##  **Why Ergo?**

Ergo is a next-generation smart contract platform that ensures the economic freedom of ordinary people through secure, accessible, and decentralized financial tools. Backed by a powerful scripting language, advanced cryptographic features, and a foundation rooted in the best principles of blockchain technology, Ergo is poised to revolutionize the concept of Contractual Money.

**The Vision Behind Ergo**

A Fusion of Research and Practicality#
Ergo encapsulates over a decade of blockchain evolution, merging proven concepts with the latest in peer-reviewed academic research. This blend has empowered Ergo to embed advanced cryptographic features directly into its core, crafting a resilient blockchain equipped for future innovations.

ErgoScript, the platform's programming language, exemplifies this innovation by enabling a wide range of functionalities, including ring signatures, atomic swaps, and self-replicating scripts, designed to set sophisticated rules for currency spending.

**Strength and Security**

Engineered with a strong emphasis on security and versatility, Ergo offers a reliable foundation for dApps to operate with predictable costs. Its smart contracts ensure Turing completeness without compromising on predictability or affordability.

The introduction of Sigma Protocols and Multi-stage Contracts enhances this further by supporting non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs and complex transaction conditions, facilitating intricate, secure, and efficient smart contract creation.

**Intelligent and User-Friendly**

Ergo leverages Sigma Protocols (Σ-Protocols) to power its smart contracts, enabling the use of efficient zero-knowledge proofs. This allows for the performance of complex, privacy-sensitive tasks without intermediaries, fostering a trustless environment with unparalleled application-level privacy.

**Secure and Accessible to All**

Ergo's dedication to universal blockchain security is evident through its implementation of Non-Interactive Proofs of Proof-of-Work (NIPoPoWs). This feature allows users to transact and verify with confidence without a full node, requiring as little as 1 MB of data, making Ergo accessible on virtually any device.

Additionally, Ergo addresses sustainability through Storage Rent, incentivizing efficient data storage, and the eUTXO model, enhancing privacy, scalability, and interoperability.


**Commodity Money and Innovation**

Ergo transcends the traditional concept of a blockchain token, embodying commodity money with real-world consumption of resources for mining. This approach, rooted in securing commodities with cryptography, distinguishes Ergo with unique features:

Incentives for long-term mining stability.

Demurrage, reinforcing Ergo as a genuine commodity.

Support for decentralized derivatives and DeFi without intermediaries.

SigmaFi (SigmaFi bonds), a peer-to-peer DeFi solution surpassing traditional financial institutions in transparency and risk management.

Unparalleled support for developing cryptographic protocols, including non-interactive mixers and stealth addresses

Ergo's recognition as the leading PoW cryptocurrency in DeFi supply demonstrates the practical application of its innovative features.


**The Genesis of Ergo**

Launched in 2019 by esteemed developers and cryptocurrency luminaries, including Alex Chepurnoy and Dmitry Meshkov, Ergo emerged from a shared vision to revolutionize the blockchain landscape. The initiative aimed to craft an efficient, secure, and user-friendly platform for financial contracts.

**A Fair Start**

Ergo was dedicated to ensuring a fair and equitable launch, reflecting Bitcoin's foundational principles to prevent undue influence from large-scale investors. This strategy democratized access and established a sustainable economic model for the network's growth.

The mining protocol allocated a portion of the rewards to a treasury, managed by the non-profit Ergo Foundation, to support ongoing development and adoption. In its first 2.5 years, the Foundation accumulated 4,330,791.5 ERGs (4.43% of the total supply). For more information, visit the Ergo Foundation and emission sections.

**Fixed Supply:** Ergo has a fixed supply of 97,739,924 coins, combating inflation.

**Extended Emission Schedule**: Through EIP-27, Ergo's mining rewards are extended for approximately 17.38 years, enhancing sustainability and making $ERG more scarce and valuable over time.

**Why Ergo Embraces Proof-of-Work**

Ergo utilizes the Autolykos Proof-of-Work protocol, demonstrating its commitment to decentralization and fairness. Proof of Work enables a user-friendly environment where lightweight clients can interact directly with the blockchain, creating a truly programmable currency that is accessible and ready for use today.

**How Does Ergo Address Bitcoin's Challenges?**

Ergo addresses several key challenges inherent to Bitcoin, enhancing functionality, security, scalability, and privacy:


![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333691988637126676/image.png?ex=6799d0f4&is=67987f74&hm=51c7a5577a6f2a0cd4cc674bdd89dfbcf18204989bba8b38c942908bc5ff5527&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=1017&height=715)


**How Does Ergo Address Ethereum's Challenges?**

Ergo's UTXO-based programming model is declarative, specifying conditions for a transaction to be accepted (not changes to storage state). This contrasts with Ethereum's imperative Account model.


![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333692342741500024/image.png?ex=6799d149&is=67987fc9&hm=36ee550ada84193bfa8a84edd3a78cc884229356e776d9150f206533748dc5b4&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=1024&height=846)


**Want to Learn More?**

**Meet the Minds Behind Ergo**

Ergo is powered by experienced developers and researchers with strong academic backgrounds in cryptography, compiler theory, blockchain technology, and cryptographic e-cash. Our team members have extensive experience in core development for cryptocurrencies and blockchain frameworks.

Notable contributor Alexander kushti Chepurnoy co-founded smartcontract.com (now Chainlink), served as a core developer at NXT, and was among the first employees at IOHK.

Visit Ergo's Hall of Fame to learn more about our contributors. For information on foundation members, refer to the EF Transparency Report.

**Roadmap**

Stay ahead of Ergo's journey by visiting the 'Roadmap' section on our website, where you can explore upcoming projects and innovative features.

**Resources**

Deepen your understanding of Ergo with these resources:

[The Ergo Manifesto](https://ergonaut.space/en/Ergo/manifesto)

[Explore Yield-Generating Strategies on Ergo](https://ergonaut.space/en/Guides/yield)

Our comprehensive [FAQ](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/faq/)

cafebedouin.org: Why Ergo

Join our community chats across the web listed at direct.me/ergo
"Cryptocurrency should provide tools to enrich ordinary people. Small businesses struggling to make ends meet, not big depersonalised financial capital."



Why Ergo?

## **Powering the future of finance**

Ergo is a next-generation smart contract platform that enables anyone to participate in the digital DeFi revolution now.

Ensuring economic freedom for ordinary people through decentralized, private and secure financial tools.

[Why Ergo?](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/protocol/why/)
A high-level summary of what puts Ergo head and shoulders above the competition.

[Contributing](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/contribute/)
Ergo operates an open model where contributions from all are welcomed. Participate in decentralised finance!

[FAQ](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/faq/)
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions


**Core Components**

[Autolykos](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/mining/autolykos/)
The underlying Memory-hard ASIC-resistant Proof of Work (PoW) algorithm oriented towards GPUs.

[eUTXO](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/protocol/eutxo/)
Ergo uses a so-called extended-UTXO model, which implies UTXOs with the ability to contain arbitrary data and sophisticated scripts.

[NIPoPoWs](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/protocol/nipopows/)
Enable extended support of light nodes which makes Ergo friendly for end-users, allowing them to run contracts on common devices such as mobile phones without centralised intermediaries.

[Privacy](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/protocol/zkp/)
Ergo provides superior access to discrete log-based zero-knowledge proofs

[Scaling](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/protocol/scaling/)
Explore the various scaling solutions being explored on Ergo

[Storage Rent](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/protocol/storage-rent/)
Storage Rent is a nominal fee incurred by unmoved boxes after four years.

[ErgoScript](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/scs/ergoscript/)
A simple high-level language enabling clear descriptions of contractual logic.

[Uses Cases](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/uses/)
From oracles to alternative economic systems.



Powering the future of finance

Why Ergo

## **Documents**

Ergo is following the fundamental approach and use stable well-tested solutions, even if that leads to slower short-term innovations. Most of Ergo solutions are formalized in papers presented at peer-reviewed conferences and have been widely discussed in the community.

This page contains links to documents with a general overview of Ergo platform, as well as fundamental papers underlying Ergo protocol.

**Overviews**

[Whitepaper I: Ergo: The Resilient Platform For Contractual Money](https://ergoplatform.org/docs/whitepaper.pdf)

[Whitepaper II: ErgoScript, a Cryptocurrency Scripting Language Supporting Noninteractive Zero-Knowledge Proofs](https://ergoplatform.org/docs/ErgoScript.pdf)

[Teaser: The Ergo Platform Project Overview](https://ergoplatform.org/docs/teaser.pdf)

[Whitepaper III: Advanced ErgoScript Tutorial](https://ergoplatform.org/docs/AdvancedErgoScriptTutorial.pdf)

**Foundational papers**

[On Contractual Money
](https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d51b/51fd136b1b74ece7caa6a7cb9c8f74b1b829.pdf)

[Improving authenticated dynamic dictionaries, with applications to cryptocurrencies](https://eprint.iacr.org/2016/994.pdf)

[Self-reproducing Coins as Universal Turing Machine](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1806.10116)

[Multi-mode Cryptocurrency Systems](https://eprint.iacr.org/2018/129.pdf)

[Multi-stage Contracts in the UTXO Model](https://ergoplatform.org/docs/paper_26.pdf)

[EDRAX: A Cryptocurrency with Stateless Transaction Validation](https://eprint.iacr.org/2018/968.pdf)

[Revisiting Difficulty Control for Blockchain Systems](https://eprint.iacr.org/2017/731.pdf)

[Storage Rent:](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/mining/rent/) [A Systematic Approach To Cryptocurrency Fees](https://fc18.ifca.ai/bitcoin/papers/bitcoin18-final18.pdf)

[ZeroJoin: Combining ZeroCoin and CoinJoin](https://eprint.iacr.org/2020/560.pdf)

[Soft Power: Upgrading Chain Macroeconomic Policy Through Soft Forks](https://eprint.iacr.org/2021/577.pdf)


**Post-Mainnet**

[Bypassing Non-Outsourceable Proof-of-Work Schemes Using Collateralized Smart Contracts](https://eprint.iacr.org/2020/044.pdf)

[Ergo Hackathon: Crowdfunded Smart Contract Pools Research and Conceptualization](https://eprint.iacr.org/2021/846)

[Succinct, Non-Interactive Share Proofs](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/events/pdf/SNISP_FINAL_NO_CITATIONS.pdf) (See Lithos Protocol)

[Dexy](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/assets/pdf/dexy.pdf) (See Dexy)

[Sigmajoin](https://github.com/ergoplatform/ergo-jde/blob/main/kiosk/src/test/scala/kiosk/mixer/doc/main.pdf)

[ChainCash](https://github.com/kushti/chaincash/blob/master/paper/chaincash.pdf)

[KYA - A Treatise On Assumptions in Cryptocurrencies and Defi](https://github.com/kushti/kya/blob/master/kya.pdf)


**Video**

**Notable Youtube Appearances**

[Blockchain at Berkeley CESC2017 - Dmitry Meshkov - On Space-Scare Economy - October 17, 2017.](https://youtu.be/gBy-pu1kzdQ)

[Master Workshop at Amsterdam - Vasily Kharin - Autolykos: Practical Non-Outsourceable Proof-of-Work Protocol -](https://youtu.be/rApDlDbXy84) November 17, 2018.

[Binary District Journal - Alexander Chepurnoy - Blockchain Research and Adoption – Interview](https://youtu.be/fY2yTItDgsU) - November 10, 2017.

[IOHK Research - Alexander Chepurnoy - Future technology](https://youtu.be/Pxu4gpuVnQE) - July 22, 2016.

[IOHK & Shanghai Jiao Tong University – Alexander Chepurnoy - Interview ](https://youtu.be/B7BdOfzURiI)- March 6, 2017.

[IOHK Interview on Scorex – Charles Hoskinson, Alexander Chepurnoy - A Modular Toolbox for Cryptocurrency Research & Blockchain Technologies ](https://youtu.be/YqvMUY4XAKs)- August 15, 2016.

[CTCrypt 2017 – Alexander Chepurnoy - Challenges in Blockchain Research](https://youtu.be/w6K3k-s7Oow) - August 15, 2016.

[SF Scala – Dmitry Meshkov, Interview](https://youtu.be/GehIWZrulKo) - October 4, 2017.

[NXT Cryptocurrency Explained - By Alexander Chepurnoy & Bas Wisselink at Bitcoin Wednesday Amsterdam](https://youtu.be/QMSA5W7jx1E?t=610) - January 7, 2015.


**Meetups and Presentations**

[Ergo Platform Presentation, Seoul ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4ieaI6pn7M)- September 2019.

[Ergo Platform Presentation, Hong Kong (at Genesis Block)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK2ZBsLCGIU&t) - September 2019.

[Ergo Platform Presentation, Ho Chi Minh](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SrzybpblMM&t) - September 2019.

[Ergo Platform Presentation, Shanghai ](https://www.yizhibo.com/l/gvz0R4fXK6aOgMOy.html)- September 2019.

[Ergo Platform Presentation, Hong Kong (at Genesis Block)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrF-r_sylsU&t) - January 2019.

[Ergo Platform Presentation, Sanya, Hainan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae8VDOo1YfM) - January 2019. 2019年区块链技术大会 / 2019 International Blockchain Technology Conference (IBTC2019).
Made with Material for MkDocs

Documents

Research & Whitepapers

## **Ergo Development Roadmap & History**


Ergo is a blockchain platform designed to provide a secure, efficient, and user-friendly environment for the development of decentralized applications and financial tools. This roadmap outlines the key milestones and objectives for the development and growth of the Ergo ecosystem.

