How to send crypto

You send crypto by choosing the asset, entering the recipient's address for the matching network, adding a memo or destination tag if that asset requires one, setting a fee, and confirming. The part that makes sending crypto different from sending a single coin is that crypto spans many networks, and sending on the wrong network, or leaving out a required tag, can lose your funds for good. This guide, part of our crypto learning guides, covers the checks that prevent that, the steps, and the fees.

Send crypto with the Bitcoin.com Wallet app:

1. Open the Bitcoin.com Wallet app and tap Send
2. Choose the asset, then paste or scan the recipient's address
3. Add a destination tag or memo if that asset requires one
4. Enter the amount, choose a fee, review, and confirm

How long does it take, and what does it cost?

Both depend on the asset and its network. A transfer broadcasts within seconds, but confirmation time varies: Bitcoin usually settles in about ten minutes to an hour, while many other networks confirm in seconds to a few minutes. Fees vary the same way. You pay them in the network's own asset (for example, an Ethereum-based transfer is paid in ETH, a Bitcoin transfer in BTC), and the amount rises and falls with how busy that network is. There's no universal minimum, though very small transfers can cost more in fees relative to their value.

Before you send: the three checks

Almost every lost-crypto story comes down to skipping one of these. They take seconds and they are the whole point of sending safely.

1. Match the asset and the network

A recipient's address belongs to a specific asset on a specific network. The same token can exist on several networks, so USDC on one network is not interchangeable with USDC on another. Sending to an address on the wrong network can make the funds unrecoverable. If you're sending to someone else, the simplest habit is to ask which network they want to receive on. Moving assets between networks is a separate process that relies on cross-chain bridges, not a normal send.

2. Confirm the address

Crypto transactions can't be reversed. Copy and paste the address rather than typing it, or scan the QR code, and check the first and last few characters match. Watch for clipboard malware that can swap a copied address for an attacker's.

3. Add a memo or destination tag if required

Some assets need an extra piece of information alongside the address to route the funds. XRP uses a numeric destination tag; Stellar (XLM) and some others use a memo. These are usually required when you send to an exchange, because the exchange receives many users' deposits at one shared address and needs the tag to credit the right account. Leaving it out, or getting it wrong, can delay the transfer or lose it. A destination tag or memo is different from the private note some wallets let you attach for your own records, which has no effect on delivery.

Here's how the most common assets compare:

Tags and memos generally aren't needed when sending to a self-custody wallet, where the address is unique to one owner. When in doubt, check the receiving platform's deposit page, which states whether a tag or memo is required.

How to send crypto, step by step

1. Open your wallet and tap Send
2. Choose the asset you want to send
3. Paste or scan the recipient's address, making sure it matches the asset's network
4. Add the destination tag or memo if the asset and receiver require one
5. Enter the amount, in crypto or your local currency
6. Choose a network fee, review every detail, and confirm

You can check a transfer's progress by entering its transaction ID into a blockchain explorer for that network.

Network fees and choosing a speed

Every transfer pays a fee to the network that processes it, not to Bitcoin.com. The way that fee is calculated differs by network: Bitcoin measures it by transaction data size, while Ethereum and similar networks price it as "gas" that rises when the network is busy. Roughly how the common networks compare:

One gotcha catches many beginners: you pay the fee in the network's own asset, so to move a token you need a little of its host coin on hand. Sending an ERC-20 token, for example, requires some ETH in your wallet to cover the gas, even though you're moving a different token.

Two transfers of the same amount can even cost different fees. If your balance was built up from many small deposits over time, spending it bundles all those pieces together, which takes more data than sending a single large amount. So a wallet funded by a hundred tiny receipts costs more to send from than one funded by a single purchase, even when the amount leaving is identical.

Most wallets let you pick a speed, and a self-custody wallet that lets you set your own fee usually costs less than a service that fixes it. Our guide to network fees explains how they're calculated. As a rule, pick a faster fee for time-sensitive transfers and a lower one when you can wait.

Sending to an exchange versus a wallet

Sending to a self-custody wallet is straightforward: the address is unique to the owner, and the funds appear once the network confirms them. Sending to an exchange account has two extra considerations. First, many exchange deposits require the destination tag or memo described above. Second, exchanges usually wait for several confirmations before crediting your balance, so it can take longer to show up than a wallet-to-wallet transfer.

If something goes wrong

• Wrong network or missing tag: because transfers can't be reversed, recovery isn't guaranteed. If the funds went to an exchange, contact its support with your transaction details as soon as possible. This is why the checks above matter so much.
• Stuck transaction: a fee set too low can leave a transfer unconfirmed. Some wallets let you speed it up by raising the fee. Otherwise it may eventually be dropped and the funds returned to you.
• Tracking: use a blockchain explorer for the relevant network to see whether a transfer is pending or confirmed.

Sending safely: mistakes to avoid

• Verify the address and the network together. The right address on the wrong network still loses funds.
• Do a test transaction for large amounts. Send a small amount first, confirm it arrives with any required tag, then send the rest.
• Consider address whitelisting for large or repeat transfers. Many exchanges and some wallets let you save a list of approved addresses and only send to those, which blocks a transfer to an unrecognized or tampered address.
• Include the memo or destination tag when required. Assume it's required if the receiving platform shows the field.
• Never share your recovery phrase. No one needs it to receive a transfer from you. Keeping a wallet backup protects your funds, and Bitcoin.org's security guidance is a good reference.

Sending crypto with confidence

Sending crypto is safe and quick once the three checks are second nature: right asset and network, correct address, and a memo or tag when required. Start with a small test for anything large, and pick a fee that matches how soon it needs to arrive. For sending Bitcoin specifically, see our dedicated guide on how to send Bitcoin, and to handle the other side of a transfer, see how to receive crypto. You can also learn how to buy, sell, and use crypto across our crypto learning guides.