Getting Started
Sending crypto? Check the network first.
Copying a wallet address can feel like copying a bank account number. With crypto, there is another important choice: the network used for the transfer. The address and the route both need to work for the receiving side.
The same name can come with different routes
Imagine Lina moving digital dollars from a trading platform to a wallet. The send screen offers several networks with different fees. She almost chooses the cheapest option, then checks the receiving instructions. They name a different network. This is a fictional example of a small-looking choice that can have a big effect.
A blockchain is a shared record maintained by a network of computers. Separate networks keep their own records. A cryptocurrency or token can appear in different forms across several networks. Seeing the same asset name on two screens therefore does not prove that the routes are compatible. Think of matching both the delivery address and the delivery service.
Start with the receiving instructions
First check which asset and network the receiving wallet or service actually supports. Use the current instructions inside its official app or on the website you opened yourself. A search advertisement, an old screenshot or an unexpected message should not replace those instructions. If the network name is unclear, pause before sending.
A wallet you control and an account at a trading platform also work differently. A platform needs to recognize your deposit and credit your customer account. A transfer confirmed on a blockchain does not automatically mean the amount is already available in that account. The receiving service may have its own processing steps and timing.
Compare both screens before confirming
Look at the receive screen and the send screen together. Do the asset and network match? Is the complete recipient address correct? Is the amount right? Are there any additional instructions from the receiver? Continue only when you understand those details. A familiar logo or the first few characters of an address are not enough.
Review the estimated network fee as well: the charge for processing the action. How it is paid depends on the network and wallet. Check what leaves your account against what the receiving service expects. A cheaper route is not useful if the receiver does not support it. Fees should be compared after compatibility, not before it.
Understand what a small test can show
A small test transfer can help check a route. Read the receiving service’s conditions first, because a very small transfer may not be a useful test there. Remember that a test can also incur a fee. Wait for the receiving side to show the actual result before considering any next step.
A successful test tells you something about that particular transfer. It does not prove that an unfamiliar platform is trustworthy, that later withdrawals will work or that a new address is correct. Check every later action again. There is no need to make a real transfer just to learn the ideas in this article.
If you have already sent it
Pause further transfers until you understand what happened. Keep the transaction reference, the network used and the public addresses. A transaction reference helps you find the transfer in that network’s public record, often called a blockchain explorer. It is different from a recovery phrase or private key, which must remain secret.
Many confirmed crypto transfers cannot be reversed. On some compatible networks, the same wallet may still control the assets without displaying them in its current view. A receiving service may sometimes be able to help, but recovery depends on the circumstances and is not guaranteed. Selecting another network in your wallet does not move an earlier transfer. Find the receiver’s official support yourself and never share your recovery phrase with someone promising a rescue.
Original sources & further reading
- MetaMask — sending crypto
- MetaMask — crypto sent to the wrong place
- Ethereum.org — how networks differ
Sources checked on .