Litecoin MWEB, the optional privacy layer most people skip
Since 2022 Litecoin has had confidential transactions built in. What MWEB hides and how to use it after a swap.
Litecoin is usually seen as faster, cheaper Bitcoin. Less known is that since May 2022 it has carried MimbleWimble Extension Blocks, or MWEB, an optional privacy layer that runs next to the normal chain.
What MWEB hides
Inside MWEB, amounts are hidden and the links between inputs and outputs are much harder to follow. Addresses start with ltcmweb1. To an outsider, coins that went into MWEB disappear from easy view until they come out again.
What it does not hide
Moving coins into MWEB and back out is visible on the main chain. It is a privacy layer you step into, not privacy for every transaction by default.
How to use it after a swap
- Use a wallet with MWEB support, such as Litecoin Core or Cake Wallet.
- Receive your LTC from the swap at a normal Litecoin address.
- Send it to your own MWEB address inside the wallet.
- Pay from the MWEB balance from then on.
Why Litecoin is good for swaps
Blocks come about every two and a half minutes and fees are low, so LTC deposits confirm quickly. It is a solid coin to send when you want a swap done fast. See LTC to XMR or the Litecoin page.
Quick answers
Can a swap send straight to an MWEB address?
Swaps send to normal Litecoin addresses. Receive there first, then move the coins into MWEB in your own wallet.
Is MWEB the same as Monero?
No. MWEB hides amounts and breaks the link between inputs and outputs inside the extension block, but moving in and out of it is visible. Monero hides everything by default.
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