People need to trust the owners of centralized platforms to protect their funds and privacy. On these platforms, a few trusted people control all the information and money, and we voluntarily give away enormous power to those individuals. For the most part, these trusted actors are motivated to uphold their responsibilities by profits and legal privacy acts. However, when the interests of individuals and institutions interfere with each other, it is often the individual who stands in harm's way.

## Digital Identity

In late October 2021, Facebook rebranded to Meta and shortly after an artist on Instagram claimed that their handle, @metaverse, had disappeared. About a month after this situation was announced in the news, the artist was able to reclaim the account. Facebook later claimed that the account was suspended "incorrectly" because of impersonation. 

[The artist explained](https://www.businessinsider.com/instagram-meta-disabled-metaverse-account-facebook-2021-12?r=US&IR=T):

"This account is a decade of my life and work. I didn't want my contribution to the metaverse to be wiped from the internet."

After the news was released on big media platforms, Meta returned the account to the rightful owner. The seizure of this artist’s Instagram handle would not have been possible if identity had been governed by smart contracts. Decentralized root naming services such as [Handshake](https://handshake.org/) and [Unstoppable Domains](https://unstoppabledomains.com/) protect individuals from being compromised by centralized ruling power. Every aspect of our digital identity, such as our social media and e-mail accounts, are stored in centralized services. These services are open to censorship and are obvious targets for hacking attacks.

Whatever the reason, once malicious actors access our accounts and private information, the chance of an individual to recover and delete private information off the internet is very low (if any). Smart contracts can prevent this kind of personal invasion by reducing centralized points of failures and increasing the cost of the attack* with decentralized security. 

## Crowdfunding Platforms

Funding companies such as [Kickstarter impose a fee](https://www.kickstarter.com/help/fees?ref=faq-basics_fees) of over 8% along with credit card payment processors. A charity event can become a profitable campaign for these fundraising companies. Some fees are to be expected, as taxes and expenditures are covered by those companies. Fundraising companies are for-profit third-party facilitators that provide donors and campaigners with a platform to connect. In the Web3 era, people have access to smart contracts with a personal wallet, thereby removing the need for these companies.

[ErgoRaffle](https://ergoraffle.com/) is an incentivized crowdfunding platform governed by Ergo smart contracts. All the funding campaigns are protected from fraud and deception by centralized powers. If funding reaches its goal, it is verifiable on the blockchain that the funds are sent to the receivers. If a campaign does not reach its goal all the donors are refunded automatically. There are 5% fees for a fundraising campaign, yet in the future it is possible to change the parameters of the platform (or simply fork the infrastructure) to deploy personalized funding platforms. 

For crowdfunding platforms that are governed with smart contracts, it is also possible to tokenize the platform. With this structure, there is a possibility to further decentralize the platform and distribute an incentive to individuals in return for their contribution. There are costs to hosting these platforms, yet the marginal costs are expected to diminish as more people pursue funding through decentralized platforms.

## Future Governance

It is worthwhile to consider the intentions for crowdfunding and social media platforms. The companies generally offer services to increase their profits. The governance of the platform stays centralized so when these companies reach a wide user base, they increase their authority and knowledge over the users on their platform. Custodial rights and data privacy are two important features that smart contracts protect. It is up to the individual to decide for themselves. It is preferable to govern for each other and not expect big brother to decide for us.





 *\*Attackers need to pay tx costs and they would need to attack multiple nodes at the same time so it would be harder to detect.*

Smart Contracts: Protection for Digital Identity and Crowdfunding

## Financial Privacy and Public Blockchains

Bitcoin is a public distributed ledger network that is accessible for everyone who wants to verify the state of the blockchain. There are tools such as [Bitcoin explorer](https://bitcoinexplorer.org/) that are interfaces for checking on-chain data and transactions. The transparency of a cryptocurrency is of the utmost importance because Bitcoin is invented to prevent any third-party manipulation. It is also important for people to protect their financial privacy on digital platforms. For this reason, Ergo developed Sigma Protocols: cryptographic proofs that support [optional privacy features](https://eprint.iacr.org/2020/560.pdf) without compromising security. 



Satoshi Nakamoto showed us a genius approach to blockchain technologies by introducing proof-of-work consensus to solve Byzantine General's problem. Bitcoin design eliminates fraud by allowing everyone to validate the network. Cryptographic technology has continued to develop since the Bitcoin genesis block with the recent [Bitcoin Taproot Update](https://ergoplatform.org/blog/2021-11-17-bitcoin-taproot-upgrade-and-ergos-sigma-protocols/). This update integrated Schnorr Proofs to create privacy properties for multi-sig wallets, allowing multiple people to sign a transaction without revealing all the information in the contract.



