USDT is one of the most popular stablecoins on the cryptocurrency market. Its value is focused on the US dollar, but the token itself exists in several blockchain networks at once. Most often, users encounter USDT TRC20, ERC20 and BEP20.

Despite the same name of USDT, these variants work on different networks. Therefore, when making a transfer, it is important to choose correctly not only the recipient's address and amount, but also the blockchain. An error in choosing a network can lead to problems with crediting funds.

What is USDT?

USDT, or Tether, is a stablecoin whose value aims to match the value of one US dollar.

USDT is issued on several blockchains. Therefore, when making a transfer, the user selects a specific network:

TRC20 — TRON network.

ERC20 — Ethereum network.

BEP20 — BNB Smart Chain network.

The amount remains expressed in USDT, but technically the tokens exist on different blockchains and are not automatically interchangeable.

What is USDT TRC20?

TRC20 is a token standard on the TRON network.

USDT TRC20 is widely used for transfers between wallets, exchanges, and exchange services.

A TRON network address usually starts with the letter T.

TRX is used to pay network fees on TRON. If USDT is sent from your own cryptocurrency wallet, you may need to have TRX to complete the transaction.

Before making a transfer, you need to make sure that the recipient supports the TRON / TRC20 network.

What is USDT ERC20?

ERC20 is a token standard for the Ethereum blockchain.

Ethereum addresses usually start with 0x.

Network fees in Ethereum are paid in ETH. Their size may vary depending on network load and other factors.

USDT ERC20 is widely supported by cryptocurrency exchanges, wallets, exchange services, and Web3 applications.

If the recipient specified ERC20, you must select the Ethereum network when sending.

What is USDT BEP20?

BEP20 is a token standard for the BNB Smart Chain.

BEP20 addresses, like Ethereum addresses, usually start with 0x. That is why users sometimes mistakenly believe that ERC20 and BEP20 are the same network.

These are different blockchains.

BNB is used to pay network fees on the BNB Smart Chain.

The same address format does not mean that you can freely choose between ERC20 and BEP20. You must always check the network that the recipient specified.

The main differences between TRC20, ERC20 and BEP20 are:

TRC20:

network — TRON;

coin for the fee — TRX;

typical address starts with T.

ERC20:

network — Ethereum;

coin for the fee — ETH;

A typical address starts with 0x.

BEP20:

network — BNB Smart Chain;

coin for the fee — BNB;

typical address starts with 0x.

The main difference lies in the blockchain through which the transaction passes.

USDT TRC20, ERC20 and BEP20 may have the same USDT designation, but they operate on different networks.

Which USDT network should you choose?

There is no universal network that is suitable for every situation.

The correct network is the one that the recipient supports.

If the details specify USDT TRC20, you need to use the TRON network.

If it specifies USDT ERC20, use Ethereum.

If it specifies USDT BEP20, use BNB Smart Chain.

The main rule is: the sender’s network must match the recipient’s network.

Before confirming the transaction, be sure to double‑check the network name.

Is it possible to send TRC20 to ERC20?

TRON and Ethereum are different blockchains, so TRC20 and ERC20 cannot be considered interchangeable.

The same applies to other options:

TRC20 → BEP20;

ERC20 → TRC20;

BEP20 → ERC20;

BEP20 → TRC20.

You need to be especially careful when working with ERC20 and BEP20. Addresses in these networks may look the same and start with 0x, but this does not mean that the network has been selected correctly.

What will happen if you choose the wrong network

The result depends on the service or the recipient’s wallet.

In some cases, the transaction is successfully confirmed in the blockchain, but the funds do not appear on the recipient’s balance.

If this situation occurs, you need to save the transaction data and contact the service support.

It is usually helpful to provide:

TXID or transaction hash;

sender’s address;

recipient’s address;

name of the selected network;

transfer amount;

Approximate operation time.

The possibility of recovering funds depends on the specific situation and the technical capabilities of the recipient. Therefore, it is much safer to check all the parameters before sending.

How to check the network before making a transfer

Before sending USDT, it is recommended to perform a few simple steps.

