Smart Contracts
Advanced
What is
Reserve (Agent Economy)?
A collateral UTxO on Ergo that backs Note issuance — the source of truth for how much credit has been issued in an agent economy system.
In Ergo's agent payment stack, a Reserve is a UTxO box holding ERG (or tokens) as collateral for Notes. The Reserve script enforces: total notes issued ≤ reserve value; only authorized issuers can create notes; the reserve can be topped up or drawn down within protocol rules. When an agent redeems a Note, the Reserve releases the corresponding value. The Reserve + Note + Tracker pattern (implemented in ChainCash) gives multi-agent systems a trustless credit layer without any centralized ledger.
Key Points
- Reserve box holds ERG or tokens as collateral for Notes
- Script enforces: issued notes ≤ reserve value
- Only authorized issuer keys can create new Notes against the Reserve
- Reserve can be topped up (add collateral) or drawn down (remove excess)
- Multiple Reserves can back different Note series
- Community Reserves enable community currencies in one transaction
Use Cases
1
Orchestrator deploys Reserve, issues Notes to sub-agents up to collateral limit
2
Community pools ERG into shared Reserve, issues community currency Notes
3
Corporate Reserve backing internal agent credit for API call payments
Technical Details
The Reserve script in ErgoScript: `sigmaProp(issuedNotes <= SELF.value && PK(issuerKey))`. The `issuedNotes` value is tracked via an output register updated in each note-issuance transaction. Redemption transactions decrease this count and release ERG to the redeemer. The Reserve box ID is embedded in each Note to prevent cross-reserve fraud.
Related Infographics
Related Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about Reserve (Agent Economy)
Common questions about this topic
Is Ergo a good investment?
This is not financial advice. Ergo has strong fundamentals: fair launch (no VC dump risk), innovative technology (eUTXO, Sigma Protocols, NiPoPoWs), active development, and a cypherpunk ethos. It's a smaller market cap project with higher risk/reward than established chains. Research thoroughly, understand the technology, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
Comparison
Getting Started
What is SigmaUSD and how does it work?
SigmaUSD is Ergo's algorithmic stablecoin, pegged to USD and backed by ERG reserves. It uses the AgeUSD protocol: users mint SigUSD by depositing ERG, while SigRSV holders provide reserve backing and absorb volatility. The reserve ratio (400-800%) ensures stability. No centralized issuer, no bank accounts - pure crypto collateral.
Explainer
DeFi
How to get started with Ergo?
Start by getting a wallet (Nautilus for browser, Terminus for mobile). Back up your seed phrase securely offline. Get some ERG from an exchange (Gate.io, KuCoin) or DEX (Spectrum). Make a test transaction. Then explore: try DeFi on Spectrum, check out NFTs, or dive into the technology if you're a builder.
How-to
Getting Started
What is Ergo blockchain?
Ergo is a fair-launched Proof-of-Work blockchain with advanced smart contract capabilities. It combines Bitcoin's security model (UTXO, PoW) with Ethereum-style programmability through the eUTXO model and ErgoScript. No pre-mine, no ICO, no VC control - built by cypherpunks for financial freedom.
Explainer
Getting Started