In addition to Sigma Protocols, Ergo furthers Bitcoin's UTXO design with the implementation of Multi-Stage contracts. Bitcoin's model differs from Ethereum's long-living Accounts model because an address balance is the sum of multiple one-time-living UTXO boxes. [Ergo's extended UTXO](https://dav009.medium.com/learning-ergo-101-blockchain-paradigm-eutxo-c90b0274cf5ehttps://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/protocol/eutxo/) model enables the creation of unlimited new receiving addresses from the same seed key. Users can easily create optional privacy features from every Ergo wallet, whether it be mobile, browser extension or full node. Ergo is not strictly a privacy blockchain however, because you are also in control of sharing read-only information with a public key. The anatomy of the eUTXO model is beyond the scope of this article but for now we will focus on optional privacy features enabled by Sigma Protocols.



## Sigma Protocols: Ergo's Approach to Zero-Knowledge Proofs



[Sigma Protocols](https://docs.ergoplatform.com/dev/scs/sigma/) are a subset of Generalized Schnorr Proofs, the mathematical proofs that help to verify the necessary information to execute a transaction. Cryptographic technology makes servers validate transactions without accessing all the users' data. The founders included Sigma Protocols in the genesis block with the idea that Ergo will be the contractual platform of the future. Blockchains have the potential to become a mass surveillance tool by advertising companies and malicious actors but with the implementation of zero-knowledge proofs optional privacy features are possible.



For example, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are private versions of distributed ledgers. On these networks, users can verify and hide transactions to a certain degree. However, governments and/or other trusted institutions on the network will be able to use mass surveillance tools, censor our transactions, or potentially use our deposited funds in ways we can not control. In Bitcoin, identity is not directly linked to an address and therefore some degree of on-chain privacy exists. CBDCs on the other hand, are open to potential exploitation because every action is processed on centralized servers owned by governments or banks. 



Let’s discuss the concerns about money laundering and black market trades in cryptocurrency. Although only about [1% of Bitcoin TX are labelled as illicit](https://cryptoforinnovation.org/resources/Analysis_of_Bitcoin_in_Illicit_Finance.pdf), cryptocurrencies are often criticized as a platform for money laundering. The [money laundering](https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/finance/money-laundering/) process involves three phases: placement, layering and integration. Cryptocurrencies facilitate the layering phase by opening up cross-border transactions for all, but the black money has to enter and exit through unidentifiable channels. Verifying the sources of income and the production facilities are points where governments can easily intercept this illegal activity since the black market still operates with fiat currencies. 



Zero-knowledge systems are not tools for money laundering - they are tools for building verifiable systems. Currently, any economy with multiple parties involved needs to rely on central data sources for the security of their funds. We can not know how many transactions are happening or how many funds are transferred if we are not the governors. Here, Sigma Protocols can be useful for creating such economies, establishing minimum trust with the power of smart contracts.



## Optional Privacy Example: Trustless LETS 



LETS is an acronym for [Local Exchange Trading System](https://ergoplatform.org/blog/2021-07-01-lets-start-the-discussion/) - a type of mutual credit economy. When considering small economies, LETS can be especially useful during times of crisis. This system can also be seen as a coupon-based system that people will be able to use within their particular trade community in exchange for services and goods. Traditionally, coupon logs are held by a committee database, therefore they are vulnerable to human error.



Ergo’s blockchain provides an infrastructure to build a trustless LETS using Sigma Protocols. In a non-privacy blockchain everything will be transparent but an enterprise could be harmed if their data was exposed to the public. In a privacy-based blockchain, we can not verify how entities (government, charity, banks, etc) are using money. Ergo’s Sigma protocols allow privacy models to be tailored for any economic means by securing the funds on the blockchain’s database. 



If Sigma Protocols gives us power over which information we want to reveal, how can we use it? Let's look at the needs of a few actors in a simple economic community:



**Municipalities:** Needs a high level of transparency with regards to how taxes are allocated

**Charities**: Needs a high level of transparency to properly display spending while maintaining the option to obfuscate donors

**Enterprises:** Needs transparency for tax control but high privacy for sensitive data

**Individuals:** Needs transparency for tax control but high privacy for sensitive data



What is sensitive data? It can be anything from when, where and/or how you completed a transaction. Over time, the accumulation of this data forms a profile that can be exploited by centralized entities. For example: 



* the time you buy your chocolate. 
* the time you made your asset purchase.
* your location and financial habits. 



