Memo and tag: what they are and when your deposit needs one
Short answer
A memo or tag is an extra number or code that some coins need on top of the address. Exchanges often have many users share one deposit address and use the memo or tag to tell them apart. If the deposit page shows one, always include it when you send coins there.
- Copy both the address and the memo from the deposit page. You need both.
- Forgot it? Ask for help only through the exchange's official help centre. Getting it back isn't certain.
In one line
A memo and a tag do the same job: an extra “apartment number” on top of the address, so the exchange knows whose coins arrived.
An example
You’re moving XRP from one exchange to another.
- The receiving exchange’s deposit page gives you an address and a tag number.
- When you withdraw, fill in both. With only the address, the XRP reaches that exchange, but it can’t tell whose account to put it in.
Related
FAQ
Which coins need a memo or tag?
Coins such as XRP and XLM. Go by the exchange's deposit page: if it shows a memo or a tag, include it.
I forgot the memo. Is my crypto lost?
Not necessarily, but it won't reach your account on its own. Ask for it to be recovered through the help centre on the exchange's official site. It can take a while and may cost a fee. Anyone who contacts you offering to recover it is a scammer.
Do I need a memo when withdrawing to my own wallet?
It depends on where it's going. A personal wallet address is usually yours alone, so you don't need one. If you're sending to another exchange, use whatever its deposit page shows.