**Resources**

![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333708506393477150/image.png?ex=6799e057&is=67988ed7&hm=7f7a8b94f35f87ca58efcd97db0e40feecb2b07255a6ab807b5253656c813300&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=995&height=846)

![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333708884233162832/image.png?ex=6799e0b1&is=67988f31&hm=f0cb058fcd466e7280aaf712b2cab30c989e904e4306caf9fd2935a1f12e71be&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=624&height=846)

![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333709164450676787/image.png?ex=6799e0f3&is=67988f73&hm=8d0ab4e7e5222df962bdd61d7623905746856e3928d2525d7d0c9e58205d3088&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=662&height=846)

**Who develops Ergo?**

Ergo is developed a by a combination of the [Ergo Foundation](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/ef/ergo-foundation/), community developers and the recently launched DevDAO

**Ergo Timeline**

![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333709912408326186/image.png?ex=6799e1a6&is=67989026&hm=719b2c4febba0d32347807f3ccaa12b24e846d63543f2edd06c90f15ad7e4793&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=904&height=846)

![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333710167761489931/image.png?ex=6799e1e3&is=67989063&hm=8eae063fbb452f26ffb82ee2063e36ef89750b75ac80524bbbc615d8bc0fac07&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=934&height=846)

**2022: Technical Advancements**

**Protocol Upgrades:**

[EIP-27](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/mining/standards/eip27/) (emission soft-fork) was implemented

[EIP-37](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/mining/standards/eip37/) (difficulty retargeting hard fork) was implemented

Ergo was listed on the following exchanges:

Indodax

Huobi

Bittrue 

**Ecosystem Expansion:**

Parallel asset was launched on Flux

The [Sigmanauts Program](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/contribute/sigmanauts/) was launched on 01/22

**Community Engagement:**

Two summits and three hackathons were held, with a total of 45 entries

[ergoplatform.org](https://ergoplatform.org/) and sigmaverse.io were redesigned and relaunched

**Technical Milestone:** Node V5 with JITC (Just-In-Time Compilation) was released

**Team Growth:**
Warwick (CW), Stacie, and Alison Robson joined as Ergo Foundation Officers

**Marketing Initiative**: An 'open source economy' pitch deck was created and distributed


**2023: Ecosystem Flourishing**

Milestones:
Significant donations to EF Treasury from ecosystem projects
Storage rent activation
Sigmanauts
01/23: sigmanauts.com launches.
03/23: Sigmanauts voting rework.
03/23: Mission Statement published.
00/23: The Sigmanauts attend their first event @ RareEVO.
00/23: The Ergo Foundation donates 160,000 SPF to the Sigmanauts treasury.
00/23: The Sigmanauts begin managing the @ergo_platform Twitter account.
Integrations:
Bitpanda listing
nonkyc.io
Koinly
StealthEx
Core Developments:
Sigma.js
UTXO Set Snapshots
bootstrapping with NiPoPoWs
SigmaState advancements
Kushti's 'A Scalability Plan for Ergo' and sub-block confirmation protocol work
Development:
Pruned Full Node
Plasma Library on top of AVL Trees, drastically improving light client verification efficiency compared to traditional merkle tree data structures
ergo-lib-go
uExplorer
FleetSDK
Ledger support (developer mode)
Oracles v2
Community Events:
Ergo Summit 2023
ErgoVersary 2023
ErgoHack VI and VII
Community Initiatives:
Erg0ne
Sigmanauts @ NFTxLV
Sigmanauts mining pool
Ecosystem:
ergexplorer
Off-The-Grid
DeFi:
Rosen Lite
SigmaFi
Duckpools
AuctionHouse v3
AuctionCoin
Hodlcoin & PhoenixFinance
Spectrum Finance yield farming
Hodlbox
Lilium
single-tx-swap
EXLE MVP
TabbyPOS
Crux Finance MVP
SigmaO options trading platform
2024: Future Horizons (In Progress and Planned)
Ongoing work to define rules for new releases and research-driven development frameworks
Encouragement of new stakeholder organizations within the Ergo ecosystem

**Milestones**

ErgoHack VIII - Ergo as a Smart Layer
DAO for Ergo core
Ergo achieved #1 in TVL% of market cap for a PoW chain
Ergo listed on MEXC exchange
Ergo Node improvements:
Successful migration from LevelDB to RocksDB
6.0.0-alpha1 release with Global.some/none methods and AVL+ Tree optimizations
Sigma protocol updates:
Sigma 5.0.14 release
Sigma 6.0.0 update with scrypto 3.0.0
Infrastructure improvements:
Sigmaspace blockchain indexer completion (full index <24 hours)
Resolved indexer issues (rollbacks, duplicates, threading)
Sigmaspace explorer API compatibility with ergoplatform.org
Sigmaspace storage rent dashboard launch
Sigmanauts Achievements#
Sigmanauts Mining Pool launch
Storage rent integration completed for Sigmanauts Mining Pool
First proposal on Paideia passes (January 2024)
Official takeover of Market-Making services management (March 2024)
Substantial EF grant received matching Sigmanauts-raised funds (March 2024)
Application Achievements#
Wallet Developments

Nautilus Wallet improvements:

Version 0.15.0 release
Abyss v0.13.0-beta.1 with performance improvements
New frontend implementation
Improved Firefox compatibility
Enhanced asset ranking and sorting in Assets and Send tabs
Comprehensive dApp documentation
Minotaur Wallet:

Version 2.0.1 production release
Satergo Wallet:

3x faster transaction history loading
New Ergonnection library version
Simplified Windows installations
Infrastructure & Tools

Sigmaspace development:

Complete blockchain indexer (<24 hours full index)
Storage rent dashboard launch with tracking features
Explorer API compatibility with ergoplatform.org
Lithos progress:

Initial client development completion
Fraud proofs contracts for NISPs (PoW verification, header validation)
Rosen Bridge improvements:

Enhanced decimal handling logic for cross-chain transactions
API and UI revisions
DeFi Applications

SigmaUSD improvements:

Enhanced stability mechanisms
Oracle upgrade exploration
Fleet SDK advancements:

AgeUSD integration completion
Enhanced development toolkit
Celaut platform development

Bene fundraising platform updates
Development Focus#
Reference Client

Sub-blocks implementation:

Data types and update procedures
Candidate generation
Block template regeneration integration
P2P layer optimization and review

Bootstrapping improvements
Sidechain implementation modularization
RocksDB integration and optimization
Enhanced testing for indices, scans, and wallet
Sigma

Sigma 6.0 implementation and validation context extension research

Progress on Sigma 6.0 features:

SOption[] serialization
Header serialization/deserialization
Header.checkPoW implementation
Global.powHit implementation
Enhanced collections and numeric methods
Improved error messages
Signature re-checking optimization

ErgoScript 2.0
EIP-0046: Atomic Chains
EIP-0047: Pooled Transaction Inputs
MerkleTrees
EIP-44: Arbitrary Data Signing Standard
Revisiting formal verification implementation
Bulletproofs
Exploration of Rust and JavaScript support in addition to ErgoScript
Consideration of high-level language support (e.g., Lisp)
Improvements to error-checking and debugging tools
Enhanced stateless validation in Sigma-Rust
SDKs

AppKit
FleetSDK

Integration with AgeUSD stablecoin
sigma-rust
JIT costing implementation in Sigma-Rust
6.0 features implementation in Sigma-Rust
Sigma-Rust-Mini development
Sigma.js
Libraries & Tooling

ergo-lib-go
escript.online
Blockly Playground Integration
Token metadata standards discussion
Lithos light-client integration progress
Mining Ecosystem

Lithos decentralized mining pool infrastructure expected launch by end of 2024
Plans for reintroduction of Fair Initial Mining Offerings (FIMOs)
Wallets

Nautilus

Manifest v3 rework
Ledger

Available in developer mode
Keystone Integration progress

EIP-12 / EIP-20
Metamask integration
Trustwallet Integration
Light SPV Clients using NiPoPoWs
Ecosystem Growth

DeFi ecosystem expansion:

New protocols exploration
NFT platform improvements
Continuous integration of new protocols and platforms

UX/UI improvement initiatives across applications
Documentation & Education

New educational materials on:

Merkle trees
Extension blocks
Soft-fork rules
Signature schemes
ErgoScript compilation
Ergo Forum enhancement as knowledge hub

Development Process Improvements

Enhanced focus on code quality and review processes
Improved version management procedures
Better transparency in development communication
Ongoing Challenges

Scalability Improvements (Layer 1 and Layer 2)

Sub-blocks implementation for enhanced transaction throughput

Layer 2 solutions exploration:

Weak consensus mechanisms for local payment networks
Digital bearer certificates
P2P layer optimization for network efficiency

Bootstrapping improvements for faster node synchronization
Research into enhanced transaction processing and network scalability

Usability Enhancements

Wallet and dApp user experience improvements
Development tools advancement:

Comprehensive ErgoScript debugger
Enhanced escript.online functionality
Structured output for debugging
Documentation and education:

Improved developer documentation
Enhanced tutorials and guides
Better onboarding resources
Streamlined development workflows

Security Strengthening

Ongoing vulnerability assessment and mitigation
Protocol security mechanism enhancements
Smart contract security improvements
Regular security audits and reviews
Implementation of best practices for secure development
Ecosystem Development

Continuous discussions for improved accessibility
Potential listings on US markets
Balancing rapid development with thorough testing
Enhanced coordination between development teams
Streamlined contribution processes
Technical Debt and Optimization

Code quality maintenance
Performance optimization
System architecture improvements
Technical documentation updates
Development process refinements


DeFi Ecosystem#
Every new addition to our growing DeFi ecosystem contributes to the expansion of trustless collateral, the decentralized monetary base, and the supply of derivative assets.

Decentralized Exchanges#
ErgoDex (AMM + Yield Farming)
ErgoAuctionHouse (peer-to-peer auctions)
Trade House (orderbook-based P2P DEX)
SkyHarbor (NFT Market)

SkyHarbor Raffle for new UI
single-tx-swap (trustless p2p swaps)
TokenJay (p2p escrow)
Crooks Finance (buying, trading, and staking meme cryptocurrency tokens)
PalmyraComDex (commodities DEX) (Alpha live!)
Crystal Pool (instant L1 order-based trading)
Machina Finance (grid DEX)
Mew Finance
Stablecoins#
SigmaUSD stablecoin (Djed protocol)
SigmaUSD v2
Gluon (gold stablecoin)
DexyGold (seigniorage stablecoin)
Lending and Borrowing#
SigmaFi (peer-to-peer loans via bonds)
Duckpools (lending pools)
optionPools (option markets)
EXLE (uncollateralized lending)
Gaming and Metaverse#
BlitzTCG (trading card game)
CyberVerse (metaverse gaming platform)

Cyberverse Multiplayer
Derivatives and Synthetics#
SigmaO (trustless options)
HodlCoin (trustless ERG derivative with non-declining price)
AuctionCoin (emission via auctions)
Hodlbox (long-term locking)
OptionCoin (decentralized options trading with token emission)
ChainCash (elastic p2p money creation based on assets and trust)
Crowdfunding#
ErgoRaffle (decentralized crowdfunding)
V2 features
Interoperability and Bridges#
Oracle Pools (federated transparent data providing)
Rosen Bridge (two-layered federated bridge)
ADA Bridge
BTC Bridge
Runes Integration
EVM Bridge
R&D for Monero
RosenFast Service
Bridge Expansion Kit
Bridge SDK
DOGE Bridge
BCH Bridge
Hummingbot Integration / Customisation
Sigma Chains - Revitalizing Proof of Work

Trustless Relays (Superseding BTC custody solutions with Ergo smart-contracts)
Implementing sidechains with trustless transfers and various consensus mechanisms (merged mined with ERG, other blockchains, or double merged mined)
Expanding Ergo's contractual layer to sidechains, incorporating features like Bulletproofs-based sigma protocols and elevating certain contracts to first-class citizens
Experimenting with scalability solutions like sharding on sidechains
Utilizing ERG and other tokens on Ergo and sidechains from launch, fostering a rich and diverse DeFi ecosystem
Launching existing applications on sidechains, contingent on modifications to the contractual layer
Privacy and Mixing#
ErgoMixer (non-interactive, non-custodial mixer)
Stealth addresses
SigmaJoin
Privacy-Preserving Voting
DAOs and Governance#
Paideia (DAO toolkit)
Lithos (decentralized mining infrastructure)
The Field (peer-to-pool pledging protocol)
Tooling#
Lilium (NFT sale platform)
Moria Finance (fund management)
Trustless Relys
Random Number Generator
TabbyPOS (Point of Sale device)
Crux Finance (Token charts, portfolio viewer and more)
ErgoNames (decentralized naming system)
Reputation System (Testnet Live)
Miner Tooling#
GuapSwap (miner token swapping)
CYTI (Choose Your Token ID)
Other Infrastructure#
ergexplorer
sigmaspace

**References**

[Futhere more :](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/roadmap/#daos-and-governance) 


Ergo Development Roadmap & History

## **Scaling Ergo**

Creating a scalable blockchain infrastructure is a complex task. Ergo, fortified by a decade of [research](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/documents/), rigorous testing, and ongoing development, has risen to the challenge. This guide will walk you through Ergo's sophisticated scalability features.

**Blockchain scalability is primarily influenced by three factors:**

**Cryptoeconomic incentive model**: This model ensures that miners receive suitable rewards for the various costs associated with scaling a blockchain, which may include an increase in state-related costs.

**Consensus model:** The chosen model can determine the feasibility of certain scalability solutions. For example, the Proof of Stake consensus model does not support Non-interactive Proofs of Proof-of-Work (NiPoPoWs).

**Accounting model:** This pertains to the management of transactions and operations within the blockchain. Bitcoin uses the UTXO Model, while Ethereum uses the Account Model.

Ergo's innovative approach to scalability, underpinned by these aspects, sets it apart from other blockchain technologies. Unlike Ethereum's Account model, which manages storage changes and validity checks on-chain during code execution, Ergo's eUTXO employs a unique strategy: transactions are created off-chain, and validation checks are conducted on-chain.

This approach reduces the operational load on each network node, thereby enhancing overall efficiency. The immutability of the transaction graph allows for further optimization of this process, increasing the number of transactions processed per second. Additionally, the use of light-verifying nodes boosts both the scalability and accessibility of the network.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of Ergo's scalability, delve into the role of each layer in this process:

[Layer 0](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/protocol/scaling/layer0/): The Network or Peer-to-Peer Layer

[Layer 1](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/protocol/scaling/layer1/): The Core Blockchain Layer

[Layer 2](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/protocol/scaling/layer2/): The Off-chain Layer

These layers work in harmony to enhance Ergo's scalability, making it a flexible and potent choice for both developers and users. This collaborative model enables Ergo to provide robust, scalable solutions that are prepared to meet the challenges of global expansion.

Scaling Ergo

## **Ergo Scaling Roadmap**

Join our discussions on scaling on Telegram or #layer2 on discord. We welcome all insights and contributions.

**Current Focus**

With the successful integration of UTXO set snapshots and Non-Interactive Proofs of Proof-of-Work (NiPoPoWs) for ultra-fast bootstrapping in the pruned full node, our focus has now shifted towards optimizing this implementation. We are also exploring ways to further increase block limits for miners, given the live status of the pruned full node.

**Recent Developments**

(TBA) Planning for Node V6 & scalability improvements
(WIP) Development of SPV Client
Pruned Full Node is now live
Release of Node V5
GetBlok released the Plasma Library
Plasma Tutorials have been published
Roadmaps#
Ergo Design and Implementation Roadmap#

**Phase 1: Foundations**

Start with the basic design of Ergo as digital gold (commodity money).
Introduce programmability features including:
Crypto contracts
Stealth addresses
Arbitrarily complex signatures
Mixing schemes
Position Ergo as a basis for unstoppable, grassroots economies, serving as a decentralized central bank digital currency (CBDC) for the people.

