Financial freedom and privacy go hand in hand. Ergo bakes privacy features directly into its core — not as an afterthought.
Explore the cryptographic foundations that make Ergo's privacy features possible
Enable powerful privacy tools like ring signatures and zero-knowledge proofs at the protocol level.
On-chain, non-custodial mixing for transaction privacy and anonymity.
Issue tokens with hidden amounts and rules for maximum privacy.
Three different paradigms: eUTXO + Sigma protocols (Ergo), shielded pools (Zcash), and mandatory privacy (Monero).
| Dimension | Ergo | Zcash | Monero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer / Model | L1 eUTXO + Sigma‑protocol scripts (privacy optional) | L1 UTXO with shielded pools (Sapling/Orchard) | L1 UTXO with mandatory ring signatures & stealth addresses |
| Privacy Scope | Payments/mixes, selective proofs in dApps; can build stealth‑like flows | Private transfers in shielded pool (values/senders/receivers hidden) | All transactions private by default (amounts, senders, receivers) |
| Core Tech | Sigma‑protocols (ZK PoK), ring/threshold constructs, ErgoMixer | zk‑SNARKs (Halo 2 in Orchard; Sapling earlier) | Ring signatures, stealth addresses, RingCT (confidential transactions) |
| Trusted Setup | No (sigma protocols don't require trusted setup) | NO in Orchard (Halo 2); was required in Sapling/older params | No (cryptographic primitives don't require trusted setup) |
| Default Privacy | No (opt-in via scripts/mixer) | Yes — with shielded addresses (z-addr) | Yes — all transactions are private by protocol design |
| Viewing / Selective Disclosure | Property proofs (by script) + off-chain audit by keys | Viewing keys (full/partial disclosure of shielded history) | View keys (read-only access) + audit capabilities |
| Smart‑Contracts & DeFi | Scripts with ZK proofs; privacy composable in dApps | Limited L1 scripting; main focus on private payments | Very limited scripting; focus on private digital cash |
| Data Availability | On-chain UTXO; privacy from ZK conditions/mixes, not DA hiding | Encrypted shielded pool records on L1 | Obfuscated transaction graph; amounts/parties hidden on-chain |
| Compliance/Audit Options | Selective ZK proofs of facts (without data disclosure) | Viewing keys/proof of ownership for compliance | View keys for auditing; optional transaction keys for compliance |
| UX / Wallets | Regular wallets + opt-in ErgoMixer/stealth schemes | Shielded-friendly wallets (z-tx may require more resources) | Privacy-first wallets; longer sync times due to ring signatures |
| Typical Strength | Script flexibility, no trusted setup, simple private patterns | Strong payment privacy by default (shielded) | Strongest default privacy; battle-tested anonymity set |
| Typical Trade‑off | Opt-in (not by default); requires proper scheme design | Complexity/resources of shielded-tx; UX of 'two worlds' (t/z addr) | Limited programmability; larger transaction sizes; regulatory scrutiny |
Note: Monero enforces privacy by default with ring signatures and stealth addresses. Zcash provides optional private transfers in shielded pools. Ergo offers composable privacy via Sigma proofs without trusted setup.
Real-world applications of Ergo's privacy features in decentralized applications
Mix your ERG and tokens to achieve strong on-chain anonymity (within the current anonymity set)
Build DeFi applications with private balances and logic
Create DAOs and voting systems with secret ballots
NFTs with hidden metadata or ownership information
Continue exploring Ergo's privacy features and ecosystem