Before You Begin
Shielding ZEC is a straightforward process that takes about 15–30 minutes from start to finish. You will need: ZEC on an exchange that supports withdrawals (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance, or similar), a smartphone or computer, a pen and paper for your seed phrase, and a stable internet connection. You do not need any technical knowledge - this guide takes you through every step with clear instructions for each wallet option.
Step 1: Create a Shielded Wallet
The first step is choosing and installing a Zcash wallet that supports shielded transactions. Not every Zcash wallet does - some exchange apps and older wallets are transparent-only. The two best options in 2025 are:
| Wallet | Platform | Shielding Support | Sync Speed | Open Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zashi | iOS, Android | Full (Orchard + Sapling) | Moderate | Yes |
| YWallet | iOS, Android, Desktop | Full (Orchard + Sapling) | Very Fast | Yes |
| Nighthawk | Android only | Full (Sapling + Orchard) | Moderate | Yes |
| zcashd (CLI) | Linux, macOS, Windows | Full (all pools) | Slow (full node) | Yes |
| Exchange wallets | Web/App | None (transparent only) | N/A | No |
For most beginners, Zashi is the best choice: it is the official ECC wallet, has a clean interface designed for non-technical users, defaults to shielded transactions, and is actively maintained to support the latest Zcash protocol features. YWallet is preferred by more experienced users due to its speed and desktop support.
Install your chosen wallet from the official Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Only use the official stores - never install wallet APKs from third-party websites. After installation, open the app and select "Create New Wallet."
Step 2: Withdraw ZEC from Exchange to t-address
Once your wallet is created (see Step 1 and the seed phrase backup process above), navigate to the Receive tab. You will see your Unified Address (long address starting with "u1") and potentially your transparent t-address (starting with "t1").
For exchange withdrawals, most exchanges only support sending to transparent t-addresses. Copy your t-address (not the Unified Address, unless your specific exchange explicitly states it supports UA withdrawals). Double-check the full address before proceeding.
On your exchange, navigate to the ZEC withdrawal section. Paste your t-address as the destination. Enter the amount to withdraw - if this is your first time, you might start with a smaller test amount to verify the process works before sending your full balance.
Submit the withdrawal and wait. Exchange withdrawals typically require 1–6 on-chain confirmations, which at Zcash's 75-second block time takes roughly 2–8 minutes after the exchange broadcasts the transaction. Some exchanges add their own internal processing delay of 10–30 minutes. Monitor your wallet's pending balance - the ZEC will appear as "unconfirmed" and then "confirmed" once the required number of blocks have been mined.
Step 3: Open Your Wallet and Navigate to Shield
Once the ZEC shows as confirmed in your transparent balance, it is time to shield it. The exact navigation depends on which wallet you are using:
In Zashi: From the home screen, you should see a notification or indicator showing your transparent balance alongside an option to shield it. Tap the Transfer button (or look for a "Shield" prompt). Zashi may automatically prompt you to shield transparent funds - this is expected behaviour for the shielded-first design.
In YWallet: Navigate to the menu (three horizontal lines or bars). Select "Shield Transparent Balance" or navigate to the Send section and enter your own shielded address as the recipient. YWallet displays both your transparent and shielded balances separately so you can clearly see which balance you are working with.
In Nighthawk: From the home screen, if you have a transparent balance, Nighthawk will show a "Shield Funds" button. Tap it and follow the on-screen confirmation steps.
Step 4: Enter Amount to Shield
You have two options for the shielding amount:
Shield your entire transparent balance: This is the recommended approach. Using the "Shield All" or "Shield Transparent Balance" option tells the wallet to move 100% of your transparent ZEC into the shielded pool in a single transaction. This is the simplest and most private option because it avoids leaving small transparent "change" amounts that could complicate future privacy analysis.
Shield a specific amount: You can shield a partial amount if needed. Be aware that any remaining transparent balance will stay in your t-address and remain publicly visible on the blockchain.
After selecting the amount, your wallet will display the estimated network fee. The standard fee is 0.00001 ZEC (10,000 zatoshis). This is deducted from the amount being shielded - so if you shield 1.0 ZEC, approximately 0.99999 ZEC will arrive in your shielded balance.
Step 5: Confirm Transaction and Pay Small Fee
Before broadcasting the transaction, your wallet shows a confirmation screen. Review these details carefully:
- From: Your transparent t-address (this should be your address)
- To: Your own shielded z-address or Orchard address (this should also be your address - you are sending to yourself)
- Amount: The ZEC being shielded
- Fee: 0.00001 ZEC (standard network fee)
Confirm the transaction. Your wallet now generates a zk-SNARK proof on your device. This cryptographic computation proves that the shielding transaction is valid without revealing any of the private details to the network. On modern phones, this takes approximately 5–15 seconds for Sapling and slightly longer for Orchard (30–60 seconds on older hardware). The progress indicator in the wallet shows the proof generation progress.
Once the proof is generated, your wallet broadcasts the transaction to the Zcash network. You will see the transaction appear as "pending" almost immediately - this means it has been accepted by the mempool and is waiting to be included in a block.
Step 6: Wait for Confirmation and Verify Private Balance
The shielding transaction needs at least 1 block confirmation before your shielded balance is spendable. Since Zcash blocks are produced every ~75 seconds, you should see your balance update within 2–4 minutes. For higher-security use cases, wait for 3–5 confirmations (about 4–7 minutes).
After confirmation, open your wallet and check your balances:
- Transparent balance: Should be 0 ZEC (or close to it, minus the fee)
- Shielded balance: Should show the amount you shielded
Congratulations - your ZEC is now in the shielded pool. Every transaction you send from your shielded balance to another shielded address is fully private. The blockchain records only that a valid transaction occurred, revealing nothing about sender, receiver, or amount to any outside observer.
To receive private payments going forward, share your Unified Address (the long "u1..." string). Anyone with a modern Zcash wallet can send to your UA, and their wallet will automatically route the payment through the most private path available - Orchard if supported, Sapling otherwise.
Next steps: Read how shielded transactions work internally, or explore YWallet's advanced privacy features.