Currencies and assets

What is an asset?

An asset is the thing being sent. In a payment request, it may simply be called the currency. Examples include Bitcoin, Ether, Tether, Litecoin, XRP, and TRX.

Each has a short symbol:

• Bitcoin uses BTC.
• Ether uses ETH.
• Tether uses USDT.
• Litecoin uses LTC.
• XRP uses XRP.
• TRX uses TRX.

The symbol helps you check the currency, but it is not the whole payment instruction.

A currency can have more than one route

Some currencies are native to one network. BTC is used on the Bitcoin network, and LTC is used on the Litecoin network.

Tokens can be issued on other networks. USDT is a common example: USDT on Ethereum (ERC-20) and USDT on Tron (TRC-20) have the same currency name, but they use different networks and different wallet destinations.

Never choose a network because it looks cheaper or more familiar. Use the exact network the recipient supports.

Names, symbols, and amounts

A wallet may show both a cryptocurrency amount and an estimated value in your local currency. The local value can move while you are preparing a payment. The recipient should tell you whether they expect a fixed cryptocurrency amount or the cryptocurrency equivalent of a local-currency price.

Read the final amount carefully. Cryptocurrency units often use several decimal places, so a missing zero or misplaced decimal point can make a large difference.

How to read a payment request

A complete request should look like currency + network, followed by the destination and amount. For example:

USDT on Tron (TRC-20), to the address supplied by the recipient, for the amount shown on the invoice.

If the request only says “send USDT,” stop and ask which network to use. If a purchase service offers several versions of the same currency, match the full label rather than the symbol alone.

The next idea

The network is the system that records and carries the transfer. Continue with networks and chains to understand why both ends must match.