General
Beginner
Updated 11/26/2025
What is
CBDC?
Central Bank Digital Currency - government-issued digital money that Ergo provides a privacy-preserving, censorship-resistant alternative to.
CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies) are digital versions of fiat currency issued by central banks. Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies, CBDCs are fully controlled by governments, enabling surveillance, programmable restrictions, and account freezing. Ergo represents the opposite: censorship-resistant, privacy-preserving digital money.
Key Points
- Government-issued digital currency
- Full transaction surveillance
- Programmable spending restrictions
- Accounts can be frozen instantly
- Ergo is the privacy-preserving alternative
- Censorship-resistant vs. censorable
Use Cases
1
Understanding the threat to financial privacy
2
Comparing centralized vs decentralized money
3
Ergo as CBDC alternative
4
Financial freedom preservation
Technical Details
CBDCs are typically built on permissioned blockchains or centralized databases controlled by central banks. They enable programmable money (expiring currency, spending restrictions) and complete surveillance. Ergo's Sigma Protocols and decentralized PoW provide the opposite: privacy and censorship resistance.
Related Infographics
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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about CBDC
Common questions about this topic
How to get started with Ergo?
Start by getting a wallet (Nautilus for browser, Terminus for mobile). Back up your seed phrase securely offline. Get some ERG from an exchange (Gate.io, KuCoin) or DEX (Spectrum). Make a test transaction. Then explore: try DeFi on Spectrum, check out NFTs, or dive into the technology if you're a builder.
How-to
Getting Started
Is Ergo a good investment?
This is not financial advice. Ergo has strong fundamentals: fair launch (no VC dump risk), innovative technology (eUTXO, Sigma Protocols, NiPoPoWs), active development, and a cypherpunk ethos. It's a smaller market cap project with higher risk/reward than established chains. Research thoroughly, understand the technology, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
Comparison
Getting Started
What can I do with Ergo?
Ergo supports a full ecosystem: trade on Spectrum DEX, use SigmaUSD stablecoin, mix transactions with ErgoMixer, collect NFTs on SkyHarbor, mine with GPUs, lend/borrow on DuckPools, bridge to other chains via Rosen, and build dApps with ErgoScript. It's a complete platform for decentralized finance and applications.
Explainer
Getting Started
How to escape financial repression with Ergo?
Ergo provides tools for financial sovereignty: self-custody with no third parties, censorship-resistant transactions via PoW, optional privacy with Sigma Protocols, and programmable money without permission. Unlike VC-backed chains, Ergo has no central authority that can freeze funds or comply with sanctions. Your keys, your coins, your freedom.
Solution
Philosophy