**Phase 2: Initial Experiments**

Conduct initial experiments to test functionality and user engagement.
Evaluate the outcomes considering the initial motivations.

**Phase 3: Defining Adoption**

Clarify the term "adoption" as it is often ambiguous in industry discussions.
Develop metrics or KPIs to measure adoption success.

**Phase 4: Scaling and Optimization**

Peer-to-peer (P2P) level optimizations and rework.
Consider pre-block commitments to transaction ordering (sub-blocks).
Aim to increase transactions per second (TPS) while maintaining security.

**Constraints for Scaling**

Limitations include requirements for a flat P2P network running on commodity hardware.
No use of centralized or "bankster" data centers for scalability.

**Phase 5: Offloading Solutions**

Propose options for offloading transactions to Layer 2 or sidechains, if not already implemented.
Introduce "Know Your Algorithm" KYA as a way to explain security in offloading options in a concise and understandable manner.

**Phase 6: Convergence**

Multiple developments in scaling, optimization, and offloading are expected to converge, culminating in a comprehensive solution for widespread adoption.
Summarised from Kushti, 7 Aug, 2023

(Nov 22) A Scalability Plan for Ergo

(Dec 21) Ergo protocol research and client development roadmap

(Sep 21) Long-term vision for Ergo

(Jul 21) Network congestion on Jul 10th, 2021

(May 20) Protecting mempool from computationally heavy transactions

(May 20) A Scalability Plan for Ergo




Ergo Scaling Roadmap

## **Understanding Transaction Speed in Blockchains**

The speed of transactions, commonly known as Transactions Per Second (TPS), is a vital performance metric for blockchains. It quantifies the capacity of a blockchain to process transactions, expressed in transactions per second.

The primary bottleneck for increasing transactions per second (TPS) is the peer-to-peer (p2p) network layer. Proof-of-Work (PoW) is already an efficient timestamping protocol for the base layer (Layer 0) because it operates asynchronously, without the need for additional network messages. Many alternative consensus mechanisms require extra bandwidth, making them less efficient. For instance, the original Ouroboros consensus protocol generated large log files, although this was later improved in the Praos version using Verifiable Random Functions (VRF). However, relying on novel cryptographic primitives can be risky, especially when significant assets are involved.

While TPS could be boosted by introducing measures like supernodes or eliminating mempools, as seen in projects like Solana and Avalanche, these approaches compromise the decentralization and integrity of the network. Therefore, if the goal is to maintain a truly decentralized cryptocurrency, these methods should be avoided.

The remaining viable solution for improving TPS lies in optimizing bandwidth usage and implementing Layer 2 solutions and sidechains, also known as application-specific chains.

**Comparative TPS Values for Renowned Blockchains**

To provide a perspective, here are the estimated TPS values for some of the leading blockchains:

Bitcoin (BTC): Roughly 7 TPS (Gobbel, 2017).
Ethereum (ETH): Roughly 15 TPS (Clincy et al., 2019)
Ripple (XRP): Roughly 1500 TPS (Clincy et al., 2019)
Cardano (ADA): Roughly 7 TPS (Can reach up to 250 in controlled tests) (Stamoulis, 2021).
Polkadot (DOT): Roughly 1500 TPS (Hiemstra et al., 2021)
However, the conventional TPS metric only offers a glimpse into Ergo's true potential. It's not merely about the number of transactions; the weight of the transaction and the computational cost limit per block are equally important. These aspects are shaped by several dynamic factors, including the size of the network and the hardware resources available to miners.

With the Node v5 already operational, Ergo's raw TPS is approximately 47.5 transactions/second, with room for further enhancements. For an in-depth technical understanding of how this figure is derived, please refer to this report.

**The Extended Unspent Transaction Output (eUTXO) Model Advantage**

Ergo's transaction management system leverages the Extended Unspent Transaction Output (eUTXO) model, which outperforms the traditional UTXO model in terms of efficiency and flexibility. This model allows for multiple outputs in a single transaction, each potentially carrying different tokens. Moreover, Ergo is capable of handling complex DeFi transactions, thereby enabling a broad spectrum of DeFi applications within the network. By processing multiple token types per transaction output and facilitating the simultaneous execution of complex transactions within a block, Ergo significantly boosts its blockchain's performance and scalability.

The primary objective in scaling Ergo is to enhance TPS without compromising the fundamental principles and assurances typically linked with blockchain technology.

Understanding Transaction Speed in Blockchains

## **Understanding Atomic Composability in Blockchain Systems**

**Introduction**

In the context of blockchain technology and decentralized applications (dApps), atomic composability refers to the ability to combine and execute multiple operations or transactions as a single, indivisible unit. This means that either all components of a multi-step process are executed successfully, or none of them are executed at all. Atomic composability is crucial for ensuring the integrity and reliability of complex operations, particularly in the realm of Decentralized Finance (DeFi).

**The Significance of Atomic Composability in DeFi**

The open-source nature of DeFi allows for the integration, modification, and reuse of dApps, enabling a high degree of composability within the ecosystem. However, certain DeFi applications, such as flash loans and instant arbitrage, require a specific form of composability known as atomic composability. These applications involve multiple interconnected transactions that must execute atomically, ensuring that all related transactions either complete successfully or are entirely rolled back.

For example, in a flash loan scenario, a user borrows funds from a lending pool, trades those funds on a decentralized exchange (DEX), and then repays the loan with a profit, all within a single transaction. If any part of this process fails, the entire transaction must be reversed to prevent the user from retaining the borrowed funds without repayment.

**Balancing Scalability and Atomic Composability**

While blockchain technology aims to achieve scalability, it is equally important to maintain atomic composability at scale. Ergo addresses this challenge by optimizing the use of resources within existing blockchain platforms, rather than relying on unproven technologies. This approach ensures that atomic composability is preserved while enabling scalability.

The Impact of Scaling Solutions on Atomic Composability#
Scaling solutions often involve partitioning the blockchain platform into smaller sections, such as shards, or adding a new layer atop the base layer. However, if these solutions are not implemented correctly, they can disrupt the smooth interaction between assets and applications across different sections of the platform, potentially compromising atomic composability.

**The eUTXO Model and ErgoScript**

Ergo's eUTXO model, in conjunction with the ErgoScript smart contract language, allows for the atomic execution of complex, multi-stage transactions within a single transaction. This ensures that all components of a transaction are executed in full or not at all, a fundamental aspect of atomic composability.

ErgoScript enables the creation and execution of complex smart contracts with predictable outcomes, while leveraging the benefits of the UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) model, such as statelessness, improved parallelism, and reliable data handling.

**Layer 2 Solutions: Hydra State Channels**

Layer 2 solutions, such as Hydra state channels, contribute to atomic composability by facilitating communication across different heads (participants). This allows for the atomic execution of complex operations involving multiple state channel participants.

**ACE: Enhancing the Execution of Complex Smart Contracts**

Ergo's ability to execute complex and composable smart contracts could be further enhanced by implementing concepts like ACE (Asynchronous Contract Execution). ACE suggests decomposing smart contracts into smaller, concurrent tasks that can be executed independently, thereby improving overall performance and throughput. It allows one contract to safely invoke another contract executed by a different set of service providers, facilitating off-chain execution of interactive smart contracts with flexible trust assumptions and enhancing atomic composability.

**Sharding and Its Impact on Atomic Composability**

**An Overview of Sharding**

Sharding is a technique that divides a blockchain network into smaller sections, or shards, to enhance scalability. Each shard processes a subset of transactions independently. However, maintaining atomic composability, where all components of a multi-step transaction are executed in full or not at all, can be challenging in a sharded environment.

**Example: Cross-Shard Transaction**

Consider a scenario where a user wants to execute a transaction that involves assets and operations spanning multiple shards. If the transaction fails to execute atomically across all shards, it could lead to inconsistencies, such as assets being locked or lost, or operations being partially executed.

**Strategies for Preserving Atomic Composability in Sharding**

Several strategies can help preserve atomic composability when implementing sharding:

**Cross-shard Transactions**

Establish a mechanism for secure and efficient communication between shards to enable cross-shard transactions. This mechanism ensures that all components of a multi-step transaction are either fully committed or rolled back, even when the transaction spans multiple shards.

**Locking Mechanisms**

Introduce locking mechanisms to prevent double-spending and fraud during cross-shard transactions. Temporarily locking the assets involved until the transaction is complete can help preserve atomic composability.

**Two-phase Commit Protocols**

Employ two-phase commit protocols to coordinate cross-shard transactions. In the first phase, shards tentatively execute the transaction and lock the relevant assets. In the second phase, once all shards have confirmed the transaction, it is committed, and the locked assets are released. If any shard fails to confirm, the transaction is rolled back, and the locked assets are released.

**Optimistic Execution**

Allow shards to optimistically execute transactions, assuming dependencies between shards are resolved. If conflicts arise later, the transaction can be rolled back, and the network can learn from the conflict to prevent similar issues in the future.

**State Channels or Sidechains**

Use state channels or sidechains to process transactions off-chain, settling the final state back on the main chain. These off-chain solutions enable complex, multi-step transactions without directly involving multiple shards, thus preserving atomic composability.

**Challenges and Limitations**

While the strategies mentioned above aim to preserve atomic composability in a sharded blockchain environment, there are several challenges and limitations to consider:

**Increased Complexity**: Implementing mechanisms for cross-shard communication, locking, and two-phase commit protocols can add significant complexity to the system, potentially introducing new attack vectors or vulnerabilities.

**Performance Overhead**: Maintaining atomic composability across shards may introduce performance overhead, such as increased latency or decreased throughput, which could potentially negate some of the scalability benefits of sharding.

**Trust Assumptions:** Some solutions, like optimistic execution or off-chain processing, may require additional trust assumptions or introduce new trust models, which could be challenging to implement and maintain in a decentralized environment.

**Adoption and Standardization:** Achieving widespread adoption and standardization of atomic composability solutions across different blockchain networks and dApps may be difficult, potentially leading to fragmentation or compatibility issues.

**Future Developments and Research Directions**

As blockchain technology and scaling solutions continue to evolve, there are several potential future developments and research directions related to atomic composability:

**Improved Cross-Shard Communication Protocols:** Research into more efficient and secure protocols for enabling cross-shard transactions and maintaining atomic composability.

**Hybrid Approaches:** Exploring hybrid approaches that combine sharding with other scaling solutions, such as Layer 2 solutions or sidechains, to enhance atomic composability while maintaining scalability.

**Formal Verification and Testing**: Developing formal verification methods and rigorous testing frameworks to ensure the correctness and reliability of atomic composability solutions, particularly in complex multi-shard environments.

**Decentralized Governance Models:** Investigating decentralized governance models for coordinating and managing atomic composability solutions across different blockchain networks and dApps.

**Integration with Advanced Smart Contract Languages**: Exploring the integration of atomic composability solutions with advanced smart contract languages and execution environments, enabling more sophisticated and composable decentralized applications.

**Conclusion**

Atomic composability is a crucial aspect of blockchain technology and decentralized applications, ensuring the integrity and reliability of complex multi-step operations. While scaling solutions like sharding introduce challenges in maintaining atomic composability, various strategies and approaches can be employed to address these challenges. As the blockchain ecosystem continues to evolve, ongoing research and development efforts will be essential to strike the right balance between scalability and atomic composability, enabling the creation of robust and reliable decentralized applications.

Understanding Atomic Composability in Blockchain Systems

Roadmap

## **The Ergo Foundation**

This section provides a comprehensive overview of the Ergo Foundation, aiming to maintain transparency. For more detailed information, please refer to the respective sections:

Gain insights into the Structure of the Ergo Foundation and its operational mechanisms.
Delve into the Scope of our work to understand our focus areas.
Traverse the Timeline to witness the milestones achieved by the Ergo Foundation.
Obtain a detailed understanding of the Treasury and its management.
Uncover our Future plans and the strategic direction we are pursuing.

**Mission**

The Ergo Foundation is a community-led organization with a focus on the following areas:

Encouraging the non-breaking development of the Ergo Platform protocol;
Advocating for the widespread adoption and use of the Ergo Platform and its native token (ERG);
Fostering the growth of the ecosystem around the Ergo Platform;
Promoting the use of the Ergo Platform and blockchain technology for societal benefit;
Supporting truly decentralized infrastructure;

**Upholding privacy as a fundamental human right.
Structure**

The Ergo Foundation is composed of dedicated members who primarily function as multi-signature custodians. They vote on proposals to allocate treasury funds in alignment with the Foundation's mission. The Foundation also directly employs several Officers and Advisors which is outlined below.

The day-to-day responsibilities of Foundation members are primarily organizational. They engage with exchanges, market-makers, and manage internal accounting and budgeting. They also oversee a variety of activities, including:

Contracting and compensating developers.
Allocating 'bounties' on core repositories.
Guiding core protocol development.
Overseeing wallet development.
Coordinating exchange listings.
Managing payments to third parties for administrative and miscellaneous expenses.
Facilitating partnership-related expenses.
Organizing and funding hackathons and summits.
Directing marketing and promotional initiatives.
Scope
For more information about the scope of the Foundation's work, please refer to the Scope section.

**Ergo Foundation Members**

Justin Simpson has over 13 years of experience in Investment Banking and has been involved with crypto and Bitcoin since 2013. He is now exclusively focused on crypto and is passionate about open, permissionless, and decentralized blockchain platforms.

**Role & Responsibilities**: No official EF duties other than voting. He works in various roles behind the scenes such as investor relations, chinese marketing strategy, banking and accounting and is currently unpaid.
Mark Glasgow works across various roles in Ergo, including community management and developer education. As a Computing Science graduate passionate about improving inclusive systems, he also serves as the Technical Director for Disabled Students UK CIC, a non-profit named one of the most influential disability-led organizations in the UK.

**Role & Responsibilities:** Official duties within the EF are to convey concerns from the community to the EF. Salaried for Community Management/Editorial/Documentation/etc.
Alexander Slesarenko (morphic) is a graduate of Applied Mathematics from Udmurt State University. He has over 25 years of experience in software development in various roles such as team leader, software architect, engineer, and researcher. His main focus has been on programming language design and implementation. He also served as an Expert Team Leader at Huawei Research Lab, focusing on high-performance computing and big data processing. He manages sigmastate-interpreter and other JVM-related development.

**Role & Responsibilities**: No EF duties other than voting. Salaried as a Core Developer (Sigma) but unpaid for EF participation.
Mohammad Hasan Samadani (mhs_sam) holds a PhD in computer science and has over 12 years of experience in security and software development as a product owner, researcher, and team leader. He became a board member of the Ergo Foundation in 2020 after making significant contributions to the development of the Ergo mining infrastructure, Stratum server, and ergopool (a smart contract-based pool to bypass pool resistance of Autolykos v1).