This information is stored with your bank/credit card provider’s servers under a legal privacy agreement. In a public blockchain, proofs are stored in the nodes with cryptography so we have the option to create zero-knowledge transactions. In our day-to-day lives, individuals are currently prevented from controlling privacy options. With Ergo, every entity’s privacy needs can be respected and maintained through a robust and functional decentralized finance network.

Decentralized Finance and Optional Privacy on Ergo

When it comes to storing your ERG, traditionally Yoroi has been the main choice for many Ergonauts. In the last year, developer MrStahlfelge undertook the initiative to create another option for the community: the Ergo Android Wallet. This wallet has become a popular choice among Android users and recently MrStahlfelge began work to port this wallet to Apple’s iOS. The wallet is now ready and this greatly increases the market share of smartphone users who can now access a mobile ERG wallet. 

If you are an iPhone user, you will be familiar with downloading applications from the App Store directly on your device. For the time being, you will have to add one extra step when downloading the iOS Ergo Wallet. MrStahlfelge recently explained on [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/ergonauts/comments/rkpnck/christmas_is_coming_and_ios_ergo_wallet_app_10_is/) that the extra step is due to the fact that an official Apple Developer Account is needed to release the wallet from the beta version on the App Store. 

It is reasonable to expect that this new iOS wallet will be directly available from the App Store in the near future, but for the time being the extra step in the process is negligible in procuring your new Ergo Wallet on an iPhone. We will guide you through the process.

**Step 1:**

To access beta applications on your iPhone you will need to download Testflight here: <https://testflight.apple.com/join/MRyG2qfm>. 

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/GnOW_PLptr7VL6mRsvEG3zbEWlcc2muLGN0hJNcB6ni-4ks-GRflYgnWRUALhiK-7-dQUHZSGDWR05K73psJM_oEbpSIdnh6wEJ45CE3vgIl-BxqNG8w3Tx1shs4tttnr4-C_DSx)

**Step 2:**

Once Testflight is installed, you can add the Ergo iOS wallet from the same link above (<https://testflight.apple.com/join/MRyG2qfm>). You will see the following screen: 

![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/xoTrcVu0iNidFxAupRzfWLkNUZhTMZITCLAaV0RsBAZH1BMPQJqZJABhHqNholiMwGj1BCmUfXGP6iIhIliG9fO3m6r1T8QRLJ9HJQ57k4qkGuKd7aJ56aECzYuuWlYS3S0bqV3w)

**Step 3:**

From here, choose “Start Testing” for the Ergo Wallet and you will be guided to download the application. That’s it! You now have the iOS Ergo Wallet app on your iPhone!

Once installed, you will have the option of creating a new Ergo wallet, restoring a pre-existing wallet, or viewing a pre-existing wallet in read-only mode.

![](/img/uploads/1ergoios.png)

If you use the application to create a new Ergo wallet, you will be guided through the steps of writing down your 15-word mnemonic phrase. Once the wallet is created and you are issued the wallet’s address, you have the option of securing the keys to this wallet via password encryption (a spending password) or in the device's keychain.

After choosing how you would like to secure the keys to the wallet, you have successfully installed and created a new Ergo wallet on your iOS device. From here, you can access the mobile wallet to send and/or receive ERG. Remember to securely store your mnemonic phrase and spending password in a safe place and never make digital copies of this information. Good old fashioned pen and paper is the more secure way to protect anyone from accessing your Ergo wallet.

iOS Ergo Wallet: How-To Guide

This tool allows users to access useful metrics about Ergo! You can view data on $ERG emission, developer and user growth, oracle pools and SigUSD. Check out the latest blog for details.

Ergo Watch is now live!

Ergo’s new on-chain analysis platform, [Ergo.Watch](http://ergo.watch), is live and Ergonauts can now access useful metrics such as liquidity on exchanges, total value locked in smart contracts, average holding time and SigUSD metrics. A lot of credit is owed to community developer, [abcchris](https://github.com/abchrisxyz/ergowatch), for the creation of this platform.



We advise readers to check out CryptoQuakka’s [thread](https://github.com/abchrisxyz/ergowatch) and to subscribe to his blog for more details.



Ergo Watch has an accessible user interface and allows users to easily navigate and search for information.



![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/66Bhm7kX4qKYhWP3IDhvw1w7zCr11FoBkUAGqSGrRppI01N6RWjNtMtT5bG_LjfOzaxqCZP7VOxsSaQr4sDA6Av3iONT5wKzbEsee8cEzPVlZ33fwmR9G51CqchFLPopEU0EhBC9)



Let’s first take a look at the emission tab. Emission is where a user can access the current circulation of coins, inflation rate and future emission -  it contains all the details and information for the current metrics of ERG supply.



