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How to Send and Receive Shielded Zcash (ZEC) with Brave Wallet: A Step-by-Step Privacy Guide

What is Brave Wallet?

A secure, native crypto wallet built directly into the Brave browser — no extensions required.

Why Shielded ZEC Support Matters

Zcash is one of the only cryptocurrencies offering privacy by default with shielded transactions.

Brave Wallet now supports Orchard shielded ZEC, enabling private transactions without third-party software.

Users can now send/receive ZEC without revealing balances or metadata — all within the Brave browser.

Part 1: Setting Up Brave Wallet

Steps covered:

  1. Open Brave Browser (desktop only for now)

  2. Click on the Wallet icon or go to brave://wallet

  3. Set up your wallet (create or import)

  4. Access the crypto dashboard

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Part 2: Adding Zcash (ZEC) to Brave Wallet

Steps covered:

  1. In the Wallet dashboard, click “Manage Assets”

  2. Search for ZEC and enable it

  3. ZEC now appears in your wallet

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Part 3: Receiving Shielded ZEC (Unified Address)

Steps covered:

  1. Click ZEC in your assets

  2. Select “Receive”

  3. Brave generates a Unified Address (UA) — one address that supports both shielded and transparent transactions

  4. Copy or scan the QR code

  5. Share your UA with the sender

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Part 4: Sending Shielded ZEC Privately

Steps covered:

  1. Select ZEC > Send

  2. Paste the recipient's Unified Address or shielded address

  3. Enter amount

  4. Confirm the transaction details

  5. Click Send — funds are now transferred privately, using the Orchard pool

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Address Types

Here’s an explanation for each Zcash address type:

t-addr (t1...) – Transparent addresses work like Bitcoin addresses, meaning transactions are public on the blockchain. They are easier to use with non-Zcash wallets but do not provide privacy.

z-addr (zs...) – Shielded addresses use Zcash’s privacy tech (Sprout/Sapling) to hide the sender, receiver, and amount. Only view keys or the owner can reveal details.

UA (u... or QR) – Unified Addresses combine multiple address types (transparent, shielded, Orchard) into one. This allows maximum compatibility while preferring privacy where possible.

Conclusion: Privacy Made Practical

With Brave Wallet and shielded ZEC, privacy is now accessible to everyone — no special software or advanced knowledge needed.

Ideal for journalists, activists, or privacy-conscious individuals.

Try your first shielded transaction today inside Brave!

Stay private. Stay free. Send ZEC privately with Brave Wallet.