Once you’ve bought a stablecoin, the next decisions are where to keep it and, if you’re moving it anywhere, how to send it correctly. Getting the sending part wrong is one of the few genuinely unrecoverable mistakes in crypto, so this page focuses on that specifically. If you haven’t bought one yet, start with how to buy a stablecoin; if you’re still deciding which coin, see the Stablecoin Directory.
Custody: exchange wallet vs. your own wallet
Leaving a stablecoin on the exchange you bought it from is simple and fine for many purposes — it’s already there, ready to trade or withdraw. Moving it to a wallet you control instead means you hold the private keys yourself, rather than trusting the exchange’s custody. Both are legitimate choices depending on what you’re doing with the coin; this site does not tell you which one is “correct” for your situation.
Why the network matters when sending
A stablecoin like USDT exists on multiple separate blockchain networks — at minimum Tron (TRC-20), Ethereum (ERC-20), and BNB Chain (BEP-20), often several more. Each network is its own separate ledger with its own fees and its own address format. The recipient’s wallet or exchange deposit address only accepts the coin on a specific network, and sending on the wrong one is the single most common way stablecoin transfers go wrong.
Checking the address format before you send
A simple, genuinely useful sanity check: a Tron (TRC-20) address starts with the letter T. An Ethereum (ERC-20) address starts with 0x. Before confirming any send, match the network you’ve selected against the format of the address you’re sending to — if they don’t match, stop and double-check rather than proceeding. Reported real-world costs and speeds vary by network condition, but TRC-20 transfers are commonly cited around $1 and a few seconds, while ERC-20 transfers commonly run several dollars to well over $10; these are approximate, not fixed, figures.
What happens if you choose the wrong network
If you send a stablecoin to an address on a network the recipient’s wallet or exchange doesn’t support for that deposit, the funds are typically unrecoverable through normal means — there is no “undo” on a blockchain transaction, and support processes for recovering misdirected sends are limited and not guaranteed. This is the single highest-stakes mistake covered on this site, which is why it gets its own section rather than a passing mention.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safer to leave my stablecoin on the exchange or move it to my own wallet?
Neither is universally safer u2014 leaving it on the exchange means trusting the exchange's custody; moving it to your own wallet means you're solely responsible for keeping your keys safe. The right choice depends on your situation.
How do I know which network to use when sending?
Match whatever network the recipient's wallet or exchange deposit address specifies u2014 check their deposit screen, not just the coin name, since the same coin can exist on several separate networks.
What does it mean if an address starts with 0x versus T?
0x indicates an Ethereum-style (ERC-20) address; T indicates a Tron (TRC-20) address. Checking this before sending is a genuine, practical safeguard against sending on the wrong network.
Can a wrong-network transfer be reversed?
Generally no. Blockchain transactions don't have an 'undo,' and recovery options for misdirected sends are limited and not guaranteed, which is why matching the network before sending matters so much.