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GUIDEعربي + English2 min read · 2025-01-25

How to deposit crypto on-chain without losing it to the wrong network

The network is the part most people get wrong. Here is how to pick it, copy the address safely and send your first transfer to an exchange without a scare.

Sam El SamaranyCrypto educator · Content Maestro, Binance Angels Award 2024
Key takeaways
  • The sending and receiving network must match exactly, or the funds can get stuck.
  • Always copy and paste addresses. Check the first and last 4 characters.
  • If the exchange shows a memo or tag, you must include it.
  • For a first transfer or a new network, send a small test amount first.

01Why the network matters

Every on-chain transfer travels on a specific blockchain network. The same coin, like USDT, can exist on several networks: Tron (TRC20), BNB Smart Chain (BEP20), Ethereum (ERC20) and others. Think of it like a courier: the address is the house, and the network is the delivery company. If you send with one company and the house only accepts another, the package never arrives.

The rule: the network you choose on the sending side must be exactly the network you selected on the receiving side.

02Step 1: Open the deposit page

  1. Log in to your exchange, for example Binance.
  2. Go to Wallet → Fiat and Spot and tap Deposit.
  3. Choose the coin you want to receive, for example USDT.

03Step 2: Pick the network carefully

The exchange shows a list of networks for that coin. This is the step that decides everything.

  • Choose the same network your sending wallet or exchange will use.
  • Sending USDT from a Tron wallet? Choose TRC20 on both sides.
  • Sending from MetaMask on Ethereum? Choose ERC20.
  • Fees differ a lot between networks. TRC20 and BEP20 are usually far cheaper than ERC20, but only if both sides support them.
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04Step 3: Copy the address and the memo

  1. Tap copy next to the deposit address. Never type it by hand.
  2. Some coins (XRP, XLM, EOS, BNB on the old Beacon chain) also show a memo or tag. If you see one, you must include it, or the exchange won’t know the deposit is yours.

05Step 4: Send from your wallet or other exchange

  1. Open Withdraw or Send on the sending side.
  2. Paste the address, then check the first and last 4 characters against the deposit page. Some malware swaps copied addresses.
  3. Select the exact same network.
  4. Add the memo or tag if there is one.
  5. Enter the amount, review everything once more, and confirm.

06Step 5: Track the transfer

Once sent, you get a transaction hash (TxID). Paste it into the network’s explorer (Tronscan, BscScan or Etherscan) to see its status. Exchanges credit the deposit after a number of confirmations, from a few seconds to several minutes.

07My golden rules

  • Match the network. If they don’t match, stop.
  • Copy, never type, and check the first and last characters.
  • Never skip the memo when one is shown.
  • Test first with a small amount on any new route.
  • Keep the TxID. If something goes wrong, it is the one thing you need.

Education only, not financial advice.

Written by Sam El SamaranyCrypto educator and Content Maestro, Binance Angels Award 2024. Education only, not financial advice.More about Sam
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