Privacy Levels for ZEC Donations
| Method | Sender Privacy | Amount Privacy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shielded → Shielded (Orchard) | ✅ Full | ✅ Full | Best option — use this |
| Shielded → Shielded (Sapling) | ✅ Full | ✅ Full | Good, slightly older pool |
| Transparent → Shielded | ⌠Sender visible | ✅ Amount hidden after | Partial privacy only |
| Transparent → Transparent | ⌠Fully public | ⌠Fully public | No privacy — avoid |
Step 1: Get ZEC into a Shielded Wallet
Download Zashi — it automatically shields all incoming ZEC into the Orchard pool. Create a new wallet (new seed phrase = new identity), write down your 24 words offline, and wait for sync. Your Unified Address is your donation sending address.
Step 2: Fund Your Wallet Privately (Optional)
If maximum anonymity is required: purchase ZEC via a no-KYC P2P market (LocalMonero's ZEC equivalent, or a DEX) rather than a KYC exchange. KYC exchange ZEC is linked to your identity until it has been shielded through the Orchard pool for several transactions. For most donors, simply shielding exchange-purchased ZEC in Zashi provides adequate privacy.
Step 3: Verify the Recipient Uses a Shielded Address
Before sending, confirm the organization provides a Unified Address (starts with "u1...") or a Sapling address (starts with "zs1..."). Sending to a transparent address (starts with "t1...") reduces your privacy because the transaction amount is visible on-chain even if your sending address is shielded.
Step 4: Send Without a Memo
Leave the memo field blank. The memo is encrypted and readable only by the recipient — but filling it in discloses your identity to them. For anonymous giving, simply leave it empty. The organization receives ZEC with no way to identify the sender.
Things That Can Break Anonymity
- IP address: Your wallet connects to ZEC nodes — use Tor or a VPN if IP anonymity matters
- Exchange KYC: If you bought ZEC with your name attached, shield it thoroughly before donating
- Address reuse: Zashi generates fresh addresses automatically — don't reuse old addresses
- Memo field: Don't add identifying information if you want anonymity