![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/097TXxXAKGd1UYUqqUcgpuKeirQK6DA9YxjKz3ByRd5VH34GFCG_U9UlxQAh3rM-d_U7jAlYavQ8BV43j7MIKf1tCBfkAcGxuweAx7RmUw2e6iu85QWegjghZksga6gL3JPNUfLC)

Next, the Metrics tab is where most of the on-chain information can be found. 



This information can be very helpful for tracking on-chain performance, activity and growth. On-chain metrics represent both the growth of the developer side as well as the growth of the user side with instant data.



![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/cjgkDfIrR_CC5GYHXrUE1F5xhTpwTMh4VE3vsYIYuyK8_mDKej3HDBkMika2nhC-Infzy7x1G1eON9HiUEPOXf8cyXh6_NB03tRt0BLGP_eZkqOJ78zwLRDS-47A3x8nIL67CU-z)



The oracle pools page contains up to date information on current oracle pools. As more people undertake initiatives to run oracle cores, we will be able to track all the oracle pools here.



![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/et2ebpMB992RUAyv61t1vIqwIRo9tmV7ZRJ6v7Lee0ITCcsu-fXtQf1ALea_ZWhmfwdJG0tfV10aYJr1-G5tz1FlmiMDKi8JrzB9HT4hW88h6Rl_dJTSyKqQn8scX098uOZWJCbq)



Last but not least, the SigUSD page allows access to all the on-chain data of Ergo’s [Sigma USD](http://sigmausd.io) stablecoin protocol. Users can check the current (and historical) circulation of SigUSD and SigRSV tokens as well as the current (and historical) price levels from oracles.



![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dLF_z0oAwQwJ2F9pEVA9BAodkNUHc96WrF7JcKt9eUtwY7xuQVjwMIGxy7vt7MyKZUq6WLAaXVu9E17SBl_c7dLldYtsxin4y0akZjLQoMfnI8FgT5XQB4LVHMM_JloCY7Hb6lz3)



It is important that easy access to on-chain data is available to all users so that people can stay informed as to what is happening on the blockchain. Blockchains are created to give people access to more financial tools and on-chain verifiability lets users know that there is no point of centralized failure. Ergo is made to create equity and easy access to products and information, as opposed to the opacity of traditional systems.

Ergo Watch: A Platform for On-Chain Analysis

During ErgoHack II, a community member initiated an ETH/USD oracle connector project!. The ETH/USD oracle pool is now live on the Ergo mainnet and can be seen on [Ergo Explorer](https://explorer.ergoplatform.com/en/oracle-pools-list). The ETH/USD connector is implemented similarly to the ERG/USD connector contract using the Oracle Core - a framework for deploying oracle pools of any asset on Ergo Platform.



Ergo Platform’s Oracle Core design facilitates setting up different oracles. With just 15-20 lines of code, almost anyone can deploy a connector to the Oracle Core. 



Oracles are the messengers between on-chain and off-chain data. Any kind of information verification between two parties will necessitate involving oracles. Therefore, decentralized exchanges, decentralized betting platforms, etc. will have to use the oracle services to get the information.



If you wish to verify the ETH/USD connector, learn about Oracle Core, and possibly launch your own connector, we recommend you check out the [GitHub release](https://github.com/Luivatra/oracle-core/tree/eth-connector).



Oracles are the backbones of decentralized finance, and they always need to have more validators. In order for oracles to be even more stable, they need to be more decentralized. As more people deploy their own pools as financial incentives increase, Ergo oracle pools will become more and more commonplace in DeFi ecosystems.

ETH/USD Oracle Pool Now on Ergo!

Hello Ergonauts! We would like to announce that the Ergo Android Wallet now has a “Cold Wallet” option - one of the most secure ways to store ERG coins. A Cold Wallet works similarly to a hardware wallet, which means it works as a closed system without an internet connection. 



You can securely sign your transactions with your non-connected Android device. Because it is not connected to the internet, there is no way that your secrets can get stolen. All desktop/browser/mobile wallets have the same vulnerability: a device that is connected to the internet. With the Cold Wallet however, your device will stay off-line and your wallet will not have a point of entry.



To use your Cold Wallet to send transactions you will of course need an internet connection, but you use a separate gateway device that does not access the secrets of your Cold Wallet. This gateway device can be your daily device (or hot wallet) so that you will be able to send funds from your Cold Wallet to any address.



