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Cypherpunk
General
Beginner

What is

Cypherpunk?

A movement advocating privacy-enhancing technologies and cryptography for social change.

Cypherpunks believe in using cryptography to protect privacy and individual freedom from surveillance and control. The movement, starting in the 1990s, inspired Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Ergo embraces cypherpunk values: privacy by design, open source, fair launch, and tools for financial freedom.

Key Points

  • Privacy through cryptography
  • Individual sovereignty
  • Open-source ethos
  • Distrust of central authority
  • Inspired Bitcoin and crypto
  • Core to Ergo's philosophy

Related Infographics

Where Ergo Fits Among Major Chains

Where Ergo Fits Among Major Chains

Scatterplot comparing Ergo, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero, Cardano, Solana, CBDCs and typical VC chains across launch model, programmability, DeFi and privacy.

Ergo vs Zcash: ZK Without Ceremony

Ergo vs Zcash: ZK Without Ceremony

Side-by-side infographic comparing Ergo’s Sigma-based, trustless privacy and smart contracts with Zcash’s trusted-setup-based ZK model.

Ergo vs Cardano: Two eUTXO Paths

Ergo vs Cardano: Two eUTXO Paths

Infographic comparing Ergo and Cardano as two eUTXO chains with the same research roots but different choices on consensus, launch, privacy and sustainability.

Ergo vs Litecoin: Digital Silver vs Programmable Money

Ergo vs Litecoin: Digital Silver vs Programmable Money

Infographic comparing Ergo as programmable PoW money for DeFi and alternative economic systems with Litecoin as digital silver / faster Bitcoin focused on payments.

Related Articles

The Ergo Manifesto: Ergonomic Money for Everyone

The foundational vision of Ergo Platform by Kushti - creating decentralized financial tools that empower ordinary people. A manifesto for true peer-to-peer economic freedom.

Ergo And Sigma Protocols: The Next Step In Blockchain Privacy

As first-gen privacy coins see a resurgence of activity, Ergo's composable zero-knowledge signatures offer new options for compliant confidentiality.

Sigma Protocols Explained (Without A PhD)

A plain-English guide to Sigma Protocols – the powerful, flexible zero-knowledge cryptography that powers Ergo's privacy and smart contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about Cypherpunk

Common questions about this topic

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

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

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

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
View all questions

Related Topics

Privacy on Ergo

Programmable Privacy with Sigma Protocols

Explore topic

Ergo Philosophy

Cypherpunk Values for Financial Freedom

Explore topic

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