> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cove-cash.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Cove: Private Payments on Solana Without Addresses

> Cove lets you send SOL and stablecoins privately using a single-use claim link. No wallet address needed — recipients claim with zero friction.

Cove is a private payment layer built on Solana. Instead of sharing a wallet address and waiting for the other party to send funds, you deposit SOL, USDC, or USDT into a shielded pool, receive an encrypted single-use claim link, and pass that link to the recipient through any channel you prefer. The recipient opens the link, connects any supported Solana wallet, and claims the funds — without you ever needing to know their public key.

Every standard Solana payment leaves a permanent, public record that ties sender and receiver together on-chain. For developers receiving hackathon prizes, for builders accepting grants, or for anyone who wants to settle peer-to-peer without exposing their identity wallet, that public trail is a real problem. Cove breaks the link between sender and receiver by routing funds through the Cloak ZK shielded pool. The on-chain record shows a deposit into the pool and a separate withdrawal from the pool — the two addresses are never connected.

Unlike traditional crypto payments where the recipient must first provide a public key and the sender must verify it, Cove compresses the entire interaction into a single shareable link. The recipient does not need to hold SOL to pay transaction fees — the Cloak relay covers the fee on their behalf.

## Cove vs. the old way

|                  | Traditional                            | Cove                              |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| Setup time       | Ask for address → wait → verify → send | Instantly generate link           |
| Recipient action | Must provide a public key upfront      | Just click and claim              |
| Friction         | High                                   | Zero                              |
| Privacy          | Sender and receiver linked on-chain    | Sender and receiver stay detached |

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Get started in 3 steps" icon="rocket" href="/quickstart">
    Send your first private payment in minutes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="How it works" icon="lock" href="/how-it-works">
    Understand Cove's ZK-proof flow and privacy model.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>