Subaddresses

Subaddresses are multiple receiving addresses derived from a single wallet or master key pair, used in some privacy-focused systems to improve payment organization and unlinkability. They are especially common in cryptocurrencies such as Monero, where a user can generate many distinct addresses from one wallet while retaining a single control point for funds.

In practice, a subaddress appears to others as an independent public address, separate from the main address. Payments can be sent to any of a user’s subaddresses, and the recipient’s wallet is able to recognize and consolidate incoming funds across all subaddresses using the wallet’s private keys. This allows a user to receive funds for different purposes (for example, different vendors or projects) without reusing the same address.

The primary benefit of subaddresses is enhanced privacy. By aggregating payments across many addresses, it becomes harder for external observers to link transactions to a single origin. Subaddresses also offer practical advantages for budgeting and accounting, enabling users to track funds sent to specific subaddresses without exposing the main address.

However, subaddresses come with considerations. Not all wallets or services support them, and users must rely on compatible software to generate and monitor subaddresses. Backups typically cover all subaddresses when using a seed or mnemonic, but not all workflows handle subaddress management consistently. Finally, while subaddresses improve privacy, they are not a panacea; behaviors such as address reuse or metadata leakage can still affect anonymity.

See also: hierarchical deterministic wallets, child addresses, stealth addresses.