On the XRP Ledger, many exchanges and payment services receive deposits from thousands of customers on a single shared address. The destination tag is how they know which customer a payment belongs to. Forget it, and your XRP reaches the right address but not the right account.
What is a destination tag?
A destination tag is a whole number attached to an XRP payment. Technically it is a 32-bit unsigned integer, so it can be anything from 0 to 4294967295. It is not part of the address itself; it travels as a separate field of the transaction. Wallets usually label it Destination Tag, Tag or Memo.
Think of the XRP address as the street address of a large building and the tag as the apartment number. The ledger delivers the funds to the building; the tag tells the building's owner whose apartment they belong to.
When do you need one?
- Sending to an exchange or swap service: almost always. If the deposit screen shows a tag, it is mandatory.
- Sending to a personal wallet you control (Xaman, Ledger, Trust Wallet and similar): usually not. A self-custody address belongs to one person, so there is nothing to separate.
- Receiving accounts with the "require destination tag" flag: some addresses are configured to reject any payment without a tag. In that case your wallet will refuse to send until you add one.
Where to find your destination tag
On an exchange, open Deposit → XRP. The screen shows two values: the address (starting with r) and the tag. Copy both. Tags are usually fixed per account, but some services generate a new one per deposit or per order, so always copy the value shown for the transaction you are making.
When you swap XRP on our exchange, the order page shows a unique tag for your order next to the deposit address. That tag is what links your payment to your order automatically.
How to send XRP with a tag, step by step
- Copy the receiving XRP address and paste it in your wallet's send screen.
- Find the field called Destination Tag, Tag or Memo — it is sometimes hidden behind "Advanced" or "Optional".
- Paste the tag exactly. It is digits only: no letters, spaces or leading text.
- Enter the amount and review both values before you confirm.
XRP Ledger payments typically settle within a few seconds, so you can check the result almost immediately on an explorer such as XRPScan or Bithomp by searching for your transaction hash.
What if you forgot the destination tag?
Do not panic: the funds are not destroyed. They sit in the receiving service's shared wallet without being matched to you. Contact the receiving service's support with:
- the transaction hash,
- the amount and the exact time you sent it,
- your sending address and, for an exchange, your account details.
Most services can credit the deposit manually after verifying ownership, although it can take longer than a normal deposit and some charge a recovery fee. On our exchange, the same information lets us match a payment to your order.
Destination tag vs. memo on other networks
The idea is not unique to XRP. Stellar (XLM) uses a memo, TON uses a comment, and some other chains use similar fields. The rule is the same everywhere: if the receiver shows one, include it exactly.
The XRP account reserve
Every XRP Ledger account must hold a small minimum balance called the base reserve, which cannot be sent away. The amount is set by the network's validators and has been lowered over time (it is currently 1 XRP). This matters when you send to a brand-new personal address: the first payment must be at least the reserve, or the ledger will reject it. Exchanges already have funded accounts, so this does not apply when you deposit to them.
Swapping XRP
If you want to move out of XRP, you can convert it directly, for example XRP to USDT or XRP to BTC. Use the form at the top of this page: you will see the deposit address and your order's tag before you send anything.
How to recognise an XRP address
Classic XRP addresses start with a lowercase r and are 25 to 35 characters long, for example rKmaq…. Some wallets also show an X-address, a newer format starting with X that packs the address and the destination tag into a single string. If a service gives you an X-address, you do not need to enter a separate tag — but if your wallet does not support X-addresses, ask the receiver for the classic address and tag instead.
Security tips for XRP transfers
- Copy, never type. Paste both the address and the tag, then compare the first and last characters of the address.
- Watch for clipboard malware. Some malicious software replaces copied crypto addresses with the attacker's. Re-check after pasting.
- Send a small test first for large amounts, especially the first time you use a new service.
- Never share your secret key or family seed. Support teams never need it to recover a deposit.
Quick checklist
Before you press send: correct r… address, correct destination tag, enough XRP above your own account reserve, and the amount shown on the deposit or order page. If all four match, the payment will be credited automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Is the XRP destination tag the same as a memo?
They serve the same purpose. Most wallets call it a destination tag on XRP; some label the field "memo" or "tag". It is always a number.
Can I reuse an old destination tag?
Only if the service tells you the tag is permanent for your account. For order-based services, use the tag shown for that specific order.
Do I need a destination tag to send XRP to my own wallet?
Usually not. Self-custody wallets have their own address, so no tag is needed unless the wallet specifically asks for one.
What happens if I enter the wrong destination tag?
The XRP arrives at the service but may be credited to nobody or to the wrong account. Contact the service with the transaction hash as soon as possible.