Litecoin MWEB: the optional privacy layer almost nobody uses
Since 2022 Litecoin has had confidential transactions built in. What MWEB hides and how to use it after a swap.
Litecoin is often seen as a faster, cheaper Bitcoin. Less well known is that since May 2022 it has included MimbleWimble Extension Blocks, or MWEB, an optional privacy layer that runs alongside the regular 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 outside observer, coins that enter MWEB drop out of easy view until they come back out.
What it does not hide
Moving coins into MWEB and back out again is visible on the main chain. It is a privacy layer you opt into, not default privacy on every transaction.
How to use it after a swap
- Use a wallet that supports MWEB, such as Litecoin Core or Cake Wallet.
- Receive your LTC from the swap at a regular Litecoin address.
- Send it to your own MWEB address inside the wallet.
- From then on, pay from your MWEB balance.
Why Litecoin is good for swapping
A block comes roughly every two and a half minutes and fees are low, so LTC deposits confirm quickly. It is a good coin to send when you want your swap done as soon as possible. See LTC to XMR or the Litecoin page.
Questions
Can a swap send directly to an MWEB address?
Swaps send to regular Litecoin addresses. Receive there first, then move the coins into MWEB inside 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.
