Privacy · Jun 11, 2026 · 3 min read
Zcash shielded vs transparent
Zcash supports transparent and shielded address types. Mixing them incorrectly reduces privacy. When swapping ZEC on Anonymous Swap, follow the address format the order expects.
Transparent (t-addresses)
Transparent Zcash transactions are publicly viewable on explorers, similar to Bitcoin. They are useful for interoperability but do not provide default confidentiality.
Shielded (z-addresses)
Shielded transfers use zero-knowledge proofs so amounts and parties are not exposed on the public chain graph the same way. Wallet support and sync requirements differ from simple transparent wallets.
Practical swap note
Always paste the exact address type required by your wallet and the order. If you are moving toward Monero instead, an XMR payout avoids juggling Zcash address types after the exchange.