Transactions & fees 4 min read
Every move.
Made clearer.
Follow a transfer from the details you approve to the result on the network, with the costs in view.
Start reading
Before sending
Four details.
One intention.
Read them together before you approve. Some receiving services also require a memo or destination tag.
- 01 Asset
- The exact token or coin you intend to move.
- 02 Amount
- The quantity and unit, with fees considered separately.
- 03 Recipient
- The complete address, verified through a trusted source.
- 04 Network
- A chain supported by both the asset and the destination.
Understanding the cost
The amount you send.
The cost to move it.
A fee estimate reflects the action and current conditions. It can change before the transaction is confirmed.
Network fee
Pays for the network to process the action. It depends on the network, the work involved and demand for processing.
It is often paid in a native asset. For example, a regular USDC transfer on Ethereum needs ETH for gas. Check the fee currency, not just its displayed value.
Service fee
A connected exchange, bridge or other provider may charge separately for its service. Review that provider’s terms and the amount expected at the destination.
Check whether the fee is deducted from the amount you send or added on top. That changes what the recipient is expected to receive.
A limit, an estimate and a final charge.
On Ethereum, gas measures execution work. The amount of gas and the price paid for each unit are separate parts of the fee.
Gas limit
The most gas the transaction may consume. It is a work budget, not a price in ETH. Reducing it below what the action needs can cause execution to run out of gas.
Price per unit
The base fee is set by the network; a priority fee adds a tip. The maximum fee per gas caps the price you authorize. That cap is not necessarily the price ultimately paid.
Actual execution fee
Gas used multiplied by the effective price per unit gives the execution fee. Check the transaction receipt for those values instead of treating the initial maximum as the final charge.
Ethereum execution fees: gas, fee caps and actual usage. Other networks and layer-2 systems can have additional or different fee components.
What your signature means
Read the request.
Know the authority.
A transfer
Moves a defined amount to a destination. Check the actual recipient and the network on which the transfer will happen.
An allowance
Can let a contract spend tokens up to a specified limit. Check the spender and amount, including whether access continues after this action.
A message
May sign you in, authorize an order or grant another kind of permission. A request without an immediate network fee still deserves a careful read.
After submission
Follow the status.
Know what changed.
In progress
Pending
The network has not yet completed the action. Use the transaction identifier to check its progress before sending again. Replacement or cancellation depends on the network and is not guaranteed.
Included onchain
Confirmed
Check the result and confirmations required by the receiving service. Once a transfer has completed, the wallet provider generally cannot reverse it.
Another possible outcome
Failed
An attempted action can fail while still consuming a network fee. Inspect the result and charged fee before deciding whether to try again.
A common question
Confirmed onchain.
Waiting at the exchange?
Network confirmation and credit to an exchange account are separate events. A receiving service can have its own deposit minimum and confirmation threshold.
Compare the transfer with the service’s deposit instructions, including its supported network and memo requirements. If the details match, use the transaction identifier when contacting that service.
Keep your private keys and recovery information out of that conversation.
Understanding a pending request
A retry.
A replacement.
Different requests.
For ordinary Ethereum account transactions, a sequence number called a nonce determines their order. It also explains how a replacement differs from sending again.
Check the earlier transaction.
A pending transaction with an earlier nonce can hold up later ones from that account. A newer request does not automatically skip the earlier one.
Distinguish replacement from repetition.
A speed-up request uses the same nonce with a higher fee offer. A fresh payment with a new nonce is a separate action, so both payments could eventually execute.
Cancellation is a competing transaction.
A cancellation attempt replaces the pending action using that same nonce. It must be accepted before the original and can cost a fee. Submitting the attempt does not establish which transaction won.
Wallet example: MetaMask’s explanation of replacement and cancellation. Available controls depend on the wallet and network.