Shield (Private Pool Basics)
The idea
Shield lets you move funds into a private pool, make private transfers inside it, and later withdraw back to a public address.
Privacy comes from pooling everyone’s deposits together; your individual transfer history isn’t visible on the public chain while funds are inside the pool.
Key pieces (what they do, not how they’re coded)
Shielded Pool: holds everyone’s shielded funds.
Gateway: the entry/exit point — used for deposits (shield) and withdrawals (unshield).
Relayer (optional): can submit transactions for you so your wallet address doesn’t appear paying gas. You still sign; the relayer pays the fee and may charge a small tip.
What you can do
Shield (deposit) — Move ETH or supported tokens into the pool. After shielding, your balance is private inside the pool.
Private transfer — Send shielded funds to another user’s shielded address. Observers see the pool state change but can’t link sender/recipient/amount.
Unshield (withdraw) — Exit back to a public address. On-chain, only the withdrawal appears; the link to your earlier shielded activity isn’t exposed.
Typical flow
Start with funds in your wallet on the Shade network.
In the app, choose “Shield” to deposit into the pool.
Use the pool: transfer privately, or keep funds parked.
When ready, “Unshield” to a public address (yours or someone else’s).
Optional: use a relayer for shielding/unshielding so the gas fee payer isn’t linked to you.
What’s visible vs. hidden
Visible on-chain:
deposits into the pool
total pool size changes
withdrawals out of the pool
Hidden:
who sent to whom inside the pool
how much was transferred
how often transfers occurred
…so long as you stay inside the pool and manage how you enter/exit.
Good practices for better privacy
Use the relayer for shielding/unshielding if you don’t want your wallet to appear paying gas.
Vary public addresses when unshielding if you want to avoid linking exits.
Avoid tiny unique amounts that could stand out; use common denominations when possible.
Keep your shielded keys/credentials secure — anyone with them can move your shielded balance.
Costs and timing
Each action (shield, private transfer, unshield) pays a network fee; if using a relayer, you may also pay a small tip.
“Safe” confirmations arrive after batching; final confirmations follow later. The app and explorer will show status updates.
How to check your activity
In the app: see your shielded balance and recent actions.
In the explorer: you’ll only see the public-facing parts (deposits/withdrawals and pool-level changes), not the private transfers inside.
If you want this tailored with exact fee ranges, supported tokens, or a step-by-step screen-by-screen guide, let me know.
Last updated
Was this helpful?