Sent crypto to the wrong blockchain? Don't panic. Learn how to recover your funds with our comprehensive guide.
Understanding what went wrong is the first step to recovery. Here are the most common scenarios we see.
Sent Ethereum USDT to a Binance Smart Chain address
Solution: Import wallet seed phrase to access funds on Ethereum network
Sent BSC tokens to an Ethereum address
Solution: Import wallet seed phrase to access funds on BSC network
Sent ETH mainnet to exchange expecting BEP-20
Solution: Contact exchange support - most major exchanges can recover
Sent Bitcoin to an Ethereum address
Solution: Not recoverable - different blockchain architectures
Sent Solana to an Ethereum address
Solution: Not recoverable - incompatible address formats
Sent TRON USDT to Ethereum address
Solution: Generally not recoverable - different networks
Use our interactive decision tree to quickly determine if your funds can be recovered.
Answer a few questions to determine if your funds can be recovered.
EVM-compatible chains share the same address format, making cross-network recovery possible.
| Sent From / To | ETH | BNB | MAT | ETH | AVA | ETH | ETH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ET Ethereum | - | ||||||
BN BNB Smart Chain | - | ||||||
MA Polygon | - | ||||||
ET Arbitrum | - | ||||||
AV Avalanche C-Chain | - | ||||||
ET Optimism | - | ||||||
ET Base | - |
Detailed step-by-step instructions for each recovery scenario.
Major exchanges offer recovery services for wrong network deposits. Here's what to know.
Binance has one of the best recovery support teams in the industry. They can help recover funds sent to wrong EVM networks. Get 20% fee discount with our referral link.
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Step-by-step guide to recover tokens using MetaMask wallet.
Launch MetaMask extension or mobile app. Make sure you're logged in.
If you need to import the receiving wallet, click "Import Wallet" and enter your 12/24 word seed phrase.
Click the network dropdown at the top. Select the network where you SENT the tokens from (not where you intended to receive).
If the network isn't listed, click "Add Network" and enter the RPC details. ChainList.org has all network configurations.
Click "Import tokens" and enter the token contract address for that specific network. Find official addresses on CoinGecko.
Your tokens should now appear. You can transfer them normally or bridge to the correct network.
Recovery process for hardware wallet users is similar but requires connecting your device.
The best recovery is never needing one. Follow these tips to avoid wrong network mistakes.
Before sending, confirm both your wallet and the destination address are on the same network. Check the network selector in your wallet.
For large amounts, always send a small test transaction first. The small fee is worth the peace of mind.
Save frequently used addresses with clear labels including the network (e.g., "My Binance BSC USDT").
Verify the token contract address matches the official one for that specific network.
Exchanges clearly state which network to use for deposits. Read the deposit page carefully.
Major exchanges like Binance offer recovery services. Smaller exchanges may not have this capability.
Learn to identify which network an address belongs to by its format.
42 characters, starts with 0x, hexadecimal
0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc454e4438f44eStarts with bc1, Bech32 encoding
bc1qar0srrr7xfkvy5l643lydnw9re59gtzzwf5mdqStarts with 1 or 3, Base58 encoding
1BvBMSEYstWetqTFn5Au4m4GFg7xJaNVN232-44 characters, Base58 encoding
7xKXtg2CW87d97TXJSDpbD5jBkheTqA83TZRuJosgAsU34 characters, starts with T
TJCnKsPa7y5okkXvQAidZBzqx3QyQ6sxMWStarts with cosmos, Bech32 encoding
cosmos1hsk6jryyqjfhp5dhc55tc9jtckygx0eph6dd02Common questions about wrong network recovery.
If you've sent funds to the wrong network on a major exchange, they can likely help you recover. Binance has excellent recovery support for EVM chain mistakes.
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