How to Move Crypto Between Exchanges (Without Losing It)

It is tempting to begin where your coins are, on the exchange you are sending from. Do the opposite. Begin on the exchange or wallet you are sending to, because that is where you learn the exact details the transfer needs.

The receiving side decides three things: which coin it can accept, which networks it supports for that coin, and the deposit address (plus a memo or tag, if the coin needs one). You cannot fill in the sending screen correctly until you have those details in front of you. Working in this order also stops a common mistake, which is picking a network on the sending side that the receiver does not actually support.

So open the receiving account first, find its Deposit or Receive screen, and get the details before you touch the funds. If you are still deciding which chain to use, our guide on choosing the right network compares the common options.

On the receiving Deposit screen, select the exact coin you plan to move. Be precise here. USDT and USDC are different tokens, and many coins exist on several blockchains at once, so the coin you pick and the network you pick are two separate choices.

After the coin, choose the network. This is the blockchain your funds will travel on, and it must be one that the sending exchange also offers for that same coin. The coin and network selected on the sending side must match a network the receiving side supports; a mismatch can leave funds stuck or lost. If the receiving side lists several networks, note which ones, so you can pick a shared option later when you set up the withdrawal.

The network is not decided by the address alone. Some chains use addresses that look almost identical, so the only reliable way to set the chain is the network selector itself. Read it carefully on both screens before going further.

Once the coin and network are set, the receiving side shows a deposit address, usually as a long string and a QR code. Copy it exactly. Do not type it by hand. For some coins, the screen also shows a second field called a memo or destination tag, and that field is just as important as the address.

Certain coins almost always need this extra field for exchange deposits. XRP, Stellar (XLM), Cosmos (ATOM), Hedera (HBAR), and EOS commonly require a memo or destination tag, because the exchange uses one shared deposit address for all of its users. The tag is how the exchange knows which customer account the deposit belongs to. If the memo or tag is missing or wrong, the funds may not be credited and can be permanently lost. Exchanges publish their own instructions; for example, see the Crypto.com Help Center for XRP and XLM.

If a memo or tag field appears, treat it as required, copy it exactly, and keep it next to the address so you can paste both on the sending side. Do not leave it blank, and never invent a value.

With the receiving details in hand, switch to the sending exchange and open its Withdraw screen. Work through these steps in order, and do not rush any of them.

1. On the sending side, open Withdraw and select the same coin you set up on the receiving side.
2. Select the same network. It must match the network you chose on the receiving deposit screen exactly.
3. Paste the deposit address, and paste the memo or destination tag into its own field if the coin uses one.
4. Double-check both. Read the whole address, not just the first and last characters, and confirm the tag matches.
5. Note the withdrawal fee and any minimum amount before you confirm the figure you are sending.
6. Send a small test amount first, then wait.
7. Wait for the required confirmations and confirm the test credited on the receiving side.
8. Once the test arrives, send the rest to the same address and tag.

The two steps people skip most are matching the network on both sides and sending a test first. Both are cheap insurance against an expensive mistake. For a deeper walkthrough of the general send process, see our guide on sending crypto safely.

Crypto transfers cannot be reversed once they are confirmed. There is no chargeback and no support line that can pull the funds back. That is exactly why you always send a small test amount to a new address first, before committing the full balance.

A test costs you only the withdrawal fee, and it proves the entire path works: the right coin, the right network, the correct address, and the correct tag if one is needed. If you got a detail wrong, you lose a small amount instead of everything. If everything is right, the test arrives and you can finish the transfer with confidence.

Wait until the test actually shows up in the receiving account, not just until the sending side says it was sent. A confirmed arrival is the only proof that matters. You can track progress yourself on a blockchain explorer; the Etherscan Information Center explains how to read these records, and our walkthrough on reading a blockchain explorer covers the same idea in plain English.

Exchanges charge a withdrawal fee, often a flat network fee, and they set a minimum withdrawal amount for each coin and network. They also apply daily or monthly limits. Those limits often start low and rise only after you complete higher verification tiers, so a large transfer may be capped until your account is verified further.

Check three numbers before you confirm: the fee, the minimum, and your remaining limit for the period. The fee is deducted from or added to the amount, depending on the platform, so the figure that leaves your account may differ from what you typed. The minimum matters for your test amount too, because a test below the minimum will be rejected. Fee schedules differ between platforms; for example, Coinbase publishes its own.

Network fees vary with congestion, and the cheapest acceptable network is the one both sides support. Picking a low-fee chain only helps if the receiving side actually lists it for your coin, so matching always comes before saving on fees.

A withdrawal is the moment an attacker most wants to control, so exchanges add friction on purpose, and you should use every layer offered. Turn on two-factor authentication for your account and for withdrawals specifically. Where it is available, enable address whitelisting, which limits withdrawals to a short list of addresses you approved in advance.

Expect extra friction the first time you send to a new destination. A first withdrawal to a newly added address often triggers extra checks or a short hold while the exchange confirms the request is really from you. This is normal and protective, not a sign of a problem. Plan for it rather than rushing, especially if you are moving funds under any time pressure.

Treat any urgency as a warning sign. Scammers push people to disable safety features or skip the test step. If you want help telling a real platform from a fake one, see our guide on spotting a fake crypto exchange before you send anything.

If you sent a tag coin without the memo or tag, the funds may sit uncredited rather than truly vanish, and recovery is sometimes possible. It usually means opening a support ticket with the transaction ID. The exchange may ask for a second small deposit from the same address with the correct tag to prove ownership. The process can take weeks to months, some exchanges charge a recovery fee, and it is not guaranteed.

If you sent on a network the receiver does not support, the outcome is harder. The transaction often looks successful on the blockchain but lands on a chain the receiving side is not watching, and there is frequently nothing the receiver can do. Recovery, where it exists at all, is slow and not promised. This is why the network match and the test amount come first.

For long-term savings, the safer home is a self-custody wallet, where you hold the keys, rather than leaving coins on any exchange. If a transfer has already gone wrong, our explainer on what to do after you sent crypto to the wrong address sets honest expectations about your options.

Should I set up the sending side or the receiving side first?

What is a memo or destination tag, and which coins need one?

Why does the network have to match on both sides?

Do I really need to send a test amount every time?

What can I do if I forgot the memo or tag, or used the wrong network?

Is it better to keep coins on an exchange or move them to a wallet?