Quick Start
Get started with Shinobi Cash in minutes.
Prerequisites
- A wallet (MetaMask, Rabby, etc.)
- Testnet ETH on Arbitrum Sepolia or Base Sepolia
Step 1: Connect Your Wallet
- Visit testnet.shinobi.cash
- Click "Sign in with Wallet"
- Connect your wallet and sign the authentication message
This signature derives your private keys for the privacy pool — your wallet never has direct access to your deposits.
Step 2: Make a Deposit
- Navigate to the Deposit tab
- Select your source chain (Arbitrum Sepolia or Base Sepolia)
- Enter the amount of ETH to deposit
- Review the fees and confirm
- Your ETH is deposited into the privacy pool
- A commitment is added to the Merkle tree
- For cross-chain deposits, a solver fills your intent on the pool chain
Step 3: Wait for Activation
After depositing, your funds need to be "activated" before you can withdraw:
- On-chain confirmation — Transaction included in a block
- Indexer sync — Our indexer detects your deposit
- ASP approval — Association Set Provider verifies compliance
This typically takes a few minutes.
Step 4: Withdraw Privately
- Navigate to the Withdraw tab
- Select a note with available balance
- Enter the recipient address (can be any address, any supported chain)
- Select the destination chain
- Review fees and confirm
- A zero-knowledge proof is generated in your browser
- The proof verifies you own a valid deposit without revealing which one
- For cross-chain withdrawals, a solver fills your intent on the destination chain
- Gas is sponsored — you don't need ETH on the destination chain
Understanding Your Notes
In the Notes tab, you'll see your deposits organized as "note chains":
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Available | Ready to withdraw |
| Pending | Waiting for activation or ASP approval |
| Spent | Already withdrawn |
Each withdrawal creates a "change note" for the remaining balance, similar to how cash transactions work.
Fees
Deposit Fees
- Compliance Fee: 1% (goes to the protocol)
- Solver Fee: 5% (cross-chain deposits only)
Withdrawal Fees
- Relay Fee: Up to 15% (covers gas sponsorship)
- Solver Fee: 5% (cross-chain withdrawals only)
Next Steps
- Privacy Pools — Understand how the technology works
- Cross-Chain Architecture — Learn about OIF and solvers
- FAQ — Common questions answered