T-Address (Zcash)
In short: A T-Address, or transparent address, is one of the two main address types in Zcash, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency.
A T-Address, or transparent address, is one of the two main address types in Zcash, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency. It is used when transparency is required, so senders, receivers and amounts are visible on the blockchain, much as they are on Bitcoin.
Why it matters
Zcash's other type, the shielded address or z-address, uses zero-knowledge proofs to hide transaction details. T-addresses begin with the letter "t" and are simpler to support, so some exchanges and services accept only them for ZEC deposits and withdrawals. Moving coins from a t-address to a shielded one is called shielding, and anything sent to or from a t-address can be seen by anyone.
Example
A user withdraws ZEC from an exchange to the t-address in their wallet. On a block explorer, that transfer is fully visible, just like a Bitcoin payment. The user then moves the coins to a shielded address in the same wallet. The explorer still shows the coins leaving the t-address, but later transfers between shielded addresses reveal no sender, receiver or amount.