**Role & Responsibilities:** In addition to his voting duties within the EF, he fosters innovation by incubating projects. His notable contributions include the development of Ergo Raffle, ErgoWell, Minotaur-wallet, and the Rosen Bridge.
Joseph Armeanio has been involved in crypto on the investment side since 2013 and was a partner CIO at Big Bear Investments. He has been on the board of the Universal Education Foundation, a 501©3 organization, since 2008. He is passionate about counter-economic frameworks and tools for societal benefit. His role as a business developer involves creating partnerships in the crypto industry, educational partnerships, and research opportunities while promoting the adoption of Ergo tooling in the public and non-profit sectors.

**Role & Responsibilities**: His role in the foundation is related to business development, and has recently co-founded Rosen with mhs_sam.

**Ergo Foundation Officers**

While Officers don’t have voting rights, they work closely with the foundation members, help with discussions, and share insights and critiques to aid them in making better decisions.

Alison Robson (anon_br), serving in Developer Relations, is a software engineer passionate about facilitating crypto adoption through enhanced user experience.

Role & Responsibilities: Director of Engineering/ Developer
 
**Adoption:** work with community developers to support new frameworks, integration, and tooling needed by the development community. (Fleet, Nautilus, Ledger)
Anastasiia Sidorova serves as the Treasurer of the Ergo Foundation. She holds a degree in "Mathematical methods in Economics" and worked as a banking analyst for four years before transitioning into hospitality. However, her passion for Analytics and Accounting has always remained.

**Role & Responsibilities:** Official duties include; Producing financial reports, maintaining internal accounting, payroll, secretarial services & compliance.

**Angie Har:** Graduated a Masters degree in International Management. Angie has served as the Head of Customer Service for a company group, Business Development and Marketing for a Tier 1 media business and several product companies. The scope of her work has covered a broad outlook in the digital sector. An expert in crypto marketing, Angie has worked in the blockchain indusrty since 2017.

**Role & Responsibilities: Managing the editorial team, events
Ergo Foundation Advisors**

Daniel Friedman is a Strategic Advisor to the Ergo Foundation. He began his professional career as a developer for a San Francisco-based software company, 2Bridge. After relocating to Japan, he became CTO of an Osaka-based software development firm specializing in Augmented Reality mobile applications. He serves as a strategic advisor to the Ergo Foundation Board and a business developer for IOHK.

**Role & Responsibilities:** Supports the EF Business Development with advice. Acts as an ambassador for Ergo, and engages with the community on weekly AMAs and elsewhere.

**Other Personnel**

Alexander Chepurnoy (kushti) has been active in the blockchain field since 2011. He has authored over twenty academic papers and has more than fifteen years of experience in software development. Prior to co-founding Ergo, he co-founded smartcontract.com (now Chainlink), served as a core developer at NXT, and was one of the first employees at IOHK, where he held the positions of Research Fellow and Team Scorex Manager. He manages any bounties relating to the eference client repository and keeps a watch over sigma-rust development and any other high-level development and research not covered otherwise.

**Role & Responsibilities**: Alex stepped back from the Foundation January 2024 to focus solely on development, you can see his announcement post here. He plans to launch a DevelopmentDAO and is currently speaking to interested parties. He will continue to manage communications between developers and EF going forward.
The Ergo Foundation is made up of a diverse group of individuals, including salaried employees, volunteers, bounty collectors, and independent project developers within the Ergo ecosystem. It's important to note that there is no designated 'core' development team. The Core Marketing team, for instance, is a mix of dedicated community members and salaried professionals. Similarly, contributors who have made significant additions to core repositories may be invited to participate in Core Development discussions, regardless of their employment status.

The current composition of our full-time personnel is as follows:

**Editorial/Marketing**

**Andy Lowe**: Video Editor

**Sean Rice**: Editor

**Eva Qing:** Chinese Community Management

Marcelo Roncatti (Marcello) is a Brazilian multifaceted designer and art director working over 20 years in the graphics and visual arts Co-Founder and Partner of the graphic design studio called Estudio Colletivo, a multidisciplinary design office that works on branding projects, graphic design and interface design.

**Development**

In addition to the developers within the foundation members and officers,

**soysor (ross-weir)**: sigma-rust

**Benjamin Schulte:** Wallet Developer (part-time)

**Dmitry Usov:** Front-end Developer
However, most development is done through bounties and publicly logged here

**Ergo Foundation:** Two members receive a salary for their contributions to the ecosystem, while two others are rewarded with a small amount of ERG. Both kushti and Justin choose not to receive any compensation.

**Marketing**: Four individuals are compensated for their efforts. Further details can be found in the relationship to marketing section.

**Development:** Three individuals are salaried, with additional contributions being covered by bounties. For more information on this structure see the relationship to development section.

The Ergo Foundation

## **The Scope of the Ergo Foundation**

The Ergo Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the adoption and development of the Ergo Platform. Its primary focus is to support the Ergo Platform in providing an efficient and secure way to implement financial contracts, the most widely used application of blockchain technology.

**Mission and Principles**

The Ergo Foundation is committed to the following principles:

**Organic and Non-Breaking Development:** The Foundation ensures that protocol changes are approved not only by miners - who express their will directly on the blockchain - but also by users and projects building on top of Ergo. This approach promotes a gradual and non-disruptive evolution of the Ergo Platform, fostering stability and continuity for the ecosystem.

**Open-Source and Permissive Licensing**: The Foundation is committed to maximizing the number of valuable ecosystem developments accomplished in open-source with the least permissive license possible. This philosophy encourages collaboration, transparency, and community-driven innovation, while minimizing barriers to entry and fostering a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem.

**Privacy and Trustless Environments**: The Foundation is dedicated to helping build trustless environments, smart contracts, and payment frameworks for the public with privacy in mind. Ergo's strong focus on privacy and decentralization aligns with the Foundation's mission to empower individuals and promote financial sovereignty.

**Community-Driven:** The Foundation believes that the Treasury should be distributed mainly to the community, including freelancers, hackers, experts, and enthusiasts. This approach recognizes the vital role of the community in driving innovation and growth, and aims to cultivate a thriving and self-sustaining ecosystem.


**Key Areas of Focus**

The Ergo Foundation's efforts are focused on several key areas that are essential for the growth and success of the Ergo Platform.

**Infrastructure**

Support for protocol research, development of the reference client, alternative clients (if needed), libraries, and developer tooling. The Foundation recognizes the importance of a robust and well-maintained infrastructure to support the Ergo ecosystem.

Improving market access by getting Ergo listed on centralized exchanges, hardware wallets, bridges, or other means. Increasing the accessibility and liquidity of Ergo is crucial for its widespread adoption and integration into the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

**Education**

Creating materials to educate developers and users directly or funding their creation through third parties from within the community. The Foundation understands the importance of knowledge-sharing and capacity-building to foster a thriving and knowledgeable community of developers and users.

**Promotion and Outreach**

The Foundation aims to promote the adoption of Ergo through various outreach and promotional efforts. While its operations in this area are conservative, it does fund a select few roles for areas not currently met by the community, such as:

Angie Har, Editorial & Events Manager (salaried)
Andy Lowe, YouTube Manager (hourly)
Sean Rice, Editor (hourly)
Eva Qing, Chinese Outreach Manager (hourly)
Marcelo Roncatti, Branding Advisor (hourly)
Writers (via paid bounties)
Their efforts ensure ample information is available about ongoing developments on Ergo via blog posts and social media, as well as the promotion and operation of various events, such as Ergo Summit and ErgoHack. These initiatives aim to raise awareness, foster community engagement, and attract new users and developers to the Ergo ecosystem.

**Wen 'Marketing?'**

The Ergo Foundation takes a principled approach to marketing and promotion, focusing on empowering community-driven initiatives and fostering organic growth. For ethical and legal reasons, the Foundation does not directly control outward marketing efforts. Instead, it aims to support and enable community-driven innovation through initiatives like the Ecosystem Grant Framework and donations to community-led projects like the Sigmanauts.

Network effects have been a significant driver of value creation in the tech industry, accounting for approximately 70% of value creation over the past 23 years. For a grassroots, third-generation blockchain like Ergo, this figure is likely even higher. While the Ergo Foundation strives to lay the foundations and help ignite community outreach and compounding growth, the ultimate promotion and adoption of Ergo rests principally on the shoulders of the community. The Foundation's role is to empower and support the community's efforts, fostering a self-sustaining and vibrant ecosystem. (Get Involved!)

The EF does not commonly pay for influencers or ad campaigns and does its best to restrict frivolous spending, which is deemed not cost-effective (i.e., airdrops, giveaways). This approach reflects the Foundation's commitment to responsible and sustainable growth, focusing on building a strong foundation and fostering a vibrant community rather than relying on short-term marketing tactics.

The outreach department highlights projects building in the ecosystem. However, these initiatives do not constitute an endorsement from the Ergo Foundation. The Foundation will always use best practices to vet projects and ensure that there is no risk for potential users. Still, in the early stages of development, it is often unknowable if anything of substance will ultimately be produced. This cautious approach aims to protect users and maintain the integrity of the Ergo ecosystem.

**Development**

The Ergo Foundation's relationship with development is primarily focused on areas where there is a demand not met by the community. This role is expected to diminish over time as the community grows and takes on more development responsibilities. The Foundation recognizes the importance of fostering a self-sustaining and community-driven ecosystem, where the community plays an increasingly prominent role in driving development efforts.

Some Ergo Foundation members also hold developer positions, although their development activities are separate from their foundation involvement. For transparency, these roles are listed below:

Morphic manages JVM-related developers (Wallet devs, Scala devs, etc.) and the sigmastate-interpreter. (salaried)
Mark Glasgow manages this documentation and various other developer-adjacent tasks. (salaried)

Mohammad Hasan Samadani (mhs_sam) manages a team of graduates and PhD students who have produced Ergo Raffle, ErgoWell, Minotaur-wallet, and Rosen Bridge. (rewarded until April 2024 - now working on a volunteer basis)

Fleet-sdk is managed by Alison Robson (anon_br). (salaried)
Additionally, outwith the EF members, we fund a few roles in development.

Dmitry Usov manages the Ergo website and works on various other projects such as the DexyGold front-end. (salaried)
The rest of the funds spent on development go towards bounties on the repositories given below
The Ergo Foundation also pays for the hosting and bandwidth costs for several pieces of infrastructure such as the website and explorer. This support ensures the availability and reliability of critical resources for the Ergo ecosystem.


**Code Repositories Supported by the Ergo Foundation**

The Ergo Foundation DAO LLC provides funding for the development, evolution, and maintenance of various software repositories. There are two levels of funding:

Development Funding: Involves funding for research, development, maintenance, and bug fixing.
Maintenance Funding: Involves only bug fixing and minor issue resolution to support existing applications. Repositories in this category are considered deprecated. While being part of the core ecosystem, they will receive maintenance support for existing applications. Developers are encouraged to migrate and discouraged from relying on these software.

**Development Funding**

The repositories in this section are the main focus of funding support by the Ergo Foundation. They are part of the development roadmap for the core ecosystem. Developers are encouraged to rely on these software and join development efforts.

Ergo reference client
Sigma
Appkit
Oracle Core
Fleet
Sigma-rust-mini
ergoplatform.org
docs.ergoplatform.org
EIPs
Nautilus

**Maintenance Funding**

The repositories in this section are still part of the core ecosystem; however, they are no longer part of the Ergo Foundation's development roadmap. This means the Ergo Foundation will only support maintenance and critical fixes in these repositories. Funding is provided on an issue-by-issue basis, and each attached bounty is subject to approval by the Ergo Foundation (morphic, anon-br).

Scrypto

Scorex-util

Debox

Ergo Wallet App

Explorer Frontend

Explorer Backend

Sigma-rust

**Hosting**

ergoplatform.org
explorer.ergoplatform.com

**Grants and Ecosystem Support**

The Ergo Foundation recognizes the importance of fostering a vibrant and diverse ecosystem. To support this goal, the Foundation provides grants to various projects that contribute to the growth and development of the Ergo ecosystem. These grants aim to fund innovative ideas, promote collaboration, and drive progress within the community.

Some notable grant recipients include:

Spectrum Labs: Received $128,200 to support their work on developing ergodex for the Ergo ecosystem between June 2021 and January 2022.
Rosen Bridge: Awarded $272,400 for the period between May 2022 and April 2023 to fund the development of the Rosen Bridge, a cross-chain bridge connecting Ergo with other blockchain networks.
The Ergo Foundation remains committed to supporting promising projects and initiatives that align with its mission of fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within the Ergo ecosystem. By providing financial assistance through grants, the Foundation aims to empower developers, researchers, and community members to explore new ideas and contribute to the overall advancement of the Ergo platform.

**Code Audits**

The Ergo Foundation does not review or endorse any code specifically. While code reviews are sometimes performed by Ergo Foundation members due to their expertise in this area, this does not constitute an endorsement. Users should be aware of their assumptions when interacting with experimental DeFi protocols. (See - Know Your Assumptions)

This approach reflects the Foundation's commitment to transparency and user education, acknowledging the inherent risks associated with experimental technologies and the importance of individual responsibility in the decentralized ecosystem.

**Exchange Listings**

For a detailed overview of current efforts, view the public grist.

The Ergo Foundation, as a legal entity, is primarily responsible for liaising with centralized exchanges. Ergo has been listed on several exchanges, including three Tier 1 exchanges (KuCoin, gate.io, Huobi). A Tier 1 exchange is defined as an exchange that appears in the top 10 of exchange ranking sites such as defillama.com/cexs.

Exchange discussions and details are typically confidential due to Non-Disclosure Agreements ('NDA'). However, we can share some general insights:

Listings are usually expensive.
Exchanges generally do not buy liquidity or any of the native tokens or coins on the open market. Instead, a third-party Market Maker ('MM') is used, which has access to an API with a preallocated amount of ERG and USDT to create a liquid market. The MM can only buy/sell and lacks the credentials to withdraw assets.
The Ergo Foundation has approached all major exchanges, and none have been rejected due to high costs.
If you're wondering why certain coins are listed and Ergo is not, it could be due to several reasons:

They are a native asset on an already integrated chain (e.g., ERC20, Cosmos), which requires less effort to add and maintain.
They may have venture-capitalist funding and connections, which can be leveraged for early listings.
They may have a smaller public distribution than ERG and can negotiate with exchanges for a percentage of their total supply.
They may be less complex than Ergo, with no native asset support, no need to worry about UTXO dust, etc.
They may be older than Ergo and were listed during the last bear market.
Even though they are a unique Layer-1, they may only have a wrapped asset (e.g., on BSC) listed.
The Ergo Foundation is committed to expanding Ergo's presence on exchanges. However, certain factors such as low volume or market cap can affect our eligibility for listing on some platforms. This is not due to a lack of effort or resources but rather the nature of the crypto market and the specific requirements of different exchanges.

