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