You receive crypto by giving the sender your wallet address for the exact asset and network they're sending, plus a memo or destination tag if that asset requires one. The sender enters it, and the crypto arrives once the network confirms it. The detail that trips people up is that each asset and network has its own address, and receiving on the wrong one can lose the funds. This guide, part of our crypto learning guides, covers finding the right address, sharing it safely, and how long receiving takes.
Receive crypto with the Bitcoin.com Wallet app:
- Open the Bitcoin.com Wallet app and tap Receive
- Select the asset, and the network, you want to receive
- Copy the address or show the QR code, plus a memo or tag if the asset needs one
What is a crypto address?
A crypto address is a string of letters and numbers that tells a network where to deliver funds. It works a bit like a bank account number, and your wallet creates one for each asset it holds. Addresses can also be shown as a QR code, which is the simplest way to receive in person.
Give the sender the right address for the right network
This is the step that matters most, and it's where receiving crypto differs from receiving a single coin. An address belongs to a specific asset on a specific network, so you have to hand over the one that matches what's being sent.
A few points worth knowing from that table. A single Ethereum address receives ETH and every token built on Ethereum, so you don't need a separate one for each ERC-20 token. But a token that exists on several networks needs the address for the specific network you're using, which is why it helps to agree the network with the sender first. The simple rule is to use the same blockchain on both ends: send bitcoin to a Bitcoin address, and Ether or ERC-20 tokens to an Ethereum address. Moving an asset from one network to another isn't a normal receive; it uses a cross-chain bridge.
Do I need a memo or destination tag to receive?
For most assets, no. But a few, such as XRP and Stellar, use an extra identifier, a destination tag or memo, alongside the address. It matters most when you're receiving into an exchange account, because the exchange uses one shared address for many users and needs the tag to credit your balance. When you receive to a self-custody wallet, the address is already unique to you, so a tag usually isn't required. If your wallet shows a tag or memo next to a receiving address, share it along with the address.
How to find and share your address
- Open your wallet and tap Receive
- Select the asset you want to receive, choosing the correct network if prompted
- Copy the address, or show the QR code for the sender to scan
- Include the destination tag or memo if your wallet displays one
If you don't have a wallet yet, it takes a minute to create one. A self-custody, multichain wallet like the Bitcoin.com Wallet app can generate the right address for each asset and network in one place.
How long does it take to receive crypto?
Once the sender broadcasts the transfer, it typically confirms within seconds to minutes on most networks, or about ten minutes to an hour for Bitcoin. If you're receiving to a wallet you control, the balance appears as soon as the network confirms it. Receiving into an exchange account usually takes longer, because exchanges wait for a set number of confirmations, which varies by asset, before crediting your account. How many confirmations count as final differs from one asset and platform to the next, so the same transfer can be spendable instantly in your own wallet yet still pending on an exchange. You can watch a transfer's progress by entering its transaction ID into a blockchain explorer for that network.
Is it safe to share my crypto address?
Yes. You can safely give your address to anyone paying you. No one can take your crypto with the address alone; they would also need your private key, which never leaves your wallet.
There is one privacy point to know. Most crypto networks are public, so anyone with your address can look it up in a block explorer and see its balance and history. To keep your activity more private, use a fresh address for each transaction where your wallet allows it. Many self-custody wallets, including the Bitcoin.com Wallet, let you generate more than one address for the same asset, so you can hand a different one to each sender and keep your funds harder to trace. Older addresses keep working, so anything sent to them still arrives.
Receiving safely: what to check
- Share the address for the exact asset and network being sent. The right coin on the wrong network can be lost. Confirm both with the sender.
- Include the destination tag or memo when your wallet shows one. This matters most for exchange deposits.
- Confirm receipt in your own wallet. Watch the balance update rather than trusting a screenshot from the sender, and keep a wallet backup so you never lose access to what you receive. Bitcoin.org's security guidance is a useful reference.
Receiving crypto with confidence
Receiving crypto comes down to giving the sender the right address for the right asset and network, adding a tag or memo when required, and waiting for the network to confirm. Agree the network up front, use a fresh address when privacy matters, and it's a simple, safe process. For receiving Bitcoin specifically, see our guide on how to receive Bitcoin, and to move crypto the other way, see how to send it. You can also learn how to buy, sell, and use crypto across our crypto learning guides.
