You send crypto… and it’s just stuck. Pending. Not in your wallet. Not in the other guy’s wallet. Just floating in limbo.
Welcome to the world of network confirmations. If you don’t get this, you’ll panic every time a transfer takes longer than a few seconds.
Let’s break it down simple so you know what’s happening and when to worry.
What’s a Confirmation?
A confirmation is when a new block gets added to the blockchain and your transaction is included in it.
- 1 confirmation = your tx got picked up in the latest block.
- More confirmations = extra security that it won’t be reversed.
Each blockchain has its own rules for how many confirmations are “safe.”
Typical Confirmation Times
- Bitcoin (BTC): ~10 minutes per block. Most exchanges want 3–6 confirmations → 30–60 minutes wait.
- Ethereum (ETH): ~12 seconds per block. Most dApps settle with 1–2 confirmations.
- BNB Chain: ~3 seconds per block. Super fast.
- Solana: ~0.4 seconds per block. Basically instant.
- Tron (TRX): 1–2 seconds per block.
That’s why sending USDT on Tron feels instant, but sending BTC can feel like forever.
Why Your Transaction Is Pending
- Low gas fee
- If you set gas too low on ETH, miners/validators ignore your tx.
- Fix: speed up or cancel transaction (wallet option).
- Network congestion
- During hype (NFT mints, meme pumps), networks clog.
- Gas fees spike, pending tx pile up.
- Exchange delay
- Even after your tx confirms, CEXs wait for multiple confirmations before crediting.
- Example: Binance often requires 12 confirmations for BTC.
- Wrong chain
- Sent to a network not supported by the receiver → funds stuck until manually recovered (if possible).
Real-World Examples
- Bitcoin: Sending to Coinbase often takes ~30 minutes because they want 3 confirmations.
- Ethereum gas wars: In 2021, people paid $500+ in gas to beat pending tx during NFT launches.
- Solana memes: Degens love Solana because confirmations are sub-second, no pending stress.
How to Check Status
Use a block explorer:
- Ethereum → Etherscan
- BNB → BscScan
- Solana → Solscan
Paste your Tx Hash → see if it’s pending, failed, or confirmed.
Pro Tips
- Always leave some native coin (ETH, BNB, SOL) in your wallet to pay gas.
- If stuck pending, use “Speed Up” (higher gas) in MetaMask or cancel + resend.
- For big transfers, don’t panic if it takes time — BTC especially.
Final Word
Pending transactions aren’t bugs — they’re just waiting for confirmations.
- Fast chains (Solana, BNB, Tron): seconds.
- Ethereum: usually under a minute, unless gas war.
- Bitcoin: 30–60 minutes, patience required.
Next time your tx is pending, don’t freak out. Just check the explorer, wait for confirmations, and you’ll be fine.
Wagmi 🚀
