, or simply spreading awareness about Ergo.

Question 15

What is Ergo?

Accepted Answer

Ergo is a programmable blockchain protocol engineered for the development of decentralized applications (dApps), with a pronounced emphasis on creating an efficient, secure, and accessible environment for implementing financial contracts.

Question 16

What is the main goal or vision of Ergo?

Accepted Answer

The overarching vision of Ergo is to furnish tools that promote economic freedom for ordinary individuals by offering secure, accessible, and decentralized financial instruments.

Question 17

What are the core principles of the Ergo Platform?

Accepted Answer

Ergo operates under several core principles: Organic and Non-Breaking Development (protocol modifications undergo approval by miners, users, and projects), Open-Source and Permissive Licensing, Privacy and Trustless Environments, Community-Driven governance (Ergo Treasury benefits the community), and Focus on Long-Term Survivability through researched solutions and self-amendable protocol design.

Question 18

What is the Ergo Manifesto and its key ideas on privacy?

Accepted Answer

The Ergo Manifesto, authored by co-founder Alex Chepurnoy, articulates that financial privacy is a fundamental human right.

Question 19

Why is it named "Ergo"?

Accepted Answer

The name "Ergo" has multifaceted meanings: In Latin, "ergo" means "therefore" or "consequently," reflecting logical consistency and efficient operation.

Question 20

When was Ergo launched? Was there an ICO?

Accepted Answer

Ergo's mainnet launched on July 1st, 2019, with initial concepts starting in 2016.

Question 21

What consensus mechanism does Ergo use?

Accepted Answer

Ergo employs a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism using the Autolykos algorithm.

Question 22

What is Autolykos and how is it different?

Accepted Answer

Autolykos is Ergo's bespoke PoW algorithm.

Question 23

What is the eUTXO model and how does it differ from Bitcoin's UTXO or Ethereum's account model?

Accepted Answer

The Extended UTXO (eUTXO) model builds on Bitcoin's UTXO system but adds rich data and logic capabilities.

Question 24

What are the advantages of eUTXO for Ergo?

Accepted Answer

eUTXO provides: Enhanced Privacy (one-time objects), Scalability and Parallel Processing, better Interoperability with off-chain protocols, Transaction Cost Predictability (stable fees around 0.0011 ERG), Security and Determinism (isolated contract execution), Local Reasoning and Off-Chain Validation, and Expressive Smart Contracts on a secure foundation.

Question 25

What are smart contracts on Ergo?

Accepted Answer

Smart contracts on Ergo are self-executing code that automatically enforce predefined terms.

Question 26

What is ErgoScript and what are its key features?

Accepted Answer

ErgoScript is Ergo's smart contract language based on Scala.

Question 27

How does ErgoScript compare to Solidity?

Accepted Answer

ErgoScript (Ergo/eUTXO) vs Solidity (Ethereum/Account): ErgoScript emphasizes security and expressiveness with built-in cryptographic primitives, while Solidity focuses on ease of use.

Question 28

What are "boxes" in ErgoScript?

Accepted Answer

Boxes are Ergo's enhanced UTXOs.

Question 29

What are Sigma Protocols and how do they enhance privacy?

Accepted Answer

Sigma Protocols are efficient, composable zero-knowledge proofs that allow proving knowledge of secrets without revealing them.

Question 30

Does Ergo offer Zero-Knowledge Proofs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Ergo provides robust support for discrete log-based zero-knowledge proofs through Sigma Protocols.

Question 31

What is ErgoMixer and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

ErgoMixer is a non-custodial, non-interactive token mixing service that enhances transaction privacy by obscuring links between sender and receiver addresses.

Question 32

Is privacy on Ergo optional or mandatory?

Accepted Answer

Privacy on Ergo is optional, not mandatory.

Question 33

What is "storage rent" and why does it exist?

Accepted Answer

Storage rent is a fee levied on UTXOs inactive for 4+ years (approximately 0.14 ERG per typical box every 4 years).

Question 34

How does Ergo aim for long-term survivability and self-amendability?

Accepted Answer

Ergo ensures survivability through: researched solutions to minimize security risks, sustainable economic model (storage rent + emission schedule), robust PoW consensus, and self-amendable protocol design.

Question 35

What are NIPoPoWs and how does Ergo use them?

Accepted Answer

Non-Interactive Proofs of Proof-of-Work (NIPoPoWs) allow efficient verification of blockchain events without downloading the full chain.

Question 36

What is Ergo's tokenomics?

Accepted Answer

ERG has a fixed supply cap of ~97.7 million coins.

Question 37

What is SigmaUSD?

Accepted Answer

SigmaUSD is Ergo's algorithmic stablecoin pegged to USD.

Question 38

What are Oracle Pools?

Accepted Answer

Oracle Pools are Ergo's decentralized oracle solution.

Question 39

What is Spectrum DEX?

Accepted Answer

Spectrum (formerly ErgoDEX) is a decentralized exchange on Ergo using AMM (Automated Market Maker) pools.

Question 40

What is Rosen Bridge?

Accepted Answer

Rosen Bridge is a trustless cross-chain bridge connecting Ergo to other blockchains (Cardano, Bitcoin, Ethereum).

Question 41

What hardware do I need to mine Ergo?

Accepted Answer

Ergo mining requires a GPU with at least 4GB VRAM (6GB+ recommended).

Question 42

Which mining pools support Ergo?

Accepted Answer

Popular Ergo mining pools include: GetBlok, 2Miners, HeroMiners, WoolyPooly, F2Pool, and Nanopool.

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