Zcash viewing keys explained
A Zcash viewing key gives read-only access to a shielded wallet's activity without the power to spend. An incoming viewing key shows received payments; a full viewing key also shows outgoing ones. Viewing keys are useful for accountants, auditors and watch-only wallets, but once shared they cannot be revoked.
Shielded ZEC is private by default, but sometimes you need to show your records: to an accountant, an auditor, a business partner or yourself on a watch-only device. Zcash solves this with viewing keys, which let someone see shielded transactions without being able to spend the funds. It is one of the features that makes Zcash's privacy compatible with compliance.
Types of viewing key
| Key | What the holder can see | Can spend? |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming viewing key (IVK) | Payments received, with amounts and memos | No |
| Full viewing key (FVK) | Payments received and sent, so the full balance and history | No |
| Spending key / seed phrase | Everything | Yes. Never share. |
Unified addresses (ZIP 316) come with unified viewing keys: a unified full viewing key starts with uview and a unified incoming viewing key with uivk. Each covers the shielded receivers, and transparent ones where included, for one account.
When a viewing key is useful
- Tax and accounting. Give your accountant a full viewing key so they can see every transaction without asking for screenshots. See Zcash taxes.
- Audits and donations. A charity or project can publish an incoming viewing key so donors can verify money received.
- Watch-only wallet. Load your viewing key on a phone to monitor a wallet whose spending key stays on a hardware device. Zkool can import viewing keys.
- Business records. A company can let its finance team monitor a payments account without giving them spending power.
- Hardware wallets. Ledger's shielded Zcash support offers viewing key export, so a companion app can show balances while keys stay on the device.
The big warning: they cannot be revoked
Once someone has your viewing key, they can see that account's past activity and all future activity for as long as you keep using it. There is no "unshare" button. The only way to stop future visibility is to move your funds to a new wallet with a new seed. The old history stays visible to them forever.
So before sharing:
- Ask whether an incoming viewing key is enough, rather than a full one.
- Consider using a separate account or wallet just for the activity the other party needs to see.
- Share keys only with people you would trust with a printout of your bank statements.
Viewing-key scams
Scammers ask for viewing keys, for example posing as support staff or "recovery" services. A viewing key cannot spend your funds, but it tells the scammer exactly how much you hold, which makes you a target for follow-up phishing and worse. Never send any key to someone who contacted you first. See Zcash scams.
How to find your viewing key
Wallets put the export option in different places, usually under settings, account details or "export viewing key". Not every wallet offers it. Look for the words "viewing key", "uview" or "watch-only". If a wallet shows you a 24-word phrase instead, stop: that is your seed, and it controls your funds.
Viewing keys vs transparent addresses
Some people ask why they should not just use a transparent address if they want someone to see their activity. The difference is control: a transparent address shows your activity to the whole world forever, while a viewing key shows it only to the people you choose. That is selective disclosure, and it is why viewing keys are central to discussions about Zcash and regulation, including the EU rules from 2027.
Good practice for sharing
| Situation | Suggested key | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant preparing your return | Full viewing key for a dedicated account | They need sends and receipts, but not your other activity |
| Proving donations received | Incoming viewing key, published | Shows money in without exposing spending |
| Watch-only phone for a hardware wallet | Full viewing key, kept private | See balance on the go while the spending key stays offline |
| Someone who messaged you first | None | Almost certainly a scam or reconnaissance |
Send keys through a channel you trust, not a public chat. Treat a viewing key like a bank statement: harmless to your funds, but revealing about you.
Limits
- A viewing key covers one account. If you have several, each needs its own key.
- A viewing key does not prove who controls the funds; it only shows activity.
- The recipient needs a wallet or tool that can import viewing keys and scan the chain, which takes time.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone steal my ZEC with a viewing key?
No. A viewing key cannot spend funds. But it reveals your balance and history, which helps scammers target you, so share it only with people you trust.
Can I revoke a Zcash viewing key?
No. To stop someone seeing future activity, move your funds to a new wallet with a new seed. Past activity stays visible to anyone who holds the old key.
What is the difference between a full and an incoming viewing key?
An incoming viewing key shows only payments received. A full viewing key also shows payments sent, so it reveals the complete balance and history.
Should I give my accountant a viewing key?
It can be a clean way to share records. Consider a separate account for the activity they need to see, and prefer an incoming key if that is enough.