Networks and chains

The route a payment takes

A cryptocurrency network is the shared system that accepts, records, and confirms transfers. You may also see the word blockchain or chain. For making a payment, you can think of all three as the route your currency uses to reach the recipient.

Bitcoin travels on the Bitcoin network. ETH travels on Ethereum. Some tokens, including USDT, are available on more than one network.

Why the network must match

The sending wallet, receiving wallet, and purchase provider must all use the same network for a transfer. USDT on Ethereum (ERC-20) and USDT on Tron (TRC-20) are separate routes. An Ethereum destination is not a Tron destination.

Choosing the wrong network can mean the recipient does not receive or cannot access the funds. Recovery may be difficult, expensive, or impossible. A service may support a currency without supporting every network that carries it.

Before sending, compare the full network name in your wallet with the recipient's instructions. Do not rely only on the currency symbol or on an address that happens to look familiar.

What the network does

When you approve a transfer, your wallet signs it and sends it to the network. The network checks that the transfer follows its rules and records it. A recorded transfer receives confirmations, which give the recipient more confidence that the payment is final.

The recipient decides how many confirmations to wait for. A transfer can appear in a wallet before the recipient marks an order as paid.

Network fees

Networks charge for processing transfers. The fee is separate from any fee charged by a purchase provider.

The currency used for a network fee depends on the network. Ethereum fees are paid with ETH. Tron activity may use network resources or TRX. A wallet normally calculates the fee and shows it before you approve the transfer.

Fees can change with network demand and with the type of transfer. Review the current estimate in your wallet rather than relying on an old example.

A safe network check

Before approving a transfer:

1. Read the currency and network requested by the recipient.
2. Select that exact combination in the purchase service or sending wallet.
3. Confirm the receiving wallet supports the same combination.
4. Review the network again on the final confirmation screen.

If the labels are unclear or different, do not send. Ask the recipient or wallet provider to confirm the exact network in writing.

Next, learn how the network destination is represented by a wallet address.