A network (or chain) is the blockchain where a transaction actually happens. Choosing the wrong one is one of the most common and most expensive beginner mistakes. This page explains the main networks, how they differ and how to recognize their addresses.
Independent blockchains with their own validators or miners and their own native coin. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Tron and TON are all layer 1s.
Networks that process transactions off the main chain and then post the results back to it, inheriting much of its security. Examples include Arbitrum, Base, OP Mainnet and Lightning.
Chains that run the Ethereum Virtual Machine. They share the same 0x… address format, so one MetaMask address works on all of them.
0x… is valid on Ethereum, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Base, Polygon and many others. If you send USDT on BNB Chain to an exchange deposit address that only listens on Ethereum, the exchange may not credit it. Always choose the network the receiver explicitly supports.The original and most secure blockchain by hashpower. It keeps functionality deliberately simple and prioritizes security and decentralization.
bc1q…, bc1p…, 3…, 1…A payment-channel network on top of Bitcoin for instant, very cheap BTC payments. It is useful for small and frequent transfers.
lnbc…, Lightning addressesThe leading smart-contract platform and the settlement layer for most rollups. It has the deepest DeFi liquidity and the widest wallet support.
0x + 40 hex charactersAn EVM-compatible chain in the Binance ecosystem. It has low fees and a large DeFi and retail user base. It is often listed as "BEP-20" on exchanges.
0x…A single fast chain that aims for sub-second confirmations and fractions-of-a-cent fees. It is popular for trading, payments and NFTs.
One of the main networks for moving USDT, especially for exchange transfers. Fees depend on "energy" and "bandwidth", which you get by staking TRX or paying for them.
TA fast, sharded blockchain integrated with Telegram mini-apps and wallets. It hosts a growing USDT market.
UQ… / EQ…A ledger optimized for payments, with settlement in a few seconds and a built-in decentralized exchange. New accounts must hold a small XRP reserve.
rA payments network designed for remittances and tokenized currencies, including a native version of USDC.
GAn EVM chain connected to Ethereum with very low fees. It is widely used for payments, gaming and stablecoin transfers.
0x…One of the largest Ethereum rollups by activity. It offers Ethereum-like apps at a fraction of the cost and is strong in DeFi.
0x…The flagship chain of the Optimism "Superchain", a family of rollups built on the shared OP Stack.
0x…An OP Stack rollup incubated by Coinbase. It has low fees, easy on-ramps from Coinbase and a large consumer-app ecosystem.
0x…A zero-knowledge rollup that proves its transactions to Ethereum with validity proofs. It supports native account abstraction.
0x…A zkEVM rollup developed by Consensys, the company behind MetaMask. It is fully compatible with Ethereum tools.
0x…A validity rollup that uses its own Cairo language instead of the EVM. Every account is a smart-contract account.
0x + up to 64 hex charactersThe EVM-compatible contract chain of Avalanche. It has fast finality and is the base for many custom Avalanche L1s.
0x… (C-Chain)A proof-of-stake chain that uses an extended UTXO model and native tokens, which do not need smart contracts to exist.
addr1A relay chain that provides shared security to connected parachains, each optimized for a different purpose.
1An "internet of blockchains". Independent chains built with the Cosmos SDK exchange tokens through the IBC protocol.
cosmos1… (other chains use their own prefix)A sharded proof-of-stake network with readable account names and a focus on chain abstraction.
name.near or 64 hex charactersAn object-centric blockchain that runs many transactions in parallel and uses the Move language.
0x + 64 hex charactersA Move-based chain that uses parallel execution to reach high throughput and low latency.
0x + 64 hex charactersA Bitcoin-derived chain with faster blocks and low fees. It is often used for payments and moving value between exchanges.
ltc1…, L…, M…An enterprise-oriented public ledger with predictable, very low fees. It is governed by a council of organizations.
0.0.12345USDT and USDC exist on many networks. The token is the same, but the network changes the fees, the speed and which wallets can receive it.
| Network | Label on exchanges | Typical fee level | Gas you need | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tron | TRC-20 | Low to moderate | TRX (energy) | Very common for exchange transfers |
| Ethereum | ERC-20 | Highest | ETH | Best DeFi support, costly for small amounts |
| BNB Smart Chain | BEP-20 | Low | BNB | Popular in the Binance ecosystem |
| Solana | SPL | Very low | SOL | Fast; recipient needs a Solana address |
| TON | TON / Jetton | Very low | TON | Integrated with Telegram wallets |
| Arbitrum / Base / Polygon | ARB / BASE / POL | Very low | ETH / ETH / POL | Check the exchange supports the exact L2 |