Mar 14, 20257 min readPrivacy & SigmaIntermediate
Privacy, But Auditable
Three ways to do on-chain privacy — and why Ergo chooses Sigma Protocols.
Ergo
Sigma Protocols
on-chain privacy
zero-knowledge proofs
mixers
tumblers
privacy coins
auditability
selective disclosure
regulation
Click to Enlarge
About This Infographic
This infographic compares three approaches to on-chain privacy: Mixers & Tumblers, Classic Privacy Coins, and Ergo + Sigma Protocols. Each approach has different tradeoffs in privacy mode, auditability, user experience, and regulatory perception.
Mixers provide optional, one-shot privacy only for funds routed through them, with very limited options for later disclosure. Classic privacy coins enforce privacy by default at L1, making most activity fully shielded and harder to audit.
Ergo's Sigma Protocols support optional, contract-level privacy on the same chain, so dApps can choose where to apply private logic. Programmable selective disclosure allows proving balances, flows or contract conditions without revealing complete transaction history.
Key Points
Mixers & tumblers provide optional, one-shot privacy only for funds routed through them, with very limited options for later disclosure.
Classic privacy coins typically enforce privacy by default at L1, making most activity fully shielded and harder to audit.
Ergo's Sigma Protocols support optional, contract-level privacy on the same chain, so dApps can choose where to apply private logic.
Programmable selective disclosure on Ergo allows proving balances, flows or contract conditions without revealing complete transaction history.
Ergo integrates privacy into the same wallets and DeFi stack as public transactions, reducing UX overhead.
Sigma Protocols aim for a more balanced signal: strong individual privacy plus math-based proofs and selective disclosure when audits are needed.
How to Read This Infographic
01.
Compare three columns: Mixers & Tumblers, Classic Privacy Coins, and Ergo + Sigma Protocols.
02.
Row 1: Privacy mode — how each approach handles confidentiality.
03.
Row 2: Selective disclosure (auditability) — what can be proven after the fact.
04.
Row 3: User experience — friction and integration with existing tools.
05.
Row 4: Regulatory signal (conceptual) — how each approach is perceived by regulators.
06.
Footer: Ergo offers privacy for users who need it and proofs for parties who must verify activity.
Related Topics
Sigma Protocols explained
Zero-knowledge proofs on Ergo
Ergo privacy features
Mixers vs privacy coins
Selective disclosure in blockchain
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