We are also exploring the possibility of listing as wrapped tokens on exchanges, which could reduce barriers for high-quality tier ⅔ exchanges and help build up our access and volume. We are actively pursuing discussions with a global on-ramp to increase access for US users.

While Ergo's fundamentals are strong, the decision to list a coin often comes down to factors such as profitability and ease of integration for the exchange. However, we believe that as Ergo's DeFi ecosystem matures and volume builds up, more exchanges will recognize its value and list it.

In the meantime, we continue to prioritize development and community engagement over artificially inflating volume or engaging in questionable practices. We believe this approach will lead to sustainable growth and long-term success for Ergo.





The Scope of the Ergo Foundation

## **Ergo Foundation Treasury**

**Quick Navigation**

[Ergo Foundation Treasury](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/ef/ef-treasury/#ergo-foundation-treasury)

[Quick Navigation](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/ef/ef-treasury/#quick-navigation)

[Initial Allocation](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/ef/ef-treasury/#initial-allocation)

[Holdings](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/ef/ef-treasury/#holdings)

[Wallets](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/ef/ef-treasury/#wallets)

[Salaries](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/ef/ef-treasury/#salaries)

[Historic Spending](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/ef/ef-treasury/#historic-spending)

[Votings](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/ef/ef-treasury/#votings)

**Initial Allocation**

The Ergo Foundation initially received an allocation of 4,330,776 ERG, which is equivalent to 4.43% of the total supply.

A significant portion of this Treasury has been expended for the benefit of the Ergo protocol and community. Even during periods of low ERG price, the Foundation continued to invest in order to foster and grow the Ergo ecosystem.

**EFYT**

Additionally, the Treasury exchanged 1,782,615 ERG for EFYT, a token issued on the Waves Platform in 2017 to build an early community through airdrops and raise funds before the Ergo mainnet launch.

After subtracting the 1,782,615 ERG exchanged for EFYT, the Ergo Foundation was left with 2,548,161 ERG, which is approximately 2.6% of the total supply.

For more information on Ergo's emission schedule, tokenomics and allocation, visit the emission section.

**Holdings**

As of July 2024, the complete treasury of the foundation is as follows:

![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333723570831888384/image.png?ex=6799ee5e&is=67989cde&hm=cb565735014cfe0afb592b673ecc648fd9468ef0dd18cc3ddd5f52d9e98d688b&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=664&height=846)


**Liquid vs Illiquid Funds**

The Ergo Foundation's treasury consists of both liquid and illiquid assets, providing a diverse portfolio to support the growth and development of the Ergo ecosystem. The liquid assets, such as ERG and BTC, can be readily utilized for various purposes, while the illiquid assets, like Gluon, SPF, and RSN tokens, are held strategically to avoid exerting downward pressure on these early-stage projects.

As these projects mature and their tokens become more liquid, the Ergo Foundation will have the opportunity to leverage these assets to further augment its expenditure capabilities and support the Ergo ecosystem more effectively.


**Wallets**

You can find the Ergo Foundation treasury and current balance on-chain at the following locations:

EF Multi-sig for ERG + Tokens
Hot Wallet managed by the Treasurer when sending payments.
EF BTC Multi-sig

**Salaries**

Several receive monthly salaries or rewards for their contributions to the Ergo ecosystem. The vast majority were promoted from within the community after exceptional contributions, demonstrating the Foundation's commitment to recognizing and rewarding talent within the Ergo community.

An average breakdown of how people in Ergo are awarded.


![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333724200753692684/image.png?ex=6799eef4&is=67989d74&hm=a8a0eefabf3ece888934addfcce76c7235066f16f222912b0619d3500112f9cd&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=1006&height=796)

**Historic Spending**

The Ergo Foundation has spent the majority of the Treasury for the benefit of the protocol and community. Funds were even spent when the ERG price was low, as it was necessary to bootstrap the thriving community Ergo now boasts.


![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333724576533844021/image.png?ex=6799ef4e&is=67989dce&hm=66439f3c8343cc5b210641fb5a51fae761778c07f7a2b131b21884988c255c08&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=943&height=846)

**Votings**

The Ergo Foundation members and officers discuss proposals before putting them to a formal vote on the ergoforum, passed with a majority of voting members.

Before voting on spending treasury funds, we will approach the Good Whale Fund, DarkFund0, or suggest creating a Raffle if appropriate.

Foundation votes this year are usually related to our internal structures, exchanges, market-makers, banks, and grant requests.

![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333725214089019442/image.png?ex=6799efe6&is=67989e66&hm=3c6f6cd42409dfd54301e31fbfae808d0cd92057e306fe0c9a512ebcc7d254a5&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=660&height=846)


Ergo Foundation Treasury

## **The Ergo Foundation's Future**


**Initial Role of the Ergo Foundation**

The Ergo Foundation's initial role was to bootstrap the Ergo ecosystem in the early years and build the necessary infrastructure to facilitate adoption, addressing the 'hard side' of Ergo. This has led to the vibrant ecosystem we see today, with:

Over 300 community developers
More than 100 active contributors in the weekly developer chat on Discord
Hosting multiple events annually
Over 140 projects developing on Ergo (see sigmaverse.io for an overview)
Consistently ranked among the top 100 for development activity on artemis.xyz

**The Future**

As time progresses, the Ergo Foundation's importance should diminish, and responsibility should transition towards the community. This shift is essential for the ecosystem's strength and decentralization.

The Ergo Foundation may continue to exist indefinitely as a legal entity, primarily serving to mitigate counterparty risk in interactions with centralized entities. In the interim, it will continue to foster the development of applications and protocols that align with its foundational objectives:

Promoting blockchain technology for societal benefit
Advocating for truly decentralized infrastructure
Upholding privacy as a fundamental human right
The optimal strategy involves diligent work and the development of robust infrastructure to accommodate potential liquidity shifts from existing systems. Emphasis should be placed on user security, privacy, and long-term resilience. While the timing and nature of these shifts cannot be precisely predicted or controlled, strategic positioning can prepare us for various outcomes.

The generous contributions from ecosystem projects to the Foundation's treasury ensure its sustainability, enabling it to fulfill this mission until it becomes redundant.

**The Sigmanauts Program**

The Sigmanauts Program is a grassroots initiative aimed at empowering individuals to take ownership of Ergo and shape its future. The program was launched to build the required structures to pass the baton to the community, enabling individuals to take ownership and contribute to Ergo's development.



The Ergo Foundation's Future

## **Developer DAO**

The Developer DAO (DevDAO) is a decentralized autonomous organization focused on research, development, and maintenance of the Ergo protocol and its associated infrastructure. The DevDAO aims to promote transparency, scalability, and community involvement in the core development efforts of the Ergo ecosystem.

This page is adapted from ErgoDevs - R&D DAO for Ergo core on ergoforum

**Motivation**

Currently, the development of core repositories and infrastructure projects is not transparent enough and lacks scalability. Additionally, the promotion of the Ergo protocol, ErgoScript, and dApp development on Ergo is not being done effectively. The establishment of the DevDAO aims to address these issues by scaling core development and education efforts.

**Scope**

The scope of the DevDAO includes:

Research: Blockchain (PoW and PoW-based protocols, privacy-enhancing protocols, sidechains, optimistic and ZK verification of off-chain computations), and monetary (alternative monetary systems on the blockchain, stablecoins, mechanism design in tokenomics)
Core development: Reference client implemented in Scala repositories (debox, scorex-util, scrypto, sigmastate-interpreter, ergo), and parts of the protocol implemented in Rust (sigma-rust)
Infrastructure: Libraries and open-source wallets (AppKit, Fleet, Nautilus, ergo-wallet)
Oracle pool framework
ChainCash (as an assembler level for monetary innovations, such as local exchange trading systems)

**Vision**

The DevDAO envisions Ergo as Digital Gold 2.0, a mineable digital commodity with trustless derivatives and expressive contracts. By building upon Ergo's robust DeFi ecosystem and introducing sidechains, the DevDAO aims to expand the decentralized monetary base and derivative money supply, creating a more inclusive and accessible financial system for the Ergo community and beyond.

**Completed Milestones**

The Ergo platform, with the support of the Ergo Foundation and community developers, has already made significant strides in developing its infrastructure and DeFi ecosystem. This includes launching basic infrastructure such as wallets and explorers, as well as a wide range of DeFi tools and trustless derivatives, such as:

SigmaUSD stablecoin (Djed protocol)
Spectrum DEX (AMM-based)
ErgoMixer (non-interactive, non-custodial mixer)
ErgoAuctionHouse (peer-to-peer auctions)
SigmaFi (peer-to-peer loans via bonds)
Duckpools (lending pools)
ErgoRaffle (decentralized crowdfunding)
EXLE (uncollateralized lending)
SigmaO (trustless options)
HodlCoin (trustless ERG derivative with non-declining price)
AuctionCoin (emission via auctions)
Oracle Pools (federated transparent data providing)
Rosen Bridge (two-layered federated bridge)
These tools collectively contribute to the creation of more trustless collateral through various means such as AuctionCoin, OptionCoin, and fair initial mining offerings. As a result, Ergo's decentralized monetary base and derivative money supply continue to grow. It's worth noting that the entire DeFi ecosystem on Ergo is built upon its unique ErgoTree/ErgoScript contractual layer, also known as Sigma, which provides a secure and flexible foundation for the development of complex financial applications.

**Upcoming Milestones**

Looking ahead, key milestones include:

The launch of new DeFi tools such as Paideia, Dexy/Gluon stablecoins, ChainCash, Analog Ergo, and OptionCoin
Implementing sidechains with trustless transfers and various consensus mechanisms (merged mined with ERG, other blockchains, or double merged mined)
Expanding Ergo's contractual layer to sidechains, incorporating features like Bulletproofs-based sigma protocols and elevating certain contracts to first-class citizens
Experimenting with scalability solutions like sharding on sidechains
Utilizing ERG and other tokens on Ergo and sidechains from launch, fostering a rich and diverse DeFi ecosystem
Launching existing applications on sidechains, contingent on modifications to the contractual layer
By achieving these milestones, the DevDAO aims to establish Ergo and its Sigma layer as a central hub for UTXO PoW blockchains with powerful smart contract capabilities.

**Monetization Strategies**

To ensure the sustainability and growth of the Ergo ecosystem, the DevDAO is exploring various monetization strategies, such as:

Receiving a percentage of sidechain token emissions, similar to the Ergo Treasury contract
Offering consultancy services and support for launching applications on sigma chains
These strategies will help fund ongoing development and foster a thriving community of developers and users around the Ergo platform, in collaboration with the Ergo Foundation and the wider Ergo community.

**Goals**

Organize discussions on research topics, EIPs, and workshops
Find funding for bounties and salaries
Maintain existing infrastructure, improve existing protocol-related code and libraries, and explorers
Bring thousands of new developers into Ergo dApp development by creating and promoting tutorials and dApp examples
Support the needs of dApps and wallets
Help with auditing and testing dApps

**Committees**

To track the achievement of the goals mentioned above, the DevDAO has several committees. Every DevDAO member may be a member of one or more committees:

Research committee
Scala core committee
Rust core committee
Infrastructure committee
Education committee
ChainCash and monetary innovations committee

**Funding Sources**

Ergo Foundation (EF)
Projects on Ergo (e.g., Gold Cooperative is already sponsoring Oracle Pools and ChainCash development)
Crypto funds

**Funding Mechanisms**

Bounties
Sponsorship of part-time and full-time developers
Grants

**Development Plan**

**Q1 2024**

**Research:** Initial sidechain prototyping (no p2p, tests showing block generation, verification, and transfer for a sidechain having only cross-chain support features mentioned in the ErgoHack whitepaper)

**Node:** RocksDB, UTXO set scanner, sub-block based blocks propagation EIP and basic entities

**Sigma: **6.0 planning and versioning code for serializers, new methods, new types

**Sigma-Rust:** Planning further development (costing, 6.0 support)

**ChainCash**: Tests for refund, contracts for custom tokens, another presentation

**Oracle pools:** Planning further development, final audit of EIP, considering dev rewards in contracts

**AppKit: **To be determined
Other repos: Planning further development

**Education: **To be determined

**Q2 2024**

**Research**: Design docs for concrete sidechains, plan for research in other fields, forming research group

**Node:** The simplest sidechain with p2p support, subblocks based propagation in the testnet
**Oracle pools**: EIP merging, releasing oracle pool version with dev rewards support, considering extensions (for delivering sport events, etc.)

**Sigma: **6.0 implementation

**Sigma-Rust**: To be determined

**AppKit**: To be determined

**Other repos:** To be determined

**Education:** To be determined

**Q3-Q4 2024**

**Research:** To be determined

**Node:** Sub-blocks support in mining API and weak confirmations API, another p2p level audit, refactoring, tests for p2p layer

**Oracle pools:** To be determined
Sigma: 6.0 audit and tests, 6.0 activation, planning further development

**Sigma-Rust:** To be determined

**AppKit**: To be determined

**Other repos:** To be determined

**Education:** To be determined

**Note**: The areas marked as "To be determined" indicate that it is challenging to plan precisely how a direction will be shaped in a specific time period, as it depends on the contributions from the community, including you! With the establishment of the DevDAO, things should become more transparent and better planned.



Developer DAO

## **Sigmanauts: Empowering the Ergo Community**

**Introduction**

Ergo, as outlined in its Manifesto, is a platform designed for the common person, standing against the centralization of banking and the misuse of money. The future of Ergo lies in the hands of its users, and we encourage everyone to take as much control of the Ergo ecosystem as possible. The Sigmanauts Program is a grassroots initiative aimed at empowering individuals to take ownership of Ergo and help shape its future.

**The Power of Community**

Ergo's blockchain has the potential to bring out the best in humanity, and its rapidly growing community is one of its most significant assets. The Sigmanauts Program provides a platform for individuals to make a substantial impact on the future of finance by leveraging their unique skills and strengths.

**Categories of Participation**

The Sigmanauts Program offers three categories of participation:

Growth: Ideal for those with marketing expertise, connections to other projects, or skills that can help expand the community and attract diverse individuals.
Community: Perfect for individuals interested in roles such as ambassador, moderator, or translator, fostering a welcoming and engaging environment for all members.
Creative: Suited for graphic designers, videographers, writers, or social media experts who want to showcase their talents and contribute to the visual and narrative aspects of the Ergo ecosystem.

**Becoming a Sigmanaut**

To become a Sigmanaut, interested individuals must go through a formal application process. Once accepted into the Sigmanauts Program as a SigCAN (Sigmanaut Candidate), participants will have the opportunity to work with a team of like-minded individuals, showcase their skills, and make a significant impact on the Ergo ecosystem.

