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How to Unshield

Unshielding tokens in zDoge converts your private shielded notes back to public tokens that can be sent to any address.

Before You Start​

Ensure you have:

  • Shielded balance (at least one shielded note)
  • Recipient public wallet address (0x...)
  • Small amount of DOGE for gas (if not using relayer)

Step-by-Step Guide​

1. Navigate to Unshield​

Go to the Unshield section in the dashboard.

2. Select Token​

Choose the token you want to unshield from the dropdown.

3. Enter Amount​

Enter the amount you want to unshield. The system will:

  • Automatically select notes to spend
  • Calculate the relayer fee (if using relayer)
  • Show the amount you'll receive
Note Consolidation

If you have multiple small notes, the system may consolidate them into fewer transactions for efficiency.

4. Enter Recipient Address​

Enter the public wallet address (0x...) where you want to receive the tokens.

Fresh Address

For maximum privacy, use a fresh wallet address that has never been associated with your identity.

5. Review Transaction​

Before confirming, review:

  • Amount to unshield: What you're spending
  • Relayer fee: Fee for gasless transaction (if using relayer)
  • Amount received: What you'll receive after fees
  • Recipient: Where tokens will be sent

6. Generate Proof​

Click "Unshield" to begin:

  1. Generating Proof (30-60 seconds)

    • A zero-knowledge proof is generated in your browser
    • This proves you own valid notes without revealing which ones

  2. Submitting Transaction

    • The proof is submitted to the blockchain
    • Transaction is processed (directly or via relayer)

  3. Confirmation

    • You'll see a success message with the transaction hash
    • Tokens are sent to your recipient address

7. Success!​

After unshield confirms:

  • Success message
  • Transaction hash (clickable to explorer)
  • Updated balances (shielded decreased, public increased)

Note Consolidation​

If you have multiple small notes, the system may:

  1. Spend multiple notes in one transaction
  2. Consolidate into fewer, larger notes
  3. Show multiple transaction hashes if consolidation occurs

This is normal and improves efficiency.

Fee Structure​

When using the relayer (gasless transactions):

Fee TypeAmountPurpose
Relayer Fee~0.5%Gas costs & service
Direct Transactions

You can also submit transactions directly (without relayer) to avoid fees, but you'll need DOGE for gas.

What Happens After Unshield​

  1. Your shielded notes are spent (nullifiers marked)
  2. Tokens are transferred to recipient address
  3. Your shielded balance decreases
  4. Recipient's public balance increases
  5. Transaction is recorded on-chain (but unlinkable to your shield)

Privacy Considerations​

Unshielding reveals:

  • Recipient address - Public on-chain
  • Transaction time - When unshield occurred
  • Amount - How much was unshielded

To maintain privacy:

  • Use fresh recipient addresses
  • Wait between shield and unshield
  • Vary amounts
  • Don't create patterns

Troubleshooting​

"Insufficient shielded balance"​

You don't have enough shielded tokens. Shield more tokens first.

"Invalid recipient address"​

Ensure the address:

  • Starts with 0x
  • Is 42 characters long
  • Is a valid Ethereum-compatible address

"Proof generation failed"​

  • Refresh the page and try again
  • Ensure you're using a modern browser
  • Check that JavaScript is enabled
  • Try a smaller amount

"Transaction failed"​

  • Check your gas balance (if not using relayer)
  • Ensure relayer has sufficient balance (if using relayer)
  • Try again after a few minutes

Privacy Best Practices​

  1. Use fresh addresses - Never reuse recipient addresses
  2. Wait before unshielding - Let more notes accumulate
  3. Vary amounts - Don't create patterns
  4. Don't link transactions - Keep shield/unshield independent
  5. Use VPN or Tor - Additional privacy layer

Next Step: Check Transaction Status