What is
Ergo's built-in privacy capabilities including Sigma Protocols, ErgoMixer, and stealth addresses for optional transaction privacy.
Ergo's privacy features provide optional transaction privacy at the protocol level. Sigma Protocols enable zero-knowledge proofs without trusted setup. ErgoMixer allows non-custodial coin mixing. Stealth addresses enable receiving funds privately. Unlike mandatory privacy coins, Ergo offers selective disclosure - prove what you need without revealing everything.
Private transactions when needed
Mixing coins for unlinkability
Receiving donations privately
Proving credentials without revealing data
Compliant privacy (selective disclosure)
Sigma Protocols are composable ZK proofs built into ErgoScript. ErgoMixer uses ring signatures and Sigma Protocols for non-custodial mixing. Stealth addresses use Diffie-Hellman key exchange so senders can create one-time addresses only the recipient can spend from.
Common questions about this topic
ErgoMixer is a non-custodial, trustless mixing service that breaks the link between your input and output addresses. It uses Sigma Protocols to prove you're entitled to withdraw without revealing which deposit was yours. Unlike centralized mixers, there's no trusted party who could steal funds or keep logs.
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.
Ergo is not private by default like Monero, but offers powerful optional privacy tools. ErgoMixer provides non-interactive, non-custodial mixing. Sigma Protocols enable zero-knowledge proofs in smart contracts. Stealth addresses hide recipients. The key difference: Ergo's privacy is programmable - you choose when and how much to reveal.
Different privacy models for different needs. Monero provides always-on, protocol-level privacy with ring signatures. Ergo offers optional privacy via Sigma Protocols with selective disclosure - you can prove things about data without revealing the data. Ergo excels at programmable privacy (private smart contracts), while Monero excels at simple private transfers.