Back to: Crypto Fundamentals from Zero
Sending crypto is permanent. There’s no chargeback, no “I sent to the wrong address, please return.” This lesson is the checklist that keeps your first transfers safe.
The anatomy of a transfer
1. Address — the long string of letters/numbers you send to (glossary). 2. Network — which chain carries the transaction. USDT exists on several networks; picking the wrong one can make funds unreachable. 3. Fee (gas) — paid to miners/validators. 4. Confirmation — the transaction lands on the blockchain and is permanently recorded.
Safety checklist
– Copy-paste the address, don’t re-type it. Check the first and last 6 characters against what the recipient actually told you. – Match the network exactly. Sending an Ethereum token “on BSC” when the receiver expects “on Ethereum” can lose it forever. – Start with a tiny “test” transfer, then the real amount. A few cents of fee is cheap insurance. – Check the explorer after sending — see block explorers — to watch it confirm. – Never trust a “support agent” who asks you to send a ‘verification’ payment. Support never needs your crypto.
What gas actually does
Every transaction pays gas. Busy networks = higher fees; simple transfers cost less than complex contract interactions. You can always see the fee before confirming — if a transaction’s fee looks insane, you can cancel before it’s submitted.
When things go wrong
– Sent with tiny fee? It may take hours or require a resend. – Wrong network? Sometimes recoverable via recovery tools — never pay a stranger to “fix” it for you first. – Wrong address? Almost always lost. This is why you triple-check.
Rule of thumb: move slowly, move a test amount first, and always compare the
> network you’re on with the network the recipient expects.
Next lesson: staying safe — scams, phishing, and self-custody habits.