The Cold Wallet functions off-chain so that you will not need internet for your Cold Wallet device. When functioning off-chain, your Cold Wallet will produce single-time QR codes to verify your transaction via the use of your gateway wallet. Using your gateway wallet and one-time QR codes, you will be securely using the Ergo Platform.

Currently, the Cold Wallet release is reachable only in beta version. Google Play market allows new releases through beta, although it is completely secure to use it.



Please check MrStahlfelge’s [tutorial video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maau3TDC19k) for the details on this new feature as well as his detailed explanation.

Ergo Cold Wallet

As the Ergo ecosystem grows, our community can now enjoy the functions for several of our key dApps. Ergo has a stablecoin protocol where users can mint SigUSD and SigRSV tokens. Ergo Auction House offers the ability to mint NFTs and ErgoDEX (Beta) allows you to swap tokens and provide liquidity. These are the very first, unique and complex DeFi dApps on the UTXO model - a model that Bitcoin pioneered. It has often been debated whether the UTXO model can express rich smart contracts, much like the Accounts model. That is why Ergo Platform built the ErgoScript language from scratch in an effort to progress on Bitcoin’s legacy.



*For an in-depth comparison about UTXO and Accounts models, please read our previous blog post:* [Ergo: Advancing on Bitcoin](https://ergoplatform.org/blog/2021-08-17-ergo-advancing-on-bitcoin/)



As an Ergonaut, you may have experienced some confusion if you have checked the explorer to view your transaction details. The UTXO model is essentially different from the Accounts model via the use of “boxes'' for data-keeping. In the Accounts model, there is a single account where you receive your coins. In the UTXO model however, every tx (transaction) creates a new box and your balance is the sum of all the boxes linked to your addresses.



To be clear, your Yoroi private key can consist of more than one box in a single address to hold your coins.

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/qxEWrauKaD8yEXAjwXFzlikSNAXFeAxSPwuxUolS410Xf5HgOzJh_1vCL6YOfFfOyWnBhxLVIWZ0scz4BbIF9w4Tm_9aywTKo3EIrvG0zSPhCIPvLoyrlwgvZCHWHqEfXZb43klV=s0)



As you generate a new address, you will create a secondary box to hold your coins. After it is created, you can send funds to this new address and your funds will be seen as one with your private key. You can create an infinite number of new boxes to hold your coins. As such, every receiving and spending action will also create an additional unique box.



This feature can create misconceptions by the user at first glance. When you make a transaction, the network scans your “boxes” to verify if you have your tokens and then initiates the transaction. 



Things get complex after this point because you can not guess which boxes are going to be spent. Imagine you have three different receiving addresses. You received a couple of coins in each of them and you want to spend some of your coins. In a Yoroi wallet, you can hold any Ergo native coins such as SigRSV or SigUSD. When you initiate a transaction that accesses the boxes of these coins, you will see that they are taken away and then redeposited. Recently, an Ergonaut raised the following [question](https://www.reddit.com/r/ergonauts/comments/prn7x3/comment/hdty87z/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3): 



“I just created a Yoroi Nightly wallet. I transferred 31 Erg from my main Yoroi wallet to the Yoroi Nightly wallet. The transaction shows 31 Erg plus a small fee, 0.0011. But it also says +92,000 SigRSV. My balance shows no change in SigRSV. What is the meaning of the +92,000 SigRSV in the transaction?”



Let’s take a look of the details of this particular [transaction](https://explorer.ergoplatform.com/en/transactions/143f5ba0ee1482d332d1020c94f261399f220c7f4523063ade8290c478acbd29):



![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/HOFhlYx5l3wvUzET-wa9E4dhU8az4srODa_4n09qZm3y-gWQz1L9Obw5qobgQM5Bthokn8SYMuO13cLDNEW5fqbboSj3qAwf2rzYH1rHkyvaoDsIMSDa3zwJU31s5XLEc_n5VbZ0=s0)



To make a transaction of 31 ERG,  the wallet selected three of the boxes with ERG:

* A box containing 0.029595 ERG that was received on 07/19/21
* A second box containing 19.76 ERG that was received on 07/19/21
* A third box containing 208.26 ERG that was received on 06/09/21 



On the left section of the image above, you will see approximately 228 ERG taken while on the right section you will see 31 ERG sent and 197 ERG redeposited to your wallet.



So your wallet used three of your boxes to spend the desired amount. This action includes all the assets in that box to the transaction. 