**Progression and Responsibility**

As SigCANs contribute to the Ergo ecosystem and demonstrate their commitment and abilities, they will have the opportunity to become full-fledged Sigmanauts. This progression brings greater responsibility within the community, allowing individuals to take on leadership roles and guide the future direction of the Ergo platform.

**Training and Support**

The Sigmanauts Program offers comprehensive training designed to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to the development of the Ergo ecosystem. This training covers various aspects of decentralized finance, blockchain technology, and community building, ensuring that Sigmanauts are well-prepared to tackle challenges and seize opportunities within the Ergo community.

**Collaboration and Networking**

As a Sigmanaut, individuals will have the chance to interact with others who share their passion for financial privacy and decentralization. The program fosters a collaborative environment where Sigmanauts can learn from one another, share ideas, and work together towards common goals. This networking opportunity is invaluable for personal growth and professional development within the blockchain and cryptocurrency space.

**Sigmanauts Mining Pool**

The Sigmanauts Mining Pool is a DAO-driven, community-run mining pool dedicated to supporting the Ergo ecosystem. Joining the pool contributes to the Ergo community (fees go to the Sigmanauts treasury) and offers hourly bonus token payments. The pool boasts a minimal 0.9% fee, a payout threshold of 0.5 ERG, and operates on the PPLNS payment method (Pay Per Last N Shares, with N set to 0.5).

To get started with mining Ergo, you need an Ergo wallet and mining software compatible with your GPU. Detailed instructions on wallet setup, mining software, and example miner configurations for both Windows and Linux can be found on the Sigmanauts Mining Pool page.

**Sigmanauts Achievements**

Since its launch, the Sigmanauts Program has made significant strides in building the required structures to pass the baton to the community. Some notable achievements include:

01/22: The Sigmanauts Program is launched.

01/23: sigmanauts.com launches.

03/23: Sigmanauts voting rework.

03/23: Mission Statement published.

00/23: The Sigmanauts attend their first event @ RareEVO.

00/23: The Ergo Foundation donates 160,000 SPF to the Sigmanauts treasury.

00/23: The Sigmanauts begin managing the Ergo_Foundation Twitter account.

00/24: Sigmanauts Mining Pool launches.

01/24: The first proposal on Paideia passes.

03/24: The Sigmanauts officially take over management of the Market-Making services.

03/24: In recognition of the Sigmanauts' dedication and hard work on securing the MEXC listing, the Ergo Foundation provides a substantial grant matching the amount raised by the Sigmanauts.

Sigmanauts: Empowering the Ergo Community

Entities

## **Ergo Events**

Ergo hosts a variety of events to engage with the community, share updates, and foster innovation. These events provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about Ergo, interact with the team, and contribute to the ecosystem.

**ERGOHACK and ERGOSUMMIT**

Our flagship events, ERGOHACK and ERGOSUMMIT, are held regularly. These events bring together developers, enthusiasts, and thought leaders from the Ergo community. Visit the respective pages to learn more about past events and stay updated on upcoming ones.

**AMAs and Dev Update**

We host weekly Ask Me Anything (AMAs) sessions and regular Developer Updates on Reddit. These sessions provide insights into Ergo's development progress and offer a platform for the community to ask questions directly to the team.

**Join the Community**

To stay updated on all Ergo events, join our Discord community. You can also explore other community spaces to engage with Ergo enthusiasts from around the world.



Ergo Events

ERGOHACK

## **ErgoSummit**

**ErgoVersary 2023 (July 1-3rd)**

For our fourth anniversary we hosted a jam-packed summit with two dozen videos. Check out the full playlist on YouTube

**Ergo Summit 2022: Privacy & Security**

This event will featured presentations and discussions by developers and blockchain experts on the state of DeFi, where it needs to go, and the DeFi solutions that are being built on Ergo.

[Upgrading Macroeconomic Policy via Softfork | Dionysis Zindros](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OrHmBaBn9E)

[Decentralizing the Internet | Johnny Wu](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGcp_T3AiWk)

[Weekly Update & AMA - Feb 18, 2022 PART 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-6PNEq8dEs) & PART 2

Blockchain Privacy and Security Explained | NiceHash
SmartPools - the Future of PoW Mining | GetBlok
Trustless AI Training | PGWAD
Bringing Bitcoin to Ergo | Frosty
Dev Update Feb 20th | ErgoHack, Games, Wallets, NFTs, Mixer upgrades + more
The Deep Ocean Dark Pool Protocol | Oliver Cracknell
Ergo: A Platform for Cryptographic Applications | Kushti
ErgoSummit I#
00:00:00 - The Summit
00:01:00 - Ergo 101: The Basics
00:40:00 - Cardano & Ergo’s UTXO Model
01:11:30 - DeFi Services: How Yoroi Wallet will be the gateway to Ergo dApps and what’s to come
01:32:30 - Auction House
01:49:30 - Announcing The Release Of The AgeUSD Stablecoin Protocol
02:18:00 - An IOHK Perspective: Designing The AgeUSD Stablecoin Protocol - An Economic Analysis (with Special Guest IOHK’s Bruno)
03:02:00 - AgeUSD Smart Contracts: A Technical Perspective
03:41:00 - Enter Into The Sigmaverse - Uncovering What Lays Within Ergo’s dApp Ecosystem
03:47:30 - Ergo-Bootstrap - Streamlining Ergo dApp Infrastructure With One Simple Tool
03:59:30 - Headless dApps: A Novel Technical & Business Model for the dApp Industry
04:28:00 - Ergo - Cardano Collaboration
04:38:00 - Understanding dApp Developer Tooling: An Introduction To Kiosk
05:13:00 - The Upcoming Ergo Hardening Upgrade - How It Will Change The Ecosystem From Top To Bottom
05:26:30 - Oracle Pools Update - How Deviation Checking Consensus Improves Assurance
05:57:00 - Updatable dApps In The EUTXO Model
06:10:00 - Blockchain 2020: A DeFi Odyssey
06:51:00 - The Ergo Vision
07:03:00 - ZK Treasury
07:07:00 - Understanding dApp Developer Tooling: An Introduction To Json dApp Environment
07:45:30 - The Ergo Foundation’s Grant-Based Approach To Developing The UTXO-Based dApp Ecosystem
08:05:30 - 2021 Ergo Roadmap reveal

[More...](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/events/ergosummit/#ergo-summit-2022-privacy-security)



ErgoSummit

Events

## **Contributing to Ergo**

Ergo thrives on an open model where contributions from everyone are welcomed and valued. Whether you're a developer, marketer, or just an enthusiast, there are numerous ways you can contribute to Ergo's growth and development.

For Developers: If you're a developer, check out this guide to learn how you can contribute to Ergo's codebase and technical infrastructure.
For Marketing: If you're interested in marketing, this guide provides information on how you can help promote Ergo and increase its visibility.
Those who want to take a more involved role in the ecosystem should apply to the sigmanauts programme.

'Let's create grassroots finance!'

**Ergo's Funding**

The Ergo Foundation maintains a small treasury to support the growth and development of the Ergo ecosystem. For more information about Ergo's funding and tokenomics, please refer to the following resources:

The Ergo Foundation Transparency Report 2022: This report provides a detailed overview of the Ergo Foundation's financial activities in 2022.

Emission & Tokenomics: This article explains Ergo's emission schedule and tokenomics model.

Contributing to Ergo

## **Developers**

How to Contribute as a Developer#
If you're interested in contributing to Ergo as a developer, here's how you can get started:

Join the Ergo Community: Connect with other developers and Ergo team members on our Discord Server. Make sure to enable the development channels for relevant discussions.

Explore Opportunities: Visit our Bounties and Grants pages to find out about the ongoing projects and tasks that you can contribute to.

Submit Your Work: Once you've completed a task or project, you can submit your work for review.

Submitting Payment Requests#
If you've completed a bounty, you can submit a payment request. Here's how:

Draft an Email: Write an email detailing your claim and send it to team@ergoplatform.org.
Include Relevant Details: Make sure to include all necessary details in your email, such as the platform where the bounty was announced or a reference to the bounty page.
Attach Evidence: Attach any documents, files, or links that showcase your completed work.
Provide Your Ergo Address: This is where we will send your bounty reward.
We appreciate your contributions and look forward to working with you!



Developers

## **Bounties**


Welcome to the Ergo Bounties page! This is your gateway to contributing to the Ergo community and being rewarded for your valuable efforts. We offer a variety of bounties across different programs, including educational and development initiatives, all aimed at fostering growth and innovation within the Ergo ecosystem.

**How to Claim a Bounty**

Have you completed a task or achieved a goal that aligns with our bounties? If so, you are eligible to claim your reward. Here's how you can do it:

Draft an email to team@ergoplatform.org detailing your claim.
Make sure to include all relevant details in your email, such as the platform where the bounty was announced or a reference to this page for the mentioned bounties.
Attach evidence of your completed work. This could be documents, files, or links that showcase your contributions.
Remember to include your Ergo address. This is where we will send your bounty reward.
To streamline the processing of your bounty claim, we encourage you to include the estimated time it took you to complete the task. This helps us understand the effort you've put in and allows us to expedite the review and reward allocation process.

**Active Bounties**

**Educational Reward Program**

The Educational Reward Program is designed to stimulate the creation of educational content that benefits the Ergo community. We believe in the power of knowledge-sharing and empowerment as key drivers of growth. If you have educational content, even if it's not explicitly mentioned here, it could still be eligible for a reward. We invite you to contribute any educational materials that can enrich learning experiences.

At present, we are actively rewarding contributions to Developer Tutorials and Guides. These rewards are open to contributors of all skill levels. If you have valuable insights or knowledge to share, you can submit your educational contributions directly to our documentation repository. Visit this link to make your valuable contributions.

**Development Reward Program**

The Development Reward Program is our way of acknowledging and appreciating significant contributions to the Ergo repositories. If your contributions have significantly enhanced the development and improvement of the Ergo ecosystem, you could be eligible for a reward. You can find the details and guidelines for this program here.

We deeply appreciate the time, dedication, and expertise you invest in enhancing our ecosystem. By participating in our mission to improve educational materials and drive development within the Ergo community, you are playing a crucial role in the collective growth and success of the platform.



Bounties

## **Funding Opportunities**

We suggest that your initial step should be to launch a Raffle. A Raffle not only provides a clear funding goal, but it also validates the community's support and can be supplemented by additional grant or foundation funding.

For projects of a larger scale, multiple grant programs are at your disposal. You can seek funding through the Good Whale Fund or the DarkFund0. These platforms offer you the opportunity to introduce your project to the community, highlighting its potential impact and significance.

If you favor a more direct approach or if your project has unique needs that are not catered to by these platforms, you can send your grant request directly to us. Reach out to our team at team@ergoplatform.org with your proposal.

Funding Opportunities

## **Career Opportunities at Ergo**

While the Ergo Foundation does occasionally advertise full-time positions, these roles are often specialized and senior in nature. A more direct pathway to becoming a key member of our team is by engaging with our compensated bounties. These tasks not only allow you to make substantial contributions to our mission but also provide an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of our platform.

Moreover, active participation in our ecosystem discussions can help you identify areas where your unique skills can have an impact. We value diversity in knowledge and perspectives, not just technical expertise. Whether you're a developer, a researcher, or simply an Ergo enthusiast, your insights can significantly contribute to Ergo's growth and success. This active involvement serves as an excellent stepping stone towards a potential long-term collaboration with us.

Career Opportunities at Ergo

## **Marketing**

**How to Get Involved in Community Marketing**

Ergo has a lively and diverse community made up of various sub-ecosystems. Here’s how you can get involved and make a difference:

**Join the Conversation**

Telegram and Discord: Dive into discussions on our Telegram group or the #marketing channel on Discord. These are the main hubs for community marketing efforts, where you can collaborate, share ideas, and help steer our grassroots initiatives.

**Contribute to Our Wiki**

Ergonaut.space: Help expand our comprehensive Wiki at ergonaut.space, available in over forty languages. Your contributions can make Ergo more accessible to a global audience.

**Create and Share Content**

Shared Figma Space: Enhance your visual content or team up on design projects using our Shared Figma Graphic Space.
Graphics and Logos: Access a wide range of graphics via our Dropbox, or get official Ergo logos from awesome-ergo.
Infographics and Memes: Create infographics that explain complex concepts in an easy-to-understand manner or memes to generate buzz and engagement on social media.
Videos: Produce videos explaining what Ergo is, its unique features, and updates. Share these on YouTube, TikTok, or other video platforms to reach a broader audience.
Blog Posts and Articles: Share your knowledge and insights by writing blog posts or articles about Ergo. Publish them on your own blog, Medium, or other platforms. Well-written content can help attract new users and investors.
Paid Contributors Program: We offer a paid contributors program for writers. Technical writers are in high demand, and your contributions can be rewarded. Check out the Ergo Documentation for more information.

**Engage in Community Outreach**

Participate in the ErgOne initiative: ErgOne is a Proof-of-Commitment Protocol (PoCoP), a unique approach to blockchain engagement. PoCoP rewards active participation in promoting and supporting the Ergo ecosystem. By creating and sharing content, engaging with the Community, and contributing creatively, you earn $Erg0ne tokens. Your involvement is measured by a Virality Score, ensuring fair distribution of rewards. Simply tag your tweets with #PoCoP and submit them to the ErgOne dashboard
Local Meet-Ups and Events: Organize or participate in local meet-ups and events to promote Ergo. These can be informal gatherings, presentations at local blockchain events, or even booths at conferences.
Webinars and Live Streams: Host webinars or live streams to discuss Ergo’s latest developments, answer questions, and engage with the community in real-time.

**Collaborate and Spread the Word**

Influencer Partnerships: Partner with influencers in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space to spread the word about Ergo. Influencers can provide valuable exposure and lend credibility to the project.
Guest Appearances: Participate in podcasts, YouTube shows, or other media where you can talk about Ergo and its potential.
Social Media: Promote Ergo on platforms like Nostr, Bsky, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and subreddits. Wherever people gather online, there’s an opportunity to spread the word about Ergo.
Ergo Forum: Check out various strategies and tips on the Ergo Forum to enhance your marketing efforts.
Community Engagement and Support#
Help New Users: Be active on community forums, Discord, Telegram, and social media to help new users with their questions. Providing a welcoming environment can help retain new community members.
Feedback and Suggestions: Actively provide feedback and suggestions to the Ergo development team. Your insights can help improve the platform and ensure it meets the community’s needs.
Proof of Work: Show your dedication by creating and executing marketing initiatives. If your work gains traction and community support, consider running a raffle to fund further promotion (e.g., local events, stickers, etc.).
Regional Managers: If you're passionate about setting up a regional Ergo branch, managing local chats, organizing meet-ups, and fostering a thriving community, we’d love to hear from you. Engage with the community, demonstrate your capabilities, and your proactive involvement could lead to a more significant role.

