monero-site/resources/moneropedia/viewkey.md

layout	entry	terms	summary
moneropedia	View Key	view-key view-keys	one of two sets of private and public cryptographic keys that each account has, with the private view key required to view all transactions related to the account

The Basics

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Monero features an opaque blockchain (with an explicit allowance system called the @view-key), in sharp contrast with transparent blockchains used by any other cryptocurrency not based on CryptoNote. Thus, Monero is said to be "private, optionally transparent".

Every Monero address has a private viewkey which can be shared. By sharing a viewkey a person is allowing access to view every incoming transaction for that address. However, outgoing transactions cannot be reliably viewed as of June 2017. Therefore the balance of a Monero address as shown via a viewkey should not be relied upon.