Clear DefinitionsMixers
1 min read
Pronunciation
[mik-serz]
Analogy
Like pouring different colored sands into a blender and then separating them by weight so no one can tell which grains came from which color originally.
Definition
Privacy services that pool and shuffle cryptocurrency inputs from multiple users, then return outputs to unlink senders from recipients, improving transaction anonymity.
Key Points Intro
Mixers break the on‑chain link between source and destination addresses to enhance privacy.
Key Points
Pooling: Aggregates funds from many users.
Shuffling: Randomizes output distribution and timing.
Fee model: Takes a small percentage as service fee.
Proofs: Some use zero‑knowledge proofs (zk‑SNARKs) for trustless mixing.
Example
Tornado Cash allows users to deposit ETH into a contract and withdraw to a new address after a delay, obfuscating the trail.
Technical Deep Dive
zk‑Mixer contracts implement a Merkle tree of deposits. User generates a secret and commitment, deposits it. To withdraw, user provides a zk proof of membership without revealing leaf index. Contract verifies proof and sends funds.
Security Warning
Regulatory scrutiny and blacklisting risks; some mixers have been sanctioned. Smart contract bugs can lock funds.
Caveat
Mixing does not guarantee absolute anonymity; chain analysis may still correlate patterns.
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