**Fundraising and Crowdfunding**

Crowdfunding Campaigns: Organize crowdfunding campaigns to fund specific projects or initiatives within the Ergo ecosystem. If you have a great marketing idea, consider launching a crowdfunding campaign to gather support from the community.
Create Raffles: Organize community raffles to raise funds for marketing initiatives. Engage the community by offering exciting prizes and using the proceeds to support various marketing efforts.
Sigmanauts Treasury: The Sigmanauts have a treasury that is available for community suggestions on how to best spend it. If you have an idea for a marketing campaign or initiative, propose it to the Sigmanauts for potential funding.
By actively participating and demonstrating your commitment, you can help drive Ergo's growth and increase its visibility in the blockchain space. Your contributions, big or small, make a significant impact in building a stronger and more vibrant community.

Marketing

## **Sigmanauts: Empowering the Ergo Community**

Introduction#
Ergo, as outlined in its Manifesto, is a platform designed for the common person, standing against the centralization of banking and the misuse of money. The future of Ergo lies in the hands of its users, and we encourage everyone to take as much control of the Ergo ecosystem as possible. The Sigmanauts Program is a grassroots initiative aimed at empowering individuals to take ownership of Ergo and help shape its future.

The Power of Community#
Ergo's blockchain has the potential to bring out the best in humanity, and its rapidly growing community is one of its most significant assets. The Sigmanauts Program provides a platform for individuals to make a substantial impact on the future of finance by leveraging their unique skills and strengths.

Categories of Participation#
The Sigmanauts Program offers three categories of participation:

Growth: Ideal for those with marketing expertise, connections to other projects, or skills that can help expand the community and attract diverse individuals.
Community: Perfect for individuals interested in roles such as ambassador, moderator, or translator, fostering a welcoming and engaging environment for all members.
Creative: Suited for graphic designers, videographers, writers, or social media experts who want to showcase their talents and contribute to the visual and narrative aspects of the Ergo ecosystem.
Becoming a Sigmanaut#
To become a Sigmanaut, interested individuals must go through a formal application process. Once accepted into the Sigmanauts Program as a SigCAN (Sigmanaut Candidate), participants will have the opportunity to work with a team of like-minded individuals, showcase their skills, and make a significant impact on the Ergo ecosystem.

Progression and Responsibility#
As SigCANs contribute to the Ergo ecosystem and demonstrate their commitment and abilities, they will have the opportunity to become full-fledged Sigmanauts. This progression brings greater responsibility within the community, allowing individuals to take on leadership roles and guide the future direction of the Ergo platform.

Training and Support#
The Sigmanauts Program offers comprehensive training designed to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to the development of the Ergo ecosystem. This training covers various aspects of decentralized finance, blockchain technology, and community building, ensuring that Sigmanauts are well-prepared to tackle challenges and seize opportunities within the Ergo community.

Collaboration and Networking#
As a Sigmanaut, individuals will have the chance to interact with others who share their passion for financial privacy and decentralization. The program fosters a collaborative environment where Sigmanauts can learn from one another, share ideas, and work together towards common goals. This networking opportunity is invaluable for personal growth and professional development within the blockchain and cryptocurrency space.

Sigmanauts Mining Pool#
The Sigmanauts Mining Pool is a DAO-driven, community-run mining pool dedicated to supporting the Ergo ecosystem. Joining the pool contributes to the Ergo community (fees go to the Sigmanauts treasury) and offers hourly bonus token payments. The pool boasts a minimal 0.9% fee, a payout threshold of 0.5 ERG, and operates on the PPLNS payment method (Pay Per Last N Shares, with N set to 0.5).

To get started with mining Ergo, you need an Ergo wallet and mining software compatible with your GPU. Detailed instructions on wallet setup, mining software, and example miner configurations for both Windows and Linux can be found on the Sigmanauts Mining Pool page.

Sigmanauts Achievements#
Since its launch, the Sigmanauts Program has made significant strides in building the required structures to pass the baton to the community. Some notable achievements include:

01/22: The Sigmanauts Program is launched.
01/23: sigmanauts.com launches.
03/23: Sigmanauts voting rework.
03/23: Mission Statement published.
00/23: The Sigmanauts attend their first event @ RareEVO.
00/23: The Ergo Foundation donates 160,000 SPF to the Sigmanauts treasury.
00/23: The Sigmanauts begin managing the Ergo_Foundation Twitter account.
00/24: Sigmanauts Mining Pool launches.
01/24: The first proposal on Paideia passes.
03/24: The Sigmanauts officially take over management of the Market-Making services.
03/24: In recognition of the Sigmanauts' dedication and hard work on securing the MEXC listing, the Ergo Foundation provides a substantial grant matching the amount raised by the Sigmanauts.

## **Contributing to the Documentation**

We appreciate your interest in contributing to our documentation. Your assistance is invaluable, and we aim to make the contribution process as straightforward as possible.

Prerequisites for Contribution#
Before you start contributing, ensure you have the following set up on your system:

A GitHub account for version control and collaboration.
Python (3.7 or higher) if you plan to build the documentation locally.
How to Contribute#
There are two ways you can contribute to these docs:

Minor Changes#
For minor changes, simply log into GitHub, click the edit arrow at the top-right of this page. After saving, you'll have the option to open a pull request.

Major Changes#
For major changes, you'll need to set up your development environment locally. Follow these steps:

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/ergoplatform/ergodocs.git
Install dependencies:

cd mkdocs-project
pip install -r requirements.txt
Build the project:

mkdocs build
Start the development server:

mkdocs serve
Open the documentation in your browser:

http://127.0.0.1:8000/
Make your changes locally and submit a pull request when you're done.

**Guidelines**

**Writing Style**

Write in clear, concise, and grammatically correct English.
Use appropriate formatting, such as bold or italics, to emphasize key points.
Keep paragraphs and sections short and focused on a single topic.

**Code Style**

Follow the code style conventions used throughout the project.
Include comments and explanations to make the code easy to understand.
Use code-blocks with syntax highlighting.

**Commit Messages**

Write clear, concise, and meaningful commit messages.
Use the imperative form, e.g., "Add feature" rather than "Added feature" or "Adding feature".
Use sentence capitalization, i.e., capitalize the first letter of the message, but not the rest.

**Notes#

**Navigation**

The mkdocs navigation is built using mkdocs.yml. To add, remove or modify pages in the navigation, edit the nav section in the mkdocs.yml file.

**Directory Structure**

The directory structure should follow this pattern:


- Parent Directory:
    - index.md
    - Sub-Directory:
        - SubDirectoryPage: subdirectorypage.md
    - ParentDirectoryPage: parentdirectorypage.md

**TODOs**

To leave comments in the file itself and have them not visible on the live site, you can use the HTML comment codes:



Submitting a Pull Request#
When you're ready to submit your changes, follow these steps:

Commit your changes to a new branch:

git checkout -b my-feature-branch
git add .
git commit -m "Add my awesome feature"
Push your changes to your fork:

git push origin my-feature-branch
Open a pull request on the original repository:
Go to the original repository on GitHub and click on the "Pull Requests" tab. Then, click on the "New Pull Request" button and select your fork and branch to create the pull request.

Please include a descriptive title and a detailed description of your changes.

**Review Process**

Once your pull request is submitted, our team will review your changes. We may request additional changes or clarification before merging your pull request. Please be patient, as we want to ensure that the documentation remains high-quality and consistent.

**MkDocs formatting**

rST suggests the following “types”: attention, caution, danger, error, hint, important, note, tip, and warning; however, you’re free to use whatever you want.


/// admonition | Some title
    type: warning

Some content
///
Some title

Some content


/// note | Some title
Some content
///
Some title

Some content

note, attention, caution, danger, error, tip, hint, warning.

note

Some note

caution

Some caution

danger

Some danger

error

Some error

tip

Some tip

hint

Some hint

warning

Some warning

Contributing to the Documentation

Contribute

## **Wallets**

**Primary Wallets**

**[Nautilus](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/wallet/nautilus/)**: Nautilus is celebrated within the Ergo community for its widespread use and intuitive interface. Operating as a web-based browser extension, it facilitates seamless interaction with the Ergo ecosystem via a dApp connector, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of decentralized applications. Its extensive feature set includes asset management, NFT functionality, and transaction capabilities. A dedicated dApps section features a wallet optimization tool for UTXO consolidation, which helps reduce storage rent costs. Nautilus also provides a privacy mode and efficient management of connections to various Ergo ecosystem dApps.

**[Ergo Mobile Wallet (Terminus on iOS](https://ergoplatform.org/en/ergo-wallet-app/)**): This mobile wallet is a community favorite for its user-friendly interface on smartphones, allowing for smooth token and NFT exchanges. It supports the receipt, transfer, and storage of $ERG and NFTs. It also enables the creation of secure offline cold wallets in flight mode and the recovery of funds through any EIP3 compliant wallet. The Ergo Mobile Wallet includes read-only watch wallets with fiat value comparison and the ability to scan QR codes for easy payments.

**[Satergo](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/wallet/satergo/)**: Satergo is a desktop node wallet tailored for the Ergo platform, offering an accessible solution for users who prefer to run a full node. It supports the Ergo network and provides comprehensive wallet features, making it a suitable option for those looking for both ease of use and advanced wallet functionalities.

For a detailed comparison of wallet features, refer to the feature overview section further down this page.

**Secondary Wallets**

**[Node Wallet](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/node/install/)**: This desktop wallet interfaces directly with the Ergo blockchain. For those not involved in development, Satergo is generally recommended as a more user-friendly alternative.

**[SAFEW Wallet](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/wallet/safew/)**: SAFEW is a web-based wallet with integrated dApp and ErgoPay connectors, offering a robust set of tools for developers. It provides access to ErgoMixer, features an advanced transaction builder in Expert mode, and includes a range of sophisticated features.

**[Minotaur Wallet](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/wallet/minotaur/)**: The Minotaur Wallet stands out for its multi-signature security feature, requiring multiple approvals for transaction execution, which increases security for shared wallet management and reduces the risk of centralized control. As it is still under development, installation on mobile devices may present some challenges.

**[Ergo Paper Wallet](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/wallet/paper-wallet/)**: This paper wallet is designed for simplicity and ease of use, facilitating straightforward token transactions within the Ergo ecosystem. It is a self-custodial option that prioritizes security, allowing users to generate their wallet completely offline. The standalone file can be downloaded from GitHub, and users can generate their wallet by opening the file in a web browser without an internet connection, ensuring enhanced security. It is an excellent choice for gifting.


**Feature overview**

![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/980490396356476938/1333744818521636884/image.png?ex=679a0228&is=6798b0a8&hm=b83f39a8f71efcd36af9fb0e3479f8e47254c3731a0850d610e7d414dfbd7442&=&format=webp&quality=lossless&width=653&height=846)



Other Wallets#
These wallets are generally not recommended, but are left here for archival purposes.

Viawallet: A multi-chain wallet offering by CoinEx.
Zelcore: A wallet provided by Flux, with third-party services.
URL Wallet: A temporary wallet solution where your key is in the URL. Recommended for temporary use cases only due to security concerns.

**Funds stuck in Yoroi?**

If you have your Ergo wallet open in Yoroi and know the password for it, you can use this tool to decrypt the wallet and send all funds to a new wallet of yours. Alternatively, check the access issues page for troublehooting other issues.

**Resources**

Ergo Wallet Wonderland: Exploring the Best Wallet for Your Needs
SwiftAPI
iOS (Tethered) Beta | Ergo Light Client | Community | Requires a full node

Wallets

## **Access Issues**

This page provides solutions to common access issues that users may encounter with their Ergo wallets. It covers scenarios where you have your seed phrase but the restored wallet doesn't contain any ERG or shows a different address, and situations where you do not have your seed phrase. It also provides instructions on deriving additional addresses and best practices for storing your seed securely.

Your seed phrase / mnemonic
A wallet is simply an interface for the blockchain, if you have your seed phrase, simply restore in one of our wallets

I have my seed phrase but the wallet restored doesn't contain any ERG and is a different address#
Were you using the Ergo mobile wallet or the Ergo Reference Client?
Yes: Try deriving additional addresses.
Was the wallet created before October 18th, 2022?
Yes: There was a BIP32 key derivation bug impacting certain wallets. Verify if your wallet was affected using satergo.com which checks this for you when you restore.
How did you record your seed phrase?
Written down: Are any characters hard to read or ambiguous? Refer to the BIP-39 wordlist for clarification.
Screenshot: Are you sure this mnemonic represents the wallet you are trying to recover?
I do not have my seed phrase#
using Yoroi?:
Yes: Decrypt the wallet using yoroi-ergo-wallet-recover
iOS Terminus / Ergo Mobile Wallet:
Do you still have access to the mobile wallet/Terminus but are facing a 'User not authenticated' error?
Yes: This error often indicates a change in device credentials, possibly due to biometric changes or system updates.
No: Explore other recovery options
Were you using the iOS Beta version?
Yes: The developer may be able to reactivate the beta if asked nicely. Ensure to attempt resolving it yourself first.

**Deriving Additional Addresses**

Ergo node uses a secret root key (derived from seed) for the change address

**In the Ergo Mobile Wallet / Terminus**

Does the address that's been generated belong to the wallet you've restored? Check the derivation index and derive up to that number in wallet config -> addresses -> derive more

Simply select the wallet

**In the Reference Client/Node**

Navigate to localhost:9053/swagger#/wallet/walletDeriveKey

Click "Try it out"


"derivationPath": "m/44'/429'/0'/0/0" 
The wallet needs to be unlocked, and you need to authorize on top right on swagger
Click execute and check the address you get in the response
Best practices for storing your seed securely#
If you've followed the steps above and managed to recover your funds, please store your seed inline with these best practices below to avoid further issues.

**Avoid Digital Storage**: Never store the seed phrase on digital devices prone to hacking.

**Physical Writing**: Write the seed phrase on paper or durable materials like metal.

**Secure Storage:** Keep it in a safe or lockbox, protected from theft and environmental damage.

**Redundancy:** Have multiple copies in different secure locations.

**Splitting**: Divide the seed phrase and store parts separately for added security.

**No Cloud Storage**: Avoid using cloud services for storing the seed phrase.

**Limit Access**: Restrict knowledge of the seed phrase's location to only essential individuals.

**Regular Checks**: Periodically verify the condition and security of the stored seed phrase.

**Use Reputable Services**: If using third-party storage, ensure they are trustworthy.

**Stay Informed**: Keep up-to-date with security practices and threats.

**Plan for Emergencies:** Arrange for the safe transfer of your seed phrase in case of death or incapacitation.

Access Issues

## **MultiSig**

A multisig wallet is a “digital wallet that operates with multisignature addresses. This means that it requires more than one private key to sign and authorize a crypto transaction or, in some cases, that several different keys can be used to generate a signature.” This type of wallet is valuable to an ecosystem because it adds a second layer of protection to the end user. A multisig wallet requires everyone with a private key to confirm the transaction for it to be authorized and executed. This provides an added layer of security for protection against hacks because an attacker would need all of the private keys to gain access to the wallet's funds.

