Litecoin as a Privacy Coin with MWEB dev David Burkett | EPI 372

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Dec 13, 2025

In this conversation, David Burkett, a developer renowned for creating Litecoin's MimbleWimble Extension Block, dives into the world of cryptocurrency privacy. He discusses his shift from Bitcoin maximalism to a broader appreciation for scalability and privacy alternatives. Burkett unpacks the basics of MimbleWimble and its limitations compared to Monero, emphasizing the significance of privacy features while confronting network-level surveillance risks. He also explores exciting future possibilities like atomic swaps and the ongoing challenges in MWEB's adoption.

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INSIGHT

Scalable Privacy Tradeoffs

MimbleWimble offers scalable privacy by hiding amounts and removing address reuse, making it more private than Bitcoin but less unlinkable than Monero.
David Burkett built MWEB to provide the minimum privacy needed for money while keeping scalability pragmatic.

ANECDOTE

Self-Taught Developer Journey

David Burkett taught himself development and entered crypto after following Bitcoin since 2011 and reading the white paper in 2016.
He built Grin++ and later MWEB from practical developer experience rather than formal cryptography training.

INSIGHT

Opt-In Privacy Has Limits

MWEB is opt-in and hides amounts and addresses but remains vulnerable to network-level linkability if peers are monitored.
The protocol reduces on-chain fingerprinting but doesn't achieve Monero-level unlinkability.

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TODAY'S SHOW: In this episode of Monero Talk, David Burkett, creator of Litecoin's MimbleWimble Extension Block (MWEB) and developer of Grin++, discusses cryptocurrency privacy technologies with host Douglas Tuman.

He shares his journey from early Bitcoin interest to becoming more coin-agnostic due to Bitcoin’s scalability and privacy limitations. Burkett explains how MWEB provides basic privacy features, such as hidden transaction amounts and no address reuse, but clarifies that it doesn’t offer the same unlinkability as Monero. He also discusses MWEB’s extension block structure, adoption challenges, and the future of privacy coins, including potential atomic swaps between MWEB and Monero.

TIMESTAMPS:
(00:01:21) Show intro & welcoming guest David Burkett
(00:02:11) David Burkett background: MimbleWimble, Grin++, Litecoin MWEB
(00:06:10) MimbleWimble basics & cryptography accessibility
(00:07:11) Motivation: scalable privacy & Bitcoin’s transparency problem
(00:09:41) Bitcoin pseudonymity, Silk Road era & privacy realities
(00:11:30) From Bitcoin maximalism to coin-agnostic tech focus
(00:13:08) Exciting privacy developments: full-chain membership proofs
(00:16:56) Litecoin MWEB privacy model vs Monero
(00:21:04) Network-level surveillance risks explained
(00:23:06) Zcash vs Monero vs Litecoin privacy comparisons
(00:25:23) Can Litecoin become more private in the future?
(00:30:11) Litecoin MWEB usability & real-world marketplace potential
(00:34:18) Extension blocks explained (core MWEB architecture)
(00:37:48) Future possibilities: atomic swaps, second layers, assets
(00:40:11) MWEB adoption stats & transaction volume reality
(00:44:44) Importance of merchant & exchange MWEB support
(00:47:17) Litecoin’s value proposition vs Monero & Zcash
(00:51:20) Quantum resistance concerns (or lack thereof)
(00:53:08) Where to find David Burkett & closing remarks

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