What is a memo or destination tag, and why it matters

A memo, also called a destination tag or comment, is a short note or number sent with a transaction so that one shared address can tell deposits apart. On Ghostex it matters on four networks: XRP Ledger, Stellar, Cosmos Hub and TON. If your order shows a memo with the deposit address, it is mandatory: without it, the deposit cannot be matched to your order automatically.

What does a memo or tag do?

A memo, also called a destination tag, comment or note depending on the network, is a short piece of text or a number that travels with a transaction. On some networks, many users share a single deposit address, and the memo is the only thing that tells one person's deposit apart from another's. It is like an apartment number on a shared street address: the street gets the letter to the building, and the number gets it to the right door.

Which networks use a memo or tag?

On the Ghostex asset list, four networks use a memo or tag: XRP Ledger, Stellar, Cosmos Hub and TON. Memos and tags are common on networks that were designed around shared or exchange-style addresses. The table shows what each field is called and which direction each asset works in:

On the XRP Ledger, a destination tag is a whole number from 0 to 4,294,967,295. Source and destination tags are formatted as 32-bit unsigned integers, as the XRP Ledger documentation on tags explains, so a tag never contains letters or spaces.

Send only means you can pay in that asset, so the deposit memo on your order is the one to get right. Receive only means Ghostex can pay you out on that network, so the question becomes whether your own receiving wallet or exchange needs a memo. XRP works in both directions, so both cases can apply; for the send side, see how to swap XRP to BTC with a destination tag. The current list is always on the supported assets page.

Networks like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin do not use them, because each order there gets its own unique deposit address. The rule is always the same: send exactly what your order page shows.

Why does a missing memo matter?

When your Ghostex order shows a memo for the deposit, it is mandatory. Without it, the deposit lands on the shared address with nothing to link it to your order, so it cannot be matched to your swap automatically. The funds are on the network, but the system does not yet know they are yours.

This is one of the few situations the agents cannot fully resolve on their own, because matching an unlabelled deposit depends on network details that are not always available. It is worth thirty seconds of care at send time.

How do you add a memo in your wallet?

Screens differ between wallets, but the order of steps is the same in almost every wallet and on most exchange withdrawal forms:

1. Match the asset and network to your order. Open the send screen for that asset, for example XLM on Stellar or ATOM on Cosmos Hub.
2. Paste the deposit address. Copy it from your order page into the address field.
3. Paste the memo into its own field. Copy it from the same order page, never from an earlier swap: each order has its own memo. Where that field sits and what it is called is covered below.
4. Enter the exact amount. Use the amount on your order; here is why the exact quoted amount matters.
5. Compare before you confirm. Check the address, the memo and the network against your order page, then send.

What about a memo on your payout address?

The memo on the deposit is about getting funds to Ghostex. A memo on your own receiving address is a separate thing. If you are receiving into an exchange account or a shared wallet that needs a tag, add it to the destination fields on your order so your payout is credited correctly. For a personal self-custody wallet, a payout memo is usually optional unless your wallet asks for one.

Common memo mistakes

• Deposit memo and payout tag swapped. Entering one in place of the other leaves the deposit unmatched or the payout uncredited.
• A payout tag left out. For an XRP or GRAM payout to an exchange account, copy the tag from that exchange's deposit screen. A payout cannot be recalled once it is broadcast, including one sent without a tag your destination required.

What happens if you send without a memo?

A deposit without a required memo is not an automatic-refund case. Automatic refunds cover cases such as an amount outside the limits, a late deposit or a pair paused before execution. The Terms (section 12) exclude a deposit without a required memo or tag, a deposit on the wrong network and a deposit of a different asset. Where recovery is technically possible, Ghostex may attempt it, and the network and handling costs may be deducted.

Keep your order ID and the transaction hash. Together they are what links a deposit to your order. Contact support with both, through the support page. Matching a deposit that arrived without a required memo takes longer and cannot be guaranteed, which is exactly why the field is marked mandatory before you send.

Where is the memo field in your wallet?

In most wallets that support these networks, the memo or tag sits in its own box on the send screen, next to the address and amount. It may be labelled Memo, Tag, Destination Tag, Comment or Note depending on the wallet and the network. If you are sending from an exchange, the field is usually on the withdrawal form. If you genuinely cannot find a field and your order requires one, do not send from that wallet. Use one that supports the memo, or you risk a deposit the system cannot match.

Sending a stablecoin is a common place to meet this, because the network matters as much as the memo. See USDT on Tron vs Ethereum, and check the network badge and memo on your order before you send. If your USDT was already sent on the wrong network, here is what can still be done. The FAQ lists the networks that use tags, and you can review each asset on the supported assets page. New to swapping without an account? Start with what a no-KYC crypto exchange is and how it works.