Educational content, not investment advice. Crypto-asset values fluctuate.

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How to send crypto without losing it — choosing the right network

One skill, and you'll send with confidence

Safe sending comes down to one thing — the right network. Once you understand it, you'll send crypto anywhere as confidently as you make a bank transfer. This lesson is where you master it.

Why does the network matter so much?

Cryptocurrencies exist on different networks (blockchains). Each network is a separate system:

NetworkCurrenciesAddress formatSpeed
SolanaSOL, USDC, USDYA long mix of letters and numbers~2 sec.
Ethereum (ERC-20 — Ethereum's token standard)ETH, USDC, USDTStarts with 0x...1-5 min.
ArbitrumETH, USDCStarts with 0x...~15 sec.

The critical difference — and how to spot it

A Solana address and an Ethereum address are different systems, so SOL only travels on the Solana network, and ETH only on Ethereum. Telling them apart is easy: the address format tells you which network it belongs to (I'll show you how below). Pick the network based on the address, and your transfer lands exactly where it should.

Address formats — how to tell them apart

Ethereum / Arbitrum address: starts with 0x, followed by 40 hexadecimal characters. E.g.: 0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595f2bD18

Solana address: a mix of letters and numbers, ~32-44 characters, no 0x prefix. E.g.: 7Xm3bGqcnV4mKwPT8UawTuFPKgPK5Gj9kP9

Simple rule

See 0x at the start? That's an Ethereum/Arbitrum address. No 0x? It's most likely Solana.

Practical table: from where / to what / which network

Transfer from a CEX (Nexo, Kraken) to a wallet

I want to sendTo walletCEX networkImportant
SOLJupiter Wallet SOLSolana (SOL)Solana network only!
ETHMetaMask ETHEthereum (ERC-20) or ArbitrumArbitrum is cheaper
USDC (Solana)Jupiter Wallet SOLSolana (SPL)Not ERC-20!
USDC (Ethereum)MetaMask ETHEthereum (ERC-20) or ArbitrumCheck the network

Transfer from wallets to DeFi protocols

ProtocolChainWalletNetwork
KaminoSOL SolanaJupiter WalletSolana
OrcaSOL SolanaJupiter WalletSolana
MeteoraSOL SolanaJupiter WalletSolana
AaveETH Ethereum/ArbitrumMetaMaskEthereum or Arbitrum
Uniswap V3/V4ETH Ethereum/ArbitrumMetaMaskEthereum or Arbitrum

Test transfer — ALWAYS first

1

Copy the address exactly

Use the Copy button in your wallet app. NEVER type it by hand.

2

Choose the right network on the CEX

Nexo/Kraken: "Withdraw" → select the network. Solana = SOL network, Ethereum = ERC-20 or Arbitrum.

3

Send a SMALL amount first

Your first transfer is a test worth $1-5. Wait until it arrives.

4

Check that it arrived

Open your wallet and check the balance. If you see it — it's safe to send the rest.

5

Send the full amount

Now you can send the full amount you intended. Same address, same network.

Bridges — cross-chain transfers

Bridges — why choose the simpler path

Bridges (cross-chain bridges — programs that move cryptocurrencies between different networks) have historically racked up the biggest losses in DeFi: Ronin bridge — $625M, Poly Network — $611M, Binance Bridge — $570M. See numbers like that, and you have to ask yourself: do I even need that bridge? Almost always, no — you can handle the cross-chain move through a CEX instead (I'll show you how below), and that risk never touches you.

When do you need a bridge?

The safest path — avoid bridges

Instead of a bridge, use a CEX as the middleman:

1

Send crypto back to a CEX

From your wallet back to Nexo or Kraken. Choose the right network.

2

Withdraw to the other network

Now the CEX will let you pick a different network. E.g., withdraw ETH via Arbitrum instead of Ethereum mainnet.

Recommended: Buy the crypto you need directly through a CEX and withdraw it to the network you need. This is safer than a bridge.

Mistake map — and how to avoid each one

Every possible mistake fits into one table, and each has a simple safeguard. Read it, and you'll know every lever in advance:

MistakeWhat happensHow to avoid it
SOL sent to an Ethereum addressMoney lostCheck the address format (no 0x = Solana)
ETH sent via the Solana networkTransaction fails or funds get stuckAlways use Ethereum or Arbitrum
Wrong network chosen on the CEXMoney can be lostTriple-check the network before confirming
Address typo (typed by hand)Money goes to an unknown personALWAYS copy, never type
No gas reserve leftYou can't make other transactionsLeave 0.05 SOL or 0.005 ETH
First transfer — the full amount right awayA mistake would hit the entire amountTest with a small amount ALWAYS first

Gas reserve — how much to leave

Every network needs "fuel" (gas) for transactions:

NetworkMinimum gas reserveRecommended
Solana0.01 SOL0.05 SOL
Ethereum0.001 ETH0.005 ETH
Arbitrum0.0005 ETH0.002 ETH

Best practice

When you send crypto from a CEX, don't send your ENTIRE balance. Leave a gas reserve, or you won't be able to do anything in DeFi protocols.

Summary

Master this one skill, and you can move money freely through your entire DeFi setup — from exchange to wallet, from wallet to Kamino, Orca, or Aave — with no bank's permission required.

Quick check
How do you recognize an Ethereum or Arbitrum address?
Practice task
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Your first transfer — test with $1-5 worth

Picking the wrong network is the most common and most costly beginner mistake — so we'll sidestep it hands-on. Send crypto from an exchange to your wallet: a test amount first, then the rest.

Your first transfer is ALWAYS a test worth $1-5. Wrong network or address = money lost for good — there's no undo button in crypto.

This is learning, not investing — use only small amounts you treat as tuition.

You just transferred crypto yourself with the right network and a test — this is exactly the skill most beginners fear and never try.

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