After the desired amount is spent, your funds are simply refunded to your address in a newly created UTXO box or boxes. Spending any coin in a box therefore means spending the whole box and creating a new UTXO box, which is why you see your tokens are taken away and then redeposited.



The selection of which boxes to spend is a secret of the wallet’s random selection strategy. Whatever coins are in the selected boxes, be it SigRSV, SigUSD or NFT, will be displayed as in the example. 



### To sum up: 



The Accounts model contains a single box and this box is not spent. It remains the same so non-related coins will remain unaffected.



The UTXO model on the other hand contains a set of boxes that represents the total amount of the users balance and the unspent transaction output has to change with each spending transaction.  



You may see a long list of tokens when swapping just 5 SigRSV as below:![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/wK-uprlqrj6wKt74AODkxBt6xR5Dey_qGB4kclXm5OuhWz2nfIuBTZm412oFA1h0OHXRi_oGcx6y7jR6A6kRcgpAUU7vSaQrfAMY6lKzdzy8THl2Hh2uEMzHjs5M5Sdlly6DO8f4=s0)



This is just how UTXO model Transaction works - its storage is different from the Accounts model. In the UTXO model, coins will be stored in one-use UTXO boxes and not in long-living accounts.

UTXO Model Transaction


We’re pleased to announce the release of Ergo’s first mobile wallet! This app was built on top of [Ergo Appkit](https://github.com/aslesarenko/ergo-appkit) - Ergo’s official SDK - and has been [audited by the Ergo team](https://twitter.com/ergoplatformorg/status/1417039106576633857). If you still hesitate to add your secrets to it: you can also use it without giving your mnemonic. You won't be able to send funds then, but you can track your balance.

Just this past weekend the Ergo Foundation approved a one-time grant to Benjamin Schulte (aka MrStahlfelge - [Github](https://github.com/MrStahlfelge)) as a recognition of his development of Ergo Wallet for Android application.

He will also join the ergo dev team (as a part-time developer) starting from August to further develop the Android wallet and work on "Ergo on Android" related tech.

Features:

* generating wallets, restoring wallets in a way compatible with Yoroi and Ergo node (only the first address can be seen at the moment)
* you can add read-only wallets without entering your secrets to watch balance
* no need to make full sync, this is a lightweight client
* Requesting payments by showing QR code or sharing a link
* Sending payments, manually or by scanning a QR code
* Your secrets are stored password-encrypted or authentication-protected
* Show wallet balance, configurable comparison fiat currency

Available on the [Google Play store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ergoplatform.android) below, or directly via a [GitHub](https://github.com/MrStahlfelge/ergo-wallet-android) APK. Please join the [Ergo Discord](https://discord.gg/kj7s7nb) for feedback or support.

Ergo for Android Released

[Ergoutils.org](http://ergoutils.org) is a decentralized application created by a [community developer](https://github.com/anon-real/ErgoUtils) to provide useful functions for all users in a non-custodial manner, independent of their wallets. Users can easily create custom tokens and mint visual and audio NFTs. The user interface has an efficient layout and is designed for ease of use.

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/xaHA2KvhDpVkgvLcGA4_UEqcfKSkBNChkYTMsBvIniSzjupYq0YYsiYN2gjKzHwHGJr9-SKAJ6FBLqbnw_qivOWI9D7I9xjdSIrI3LxT5ehlsRKW61enjDTCVS3qn-nWYcazGASL)

### You can issue your own token

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6DjuVY1jSxTMovVuT34G9Iwq3yxp4AYw_NsAEbx0kbiGhHWzfYVzWHpw1KKceCa3_yWPKlt-wGV_TZ63Hf4n1baFGyXSm6jGUuPzmRpFjH7_xAPKsh-6NssogxCA6vcmrdevjC2X)

### You can create picture NFTs

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/OD3oSZUt6BUhwLxaZxZBJZo0t-JUbMDDRh9XroCFSdHGCuCpavZVyLSfrrd-tXmaQb3M4QfWVGp26fhESMw0Cm5l4eP6ggtp5X-SPiMrkP7YX-47FOjETPgjzW7drYDSfDfoW6KZ)

### And you can mint audio NFTs

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/R3j9IySE5F1iWAbMK5UjbUZZIGkXzLKntw9PAMekTrW5tRbbpcUeuYIMqaX5XDDcycAkthUAJpv4uDTUvY01Ayt4x_HlrP2cxqmlpF3K08Un7y_dV57TTEiPNWm_IEYEeHLPL3kO)

