Choosing the right network (ERC-20, TRC-20, BEP-20)

Many tokens exist on several blockchains at once. USDT, for example, is issued on Ethereum (ERC-20), Tron (TRC-20), Solana, BNB Chain (BEP-20) and others. When you deposit or withdraw, an exchange asks which network to use, and the choice matters.

Both the sending and receiving side must use the same network. If you withdraw USDT on Tron to an address that only supports Ethereum, or send to an exchange that does not support that network for that token, the funds may be lost or require a costly manual recovery. Some addresses look alike across networks: Ethereum, BNB Chain and other EVM chains all use addresses starting with "0x".

Fees differ hugely. Sending USDT on Ethereum's main network can cost several dollars at busy times, while Tron, Solana and layer-2 networks are usually much cheaper. Always check that the destination supports the network, send a small test amount first, and include any memo or tag required.