First, check which network the recipient specified.

Then compare it with the network selected in your wallet or on the exchange.

Check the recipient’s address, especially the first and last characters.

Make sure the correct amount is specified.

Check the fee amount.

After that, compare the network name again, and only then confirm the transfer.

When transferring a large amount of money, and if possible, you can first perform a small test transaction.

How to find out which network USDT is on

The name USDT alone is not enough.

You can check the network information:

in the cryptocurrency wallet interface;

on the exchange withdrawal page;

on the deposit page;

in the transaction history;

in a blockchain explorer;

in the details provided by the recipient.

An address starting with T usually belongs to the TRON network.

The 0x address can be used in Ethereum and BNB Smart Chain, so you can’t determine the network based solely on the appearance of such an address.

Which network is cheaper?

The size of network fees may vary.

It depends on the specific blockchain, its current load, wallet or exchange settings, and other factors.

Therefore, before sending, it’s better to check the current fee directly in the service interface.

At the same time, you shouldn’t choose an unsupported network just to get a lower fee.

The right network is always more important than potential savings on fees.

Which network is faster?

The transfer speed also depends on several factors:

the load on the blockchain;

the number of required confirmations;

the settings of the recipient service;

additional transaction checks.

It is important to distinguish between the confirmation of a transaction in the blockchain and the actual crediting of funds by the service.

Even if a transaction has already been confirmed by the network, the service may need additional time to process it.

How to choose a network when exchanging through IXIDE

When creating an exchange request, you need to focus on the specific direction selected.

If the direction indicates USDT TRC20, the funds must be sent via the TRON network.

If USDT ERC20 is selected, you must use Ethereum.

If USDT BEP20 is indicated, use BNB Smart Chain.

Before creating an exchange request on IXIDE, you can review the available direction, rate, reserve, and exchange terms.

After submitting the application, you must use exactly the details and instructions provided for the current transaction.

It is not recommended to use details from previous applications.

Security when transferring USDT

Before sending cryptocurrency, it is recommended to check:

the recipient’s address;

the network name;

the transfer amount;

the currency;

the commission;

the validity of the details.

Special attention should be paid to the network.

An incorrectly selected blockchain is one of the reasons why the funds may not be automatically displayed to the recipient.

It is also advisable to independently verify the address after copying it. Malicious software can modify the contents of the clipboard, so it’s useful to compare the first and last characters of the address before confirming the operation.

Are TRC20 and ERC20 the same thing?

No.

TRC20 refers to the TRON blockchain, while ERC20 refers to Ethereum.

Can USDT ERC20 be sent to a BEP20 address?

Such a transfer cannot be considered safe just because both addresses start with 0x.

It is necessary to use exactly the network that the recipient specified.

Why do ERC20 and BEP20 have similar addresses?

Ethereum and BNB Smart Chain use a compatible address format, but they are different blockchains.

Therefore, it is necessary to additionally check the network name.

What cryptocurrency is needed for the fee?

For TRC20, TRX is used.

For ERC20, it’s ETH.

For BEP20, it’s BNB.

The specific terms for paying the fee depend on the wallet or service being used.

What should you do if USDT has already been sent via the wrong network?

Save the transaction TXID and contact the support service or wallet to which the funds were intended.

Do not make a second transfer until the situation with the first transaction is clarified.

The possibility of recovery is considered on an individual basis.

Is it possible to determine the network based solely on the address?

Not always.

For TRON, the address usually has a characteristic format and starts with T.

However, Ethereum and BNB Smart Chain use similar 0x addresses, so it is necessary to additionally check the selected network.

What is important to remember:

TRC20 — TRON.

ERC20 — Ethereum.

BEP20 — BNB Smart Chain.

These networks cannot be automatically replaced with each other.

Before each transfer, you must check the address, amount, and network name. The sender’s network must match the recipient’s network.

When exchanging via IXIDE, refer to the parameters of the specific selected direction and use only the current details of the current request.

Additional information about the exchange rules, security, and service operation can be found on the official IXIDE website.

USDT TRC20, ERC20 and BEP20: what’s the difference and which network to choose