Shielded vs Transparent
Namada offers two ways to transact: transparent (public) and shielded (private). Understanding the difference is key to using Namada effectively.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Transparent | Shielded |
|---|---|---|
| Address prefix | tnam... | znam... |
| Visibility | Public on explorer | Hidden |
| Privacy | None | Full |
| Transaction speed | ~6 seconds | ~6 seconds |
| Fees | Lower | Slightly higher |
| Rewards | None | Shielded rewards |
| Best for | Public payments, exchanges | Personal, business |
Transparent Transactions
Transparent transactions work like most blockchains:
Alice (tnam1abc...) → 100 NAM → Bob (tnam1xyz...)
What's Visible
When you use transparent addresses, anyone can see:
- ✅ Sender address
- ✅ Receiver address
- ✅ Amount transferred
- ✅ Time of transaction
- ✅ Transaction history
- ✅ Current balance
When to Use Transparent
- 💱 Withdrawing from exchanges - Exchanges require transparent addresses
- 🧾 Public payments - When you want a record
- 🔍 Proving transactions - For tax or legal purposes
- 💸 Lower fees - Slightly cheaper transactions
Shielded Transactions
Shielded transactions use Namada's privacy technology:
Alice (znam1abc...) → ??? NAM → ??? (znam1???...)
What's Hidden
With shielded transactions:
- ❌ Sender is hidden
- ❌ Receiver is hidden
- ❌ Amount is hidden
- ❌ Transaction links are broken
- ❌ Balance is private
Only the sender and receiver know the details.
When to Use Shielded
- 🛡️ Personal transactions - Keep your finances private
- 💼 Business payments - Protect commercial information
- 🎁 Donations - Give privately
- 💰 Savings - Hide your holdings
- 🏆 Earning rewards - Get shielded rewards
The Four Transaction Types
1. Transparent to Transparent
tnam → tnam
Standard public transfer. Everyone can see everything.
2. Transparent to Shielded (Shield)
tnam → znam
Moving assets into privacy. The "shielding" transaction is visible, but once in the shielded pool, the assets become private.
3. Shielded to Shielded
znam → znam
Fully private transfer. No public record of the transaction.
4. Shielded to Transparent (Unshield)
znam → tnam
Moving assets back to public. The unshielding is visible, but the source in the shielded pool remains hidden.
Visual Flow
TRANSPARENT WORLD
┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ tnam1alice... ───────► tnam1bob... │
│ │ ▲ │
│ │ Shield Unshield │
│ ▼ │ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────┘
SHIELDED POOL
╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ znam1alice... ────?────► znam1bob... ║
║ All details hidden ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝
Privacy Considerations
Timing Analysis
Even with shielding, be aware of timing:
If you shield 1000 NAM and immediately unshield 1000 NAM to a new address, the connection might be guessed. Wait between operations and use common amounts.
Amount Correlation
Using unique amounts can reduce privacy:
| Less Private | More Private |
|---|---|
| 1234.56789 NAM | 1000 NAM |
| 777 NAM | 500 NAM |
| Exact salary amount | Round numbers |
Best Practices
- Keep assets shielded long-term - Time in the pool increases privacy
- Use common amounts - Round numbers are harder to trace
- Don't shield/unshield immediately - Add time between operations
- Batch transactions - Combine multiple operations
For more tips, see Privacy Best Practices.
Fee Differences
Shielded transactions require more computation:
| Transaction Type | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| Transparent → Transparent | ~0.001 NAM |
| Transparent → Shielded | ~0.01 NAM |
| Shielded → Shielded | ~0.01 NAM |
| Shielded → Transparent | ~0.01 NAM |
Fees vary based on network conditions
Shielded Rewards
One major benefit of shielded transactions: rewards!
Assets in the shielded pool earn rewards automatically:
- No staking required
- Proportional to amount and time
- Paid in NAM
- Incentivizes privacy for everyone
Learn more about rewards in Understanding Staking.
FAQ
Can I see my shielded balance?
Yes! Your wallet shows your shielded balance. Only you can see it.
Can I prove a shielded transaction?
Yes, you can generate viewing keys to prove specific transactions if needed.
Which should I use by default?
Shielded! Unless you have a specific reason for transparency, shielded provides better privacy and earns rewards.