Although the general cryptocurrency market continues to demonstrate bearish patterns, the ethos of Ergo stands strong with numerous developers and projects working to help build the new standard of blockchain security and utility. Intricate technological solutions and applications are consistently being brought forth in the Ergo ecosystem.

Please read this page for full details about the Minotaur multisig wallet and how to install and use this exciting new product.

MultiSig

## **Ergo's Social Contract**

The Ergo protocol is very flexible and may be changed in the future by the community. In this section, we define the main principles that should be followed in Ergo which might be referred to as Ergo's Social Contract.

In case of intentional violation of any of these principles, the resulting protocol should not be called Ergo.

**Decentralization First.**

Ergo should be as decentralized as possible: any parties (social leaders, software developers, hardware manufacturers, miners, funds and so on) whose absence or malicious behavior may affect the security of the network should be avoided.
If any of these parties do appear during Ergo's lifetime, the community should consider ways to decrease their impact level.

**Created for Regular People.**

Ergo is a platform for ordinary people, and their interests should not be infringed upon in favor of big parties.
In particular, this means that centralization of mining should be prevented and regular people should be able to participate in the protocol by running a full node and mining blocks (albeit with a small probability).

**Platform for Contractual Money.**

Ergo is the base layer to applications that will be built on top of it.
It is suitable for several applications but its main focus is to provide an efficient, secure and easy way to implement financial contracts.

**Long-term Focus.**

All aspects of Ergo development should be focused on a long term perspective.
At any point of time, Ergo should be able to survive for centuries without expected hard forks, software or hardware improvements or some other unpredictable changes.
Since Ergo is designed as a platform, applications built on top of Ergo should also be able to survive in the long term.
This resiliency and long term survivability may also enable Ergo to be a good store of value.

**Permissionless and Open.**

Ergo protocol does not restrict or limit any categories of usage.

It should allow anyone to join the network and participate in the protocol without any preliminary actions.

Unlike the traditional financial system, no bailouts, blacklists or other forms of discrimination should be possible on the core level of Ergo protocol.

On the other hand application developers are free to implement any logic they want, taking responsibility for the ethics and legality of their application.





Ergo's Social Contract

## **Security Audit**

Ergo has successfully passed a security audit of certain (most critical) parts of the code. The audit was performed by Jean-Philipee Aumasson (aka veorq, aumasson.jp/).

The detailed report is below. Nothing critical is found. Comments on issues found:

On wallet password, we'll provide a recommendation in subsequent versions of the protocol client. Not sure hard enforcement on passwords will take place, but we'll do more consultations on this.

Changing "n" and "k" parameters makes sense only when launching a new network. Changing these parameters in the mining node will make blocks produced invalid for other nodes. Changing these parameters in the protocol client means going on another fork (blocks coming from the honest protocol participants will be rejected). So no need for extra checks, as people launching new networks will set "n" and "k" properly.

Currently, the Ergo node (as well as other blockchain protocol clients and wallets we're aware of and the cryptographic libraries we're using) does not protect from side-channel attacks running locally (e.g. timing attacks or memory inspection by malware or viruses). So please protect the machines you're running wallets on!

Ergo security assessment by Jean-Philippe Aumasson on 07/Dec/19

Summary#
Ergo solicited us to perform a security assessment of several components of their Ergo Platform:

Sigma protocol proofs creation and verification
Wallet's secure storage of secrets
Proof-of-Work validation
​This brief report summarises our assessment and describes our findings and mitigation recommendations.

Sigma protocol proofs#
​The Ergo protocol relies on ErgoScript, a scripting language supporting sigma-statements, which can be proven and verified through non-interactive proofs of knowledge.

These proofs are statements described as a tree of AND, OR, and threshold conditions, whose leaves are proofs of knowledge of a discrete logarithm problem.

The proof of the sigma-statement is then made non-interactive thanks to the Fiat-Shamir transform.

This logic is specified in the ErgoScript paper, and the specific proving and verification routines described in Appendix A.

​Implementation challenges are then to:

Define encoding of the proofs that are safe and efficient, and implement serialisation and deserialisation that always successfully processes valid input and gracefully fails to process invalid input.

Implement the proving and verification functionalities correctly, in compliance with the specification, and most importantly, no invalid statement can successfully pass verification.

We reviewed these two aspects, based on the code in the repository sigmastate-interpreter, and the ErgoScript paper, carefully comparing the intended behaviour (in Appendix A) with the actual behaviour as implemented.

​We notably reviewed code from the SigSerializer, Interpreter, and ProverInterpreter traits and objects.

​We mainly sought bugs from the following classes:

​Unsafe processing of malformed input
Unsafe processing of unusually long or short input
Behavior when large tree depth or recursion level
Unsafe use Scala types and structures
Inappropriate variable types
Integer overflows
Race conditions
Logic bugs
​Despite the extensive review, we did not identify any security issue.

The protocol's logic and internals are relatively complex, and we believe the highest risk is in parsing and verifying proofs. To exploit such issues, however, an attacker would have to create a semantically correct script that somehow benefits them yet that passes verification when it does not ought to.

Regarding software security, Scala eliminates certain classes of bugs, but Scala code may still suffer from bugs due to Scala's specific behaviour or to unhandled errors.

Wallet#
Ergo's wallet functionality enables its users to store a secret on disk and recover it, initialising the wallet with a new seed when it's first used.

​This logic is mainly defined in ErgoWalletActor, and a key component regarding secrets' storage is JsonSecretStorage.

​The first time a wallet is created, the InitWallet command does the following:

Generate settings.walletSettings.seedStrengthBits random bits, as initial entropy. By default, 160 bits are generated.

Generate a BIP39 from the random bits generated, which can be seen as encoding the entropy bits. The standard BIP39 logic is used with an optional password.

Derive a seed from the mnemonic using BIP39's PBKDF2-based derivation logic.

Encrypt this seed to disk with AES-GCM, using a random nonce, and a key derives from the password using PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 with 128000 iterations, using a random salt.

To unlock a wallet already created, a user provides the password and the wallet attempts to decrypt the stored data.

​A similar process as initialisation is performed to restore an existing account from a BIP39 passphrase, except that the wallet will derive the seed from the mnemonic instead of picking a random mnemonic.

​The two risks we identified here are:

The absence of checks on the password's length: since the password is sufficient to access the seed given the wallet's on-disk stored secret, the password should, in theory, have at least as much entropy as the mnemonic, and in practice, should be practically hard to crack. We thus recommend enforcing a minimal password length, for example of 16 characters.

Copies of secret values (password, seed, and derive private keys) are likely to remain in memory after wallet software execution, an intrinsic limitation of garbage-collected languages such as Scala.

Another process or user sharing the same memory address space could potentially recover the secrets, and they could also appear in crash dumps. To the best of our knowledge, there is no effective mitigation in pure Scala.

​

PoW validation#
​After previously reviewing the security of the Autolykos PoW, we performed another round of review focusing on its latest verification logic, and notably, the changes in the commit eb0f85a.

​The main relevant file is AutolykosPowScheme, and other important operations are for example implemented in HeadersProcessor and ModifierValidator.

​We checked that the implemented verification logic is consistent with that specified in the Autolykos specifications and that it is appropriately integrated into the block header validation logic.

​We believe the following points should be addressed:

Stricter validation of k and n: although the class enforces k<=32 (number of elements in the solution) and n<31 (log2 of the total number of elements), weak could still be created from the authorised parameters. The validate() function may therefore have additional validation that n and k are equal to the intended values.

Assert that k and n are positive values, since currently negative ones (as Int's) would pass theassert` statements.

Security Audit

## **The Howey Test and Ergo**

The Howey Test is a legal framework used to determine whether a financial instrument, such as the ERG token, qualifies as an "investment contract" under US securities law. The test, named after the Supreme Court case SEC v. Howey, establishes the criteria for determining whether a transaction constitutes an investment contract.

The Howey Test has four criteria that must all be met for an instrument to be considered an investment contract: investment of money, common enterprise, reasonable expectation of profits, and entrepreneurial or managerial efforts of others.

**Application to ERG Tokens**

ERG tokens are regularly traded on cryptocurrency exchanges and can be mined by purchasing hardware and paying for electricity. This suggests that the first and second criteria of the Howey Test may be met.

However, the promotion of ERG tokens within Ergo is focused on improving security and functionality through proof-of-work mining and the advancement of the eUTXO system, rather than as an investment with a reasonable expectation of profits. Furthermore, the original Platform and Foundation developers have not taken steps to increase the market value of ERG tokens or sell them to investors as an investment. Therefore, it is likely that the third criterion of the Howey Test is not met.

The fourth criterion, entrepreneurial or managerial efforts of others, requires that the efforts of those outside the investor are essential to the success or failure of the enterprise. While the Ergo Foundation plays a significant role in the development and functionality of the Platform, the ERG tokens ecosystem is becoming more decentralized and independent of the Foundation or any other centralized entity. Ergo is an open-source and permissionless economy, allowing anyone to build applications or launch tokens without the permission or assistance of the Foundation.

This decentralization will increase over time as more third-party developers bring value to the Platform. The Foundation is community-led and has made great efforts to inform and encourage discussion with the community. If the foundation were to vanish, the development would not need to stop, and miners could extract and spend all of the Foundation's funds through storage rent. Therefore, it is difficult to argue that the success of the Platform and the value of ERG tokens necessarily rely on the Foundation or its members. Overall, the value of ERG tokens is becoming more market-driven and independent of the Foundation, which suggests that the fourth criterion of the Howey Test is not met.

As a result, ERG tokens should not be considered securities for federal securities law purposes.



The Howey Test and Ergo

Privacy and Security in Bitcoin: Dispelling Myths and Enhancing User Protection

Glossary

Common Misconceptions

## **Ergo: The Decentralised Bank Digital Currency For Everyone**

As the blockchain revolution gains steam, one of its most promising opportunities is Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). While CBDCs offer transformative potential, they grapple with a fundamental paradox: reconciling control with innovation. This equilibrium could greatly impact privacy, functionality, and widespread adoption. But what if there were a solution that harmonizes these seemingly conflicting elements? Enter Ergo—a blockchain platform that aims to be the CBDC everyone can use, privately and programmably.

**The Democratization of Programmable Money**

The emergence of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) has opened the gates to programmable money, allowing for sophisticated transactions without the traditional financial sector's limitations. In a similar vein, CBDCs have the potential to offer programmable assets that could easily integrate with a plethora of applications. However, most CBDCs are confined to permissioned ledgers and centralized control, hindering the democratization of programmable money.

Ergo offers a different approach, providing open systems that unleash the transformative potential of digital cash. Imagine sending or receiving money privately and securely between any two entities worldwide, all while enjoying the benefits of programmable features. Unlike systems like Ethereum, which struggle with scalability and high fees, Ergo is designed for efficiency and low-cost transactions. This makes it ideal for micro-transactions, complex financial products, and truly democratizes access to financial systems.

**Guarding Your Financial Privacy**

Privacy is a cornerstone of financial security, and Ergo takes this seriously. Unlike some state-sponsored digital currencies, which are likely to serve as surveillance tools, Ergo offers a secure, private avenue for financial interactions. This ensures that your money remains a medium of exchange and not a subject of scrutiny, granting you the freedom and security that is often missing from traditional financial systems. What's unique is Ergo's optional privacy features—you can choose to make transactions public or private depending on your needs.

Seamless Financial Interactions with Ergo#
As a platform designed with the future in mind, Ergo aims to be at the forefront of technological and financial trends. Whether it’s tokenization, stablecoins, or digital identity, Ergo is developing the financial infrastructure to accommodate the evolving demands of users. In a landscape where traditional and blockchain economies will likely converge, Ergo serves as the bridge between these two worlds, offering the ease and flexibility that a truly global CBDC should have.

Tokenization: The Future of Asset Management#
Ergo understands that in the future, almost everything will be tokenized—from shares and bonds to real estate and precious metals. With Ergo, these tokenized assets become the lifeblood of the decentralized financial world, enabling frictionless trade, borrowing, and leverage, all underpinned by decentralized protocols.

**Stablecoins**: Bridging the Old and the New
Stablecoins offer an underappreciated utility in the DeFi ecosystem. Ergo envisions a two-tier system where a native stablecoin will serve as the primary currency for mainstream users, simplifying transactions and fee payments, while the native token (ERG) will be leveraged by advanced users for mining and other technical applications.

Digital Identity: Enabling Compliant Transactions#
As assets migrate to the blockchain, digital identity will gain prominence, linking online transactions with offline identities. This will facilitate compliant operations and even automate processes like taxation and accounting. Ergo offers decentralized identity solutions that can be used in tandem with smart contracts, removing the reliance on centralized platforms for KYC while still maintaining compliance.

**Beyond Simple Transactions: A World of Programmable Contracts**

With Ergo, financial interactions go beyond just sending and receiving money. The platform allows for complex contractual agreements, enabled by its state-of-the-art blockchain technology. For instance, one could buy gold-backed tokens or even purchase blockchain-based insurance—all without needing a centralized entity or giving up control or privacy.

**Smart Insurance and Beyond**

In Ergo's ecosystem, insurance contracts can be customized and automatically enforced. For example, if you buy gold-backed tokens, you could simultaneously purchase an insurance contract, mitigating risks and ensuring you get the best value for your assets. These kinds of innovations illustrate Ergo's vision for a new era of decentralized finance, where complexity meets user-friendliness.

In sum, Ergo is not just another blockchain platform—it’s the future of money. It brings the promise of CBDCs to everyone, packaged in a form that prioritizes both control and innovation. With Ergo, the landscape of digital currencies is expanded, democratized, and truly global.

Ergo aims to be your go-to platform for financial interaction—transparent yet private, decentralized yet flexible, and most importantly, accessible to everyone. It’s the CBDC for the people, by the people. Welcome to the future of finance. Welcome to Ergo.

Ergo: The Decentralised Bank Digital Currency For Everyone

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Ergo is a next-generation smart contract platform that ensures the economic freedom of ordinary people through secure, accessible, and decentralized financial tools. Backed by a powerful scripting language, advanced cryptographic features, and a foundation rooted in the best principles of blockchain technology, Ergo is poised to revolutionize the concept of Contractual Money.

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