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Glossary
Privacy
Privacy Features
Privacy
Intermediate
Updated 11/26/2025

What is

Privacy Features?

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.

Key Points

  • Sigma Protocols for ZK proofs
  • ErgoMixer for non-custodial mixing
  • Stealth addresses for private receiving
  • Optional privacy (not mandatory)
  • Selective disclosure capabilities
  • No trusted setup required

Use Cases

1

Private transactions when needed

2

Mixing coins for unlinkability

3

Receiving donations privately

4

Proving credentials without revealing data

5

Compliant privacy (selective disclosure)

Technical Details

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about Privacy Features

Common questions about this topic

What is ErgoMixer and how does it work?

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.

Explainer
Privacy

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 private is Ergo blockchain?

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.

Explainer
Privacy

Is Ergo better than Monero for privacy?

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.

Comparison
Privacy
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Related Topics

Privacy on Ergo

Programmable Privacy with Sigma Protocols

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