### You can also airdrop your newly created tokens and NFTs.

![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WmuvBILB_FZiNGvoDWFkxvSioSCqsqxtZN0gGnaEWCiMl0cRfAQ3aHWyByHzgksSwERCJTSsA9aRFGCgBLupLadGPnQueGFj69o8Vwgs71gGpJwYsRS3vrlfmT1dCXL-dmKGYMV2)

**Ergoutils also provides unique privacy features with mixer-hops. This allows you to ‘hop’ your mixer withdrawals through several other wallets, creating permanent obfuscation points.**

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/qxKJ1BWHWOAz9NCyrbcCmjAMB2TFJfbMFebzA08oHGK9yl6SH-IiaXJASwWbxNZijHNq8M6-BjfwkqY9U6BUO6bigj2Mgh6AJjnWozCCIaPSCz50RUMxZPAZCG0e1RrXXqVUEADK)

With Ergoutils, the UI integration offers some playful functionalities on Ergo. Now that you have a sense of Ergoutils operation, please feel free to try out one of the first dApp implementations on the Ergo ecosystem.

Ergoutils: A How-To Guide

Ergo offers [a lot of use cases](https://www.ergoforum.org/t/what-apps-can-you-do-on-ergo/819). During the first phase of development, lots of implementations have been explored with [Ergo Contracts](https://ergoplatform.org/blog/2020_03_16_ergo_sigma/) ([ErgoScript / ErgoTree](https://ergoplatform.org/docs/ErgoScript.pdf)) with no off-chain parts or UI developed. After the launch of the SigUSD stablecoin, Ergo NFT Auctionhouse, Oracle Pools and soon ErgoDEX, we would like to share the possibilities of Ergo with you. 



**1. Crowdfunding**

You can create [crowdfunding](https://www.ergoforum.org/t/simple-crowdfunding/70) projects on top of Ergo. From ICOs to charity drives, any kind of idea, material, cause, protocol, or action can be funded via Ergo contracts. Bookkeeping and control distribution is easier and more secure therefore it’s the most effective way of conducting a DAO structure. It’s also convenient for funders because ErgoScript design allows for buy-back support and zero-knowledge timed releases. This means users will be in control of the whole project during the crowdfunding phase.



**2. Loans**

Over-collateralized loans are very popular in crypto right now. Because of extreme volatility, users can face huge losses when using these platforms. Ergo can offer more complex solutions for borrowing arrangements. For example, oracles might be arranged with time-weighted data so that flash liquidation would not be a problem. If there is a dispute time to resolve the liquidations during extreme volatility, borrowers will be protected against this problem. Another interesting idea is “interest-free loans,” so interest-bearing loans are not necessary. To incentivize lenders, a personalized profit riding mechanism can be implemented so they will have another option from gaining only a fixed interest rate.



**3. Privacy**

Ergo is not a privacy-oriented blockchain, but the smart contracts built on Ergo offer different privacy options. ErgoMixer is a Non-Custodial Coinjoin service in which users can interact with their wallets to enjoy a modicum of privacy. It is a decentralized app so you do not have to give up the custody of your funds to use it. It will soon be tokenized too, but we will update more on this later.\
\
Ergo also offers Layer 2 anonymity solutions so that developers can build side-chains to create private networks when needed. 

  



**4. Business**



A business, whether small or big, is an enterprise that is running for-profit. This enterprise consists of individuals working toward the same objective as well as shareholders, those who contribute on a financial level. So when examined separately, every individual in a business has different responsibilites, authority and equity. Who has keys to which case? Who holds which powers until when? Who has access to whose information and who will get paid when? These questions all pertain to the “governance” issues of a business. With decentralized blockchain, governance can be tackled easily and securely.



**5. Trustless Local Exchange Trading Systems**

LETS are implemented on the exchange actions of [small-scale local communities.](https://ergoplatform.org/blog/2021-07-01-lets-start-the-discussion/) They enable closed communities to form a programmed financial system without the need for trusted 3rd parties. For example, Alice wants to buy apples from Bob. Both parties must first define the currency for their exchange and the price of the apple before completing any authorization of exchange for that particular asset. Governments take care of these problems on a national level but when creating a local economic system, account tracking would be complicated and centralization would still be a problem. Trustless LETS can be implemented in a village so that everyone can participate in a decentralized and fair economy where the local currency is used to exchange goods.



**6. E-Mail Clients**

The Internet's effect on our current world is immeasurable and considering that we’re hurtling towards an ever more digital world, it is vital that the internet grow democratically. Even if an internet connection is not provided in your area of residence, it is still [possible to access internet services](https://www.ergoforum.org/t/e-mail-client-for-limited-or-blocked-internet/134) using satellite network broadcasts. Satellite internet access liberates the individual and removes their dependency and need for institutional internet infrastructure. Other low-bandwidth and non-interactive means of communication (fax, calling over a landline, mail) can also be used to verify the exchanges that have been done on the blockchain. Essentially, blockchain offers light finance that gives people ease of access.



