Beginner guide
How crypto transactions work
What happens when you send crypto: addresses, fees, the mempool, confirmations and why transfers cannot be undone.
Short answer
You sign a transfer with your key, it waits in a queue called the mempool, a miner or validator adds it to a block, and each new block adds a confirmation. Once confirmed, it cannot be reversed.
Common questions
Why did I pay a fee?
Fees pay the network to include your transaction. Busy times cost more.
How long does it take?
Bitcoin blocks come about every 10 minutes. Many other chains take seconds.
I sent to the wrong network. Now what?
Sometimes it can be recovered, sometimes not. Read our guide before trying anything.
Can I cancel a transaction?
Not once it is confirmed. Always check the address and network first.
Learn it properly (free)
- Lesson 5: What a transaction is
- Lesson 6: What a network fee is
- What Is a Mempool?
- Sent crypto to the wrong network? What to do
- How to read a transaction on a block explorer
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Education only. Not investment advice. We do not pick coins.