**7. Lotteries**

Fair lotteries require the need for audits and examination experts, however one must trust these intermediaries and brokers when purchasing a lottery ticket. Furthermore, if one is using an online lottery platform, they can not possibly know if the algorithm is fair or whether they may be a target of fraud. With blockchain, the randomness of the contracts can be verified by an examination of the source codes. People who run the nodes of a casino on the blockchain can profit from all the interactions with this platform. The randomness of winners can be guaranteed with Proof of Activity schemes and node runners will be incentivized to prove reliability to the platform. Additionally, the lottery design can also be implemented for Airdropping tokens.

Ergo: Decentralized Applications Framework

With Ergo’s recent developments like oracle pools, the AgeUSD protocol, NFTAuctionhouse and ErgoDEX, we would like to share what tools you can use as a developer to start building Ergo. If you’re a front-end or back-end developer and looking for ways to start coding then this article is for you.

Welcome To Smart Money

Ergo Blockchain is a financial smart contract platform that is built on the UTXO model. Its language, “ErgoScript,” is a rich language that supports Multi-Stage Contracts based on Scala. Even if you don’t know Scala, you can get used to it easily by checking [ErgoScript](https://ergoplatform.org/docs/ErgoScript.pdf) (or [ErgoTree](https://ergoplatform.org/docs/ErgoTree.pdf) directly) to understand the logic behind it.

The first thing you can do to navigate around the Ergo Ecosystem is to go to the [main page](https://ergoplatform.org/en/) and click the “Developers” button on the top bar and scroll to “Contribute to Ergo”.

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ipCScaiQw9JvZ8fDucFPU66fu0LQLjplzFmlPyNwR3sVwgxLGyyD_UhOBToderalVThzet1QX6YLTQ3A92UXD4gC6sFXTp36FTPwULberD9roawwJWWZLxeDb_hOizZxV8aMyvqn)

Scroll down on the page and you will a section entitled “Overview,” which contains a variety of guides to help you get started.

![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/kSXs9M1j4yYJjyV0DLjd-1rahQfaQqcidfGdFtr8AW6AnaA4I7M2A2IcpZXHJy93u6Cx08aYc-qM42xGoa6VcQnlVnWsRLjdHzUY31Knn6kbljevoDS6lA4knC-uwvn4vleuJXD_)

To begin, take a look at the tutorials. There you can see the ErgoScript overview and application ideas using ErgoScript. Once you get an idea of the extended UTXO model and programming on top of Ergo, check ErgoScript on the right and download the latest library.

After checking ErgoTree, the ErgoScript Whitepaper, ErgoScript Tutorials and downloading the latest library, you can start trying for yourself. 

If you want to get to know some real use cases, check the Ergo [GitHub Wiki](https://github.com/ergoplatform/ergo/wiki) page.

![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OkHl6IZYKJWcMo0bFKV1tfTKiYFwOcQZ94PY_8-X37fXHb6GUUR4_YYuO4QzghF973j77bw31TWPnmLh9MnGKOqtsV7QO8M8S3_myN8_5kYA2JZZDh4vrsiya1hVZ66HZo0yzVNv)

On the right panel, you can read various smart contract applications. 

To build from scratch, check [Ergo Github](https://github.com/ergoplatform/ergo) and get familiar with simple functions.

[Developer Tools](https://github.com/ergoplatform/ergo/wiki/Developer-tools) are handy to build your own libraries.

Furthermore, you can check these topics to enhance your knowledge.

Protocol

* UTXO State
* Autolykos
* NiPoPow

Data Model

* Box
* Transaction
* BlockP2P
* Protocol overview
* Network messages
* Handshaking
* Modifiers exchange

Node

* Node architecture
* Node API
* Light modes
* [NiPoPow](https://nipopows.com/)
* State snapshots
* History pruning
* Digest state

Wallet:

* Addresses
* Hierarchical keys

Smart Contracts

* Core principles
* ErgoScript

You can search the terms in Ergo Github and navigate yourself.  Here is another starting page to get you covered on [Awesome Ergo](https://github.com/ergoplatform/awesome-ergo).

It’s wonderful if you followed this far. If you’re new to Ergo, first we advise checking the community page [ergonaut.space](https://ergonaut.space/) and see what Ergo is made of!