Which Network Should I Use to Donate Crypto?
Your exchange asks you to choose a network, and the wrong choice can mean your gift never arrives. Here is the network to pick for each coin we accept, what the options in your app mean, and what to do if you get it wrong.
By Global Relief Group · Last updated:
Coin vs network
The coin is what you send; the network is the blockchain that carries it. USDT and USDC exist on several networks, and those versions aren’t interchangeable.
One network per coin
We accept USDT on TRON (TRC-20), USDC on Ethereum (ERC-20), BNB on BNB Smart Chain (BEP-20), and every other coin on its own network.
The address can’t choose for you
Several of our coins share an address, so you must select the network yourself. A wrong-network transfer can’t be reversed.
The short answer
When your exchange or wallet asks you to choose a network, pick the one in the middle column. The right-hand column shows names you’re likely to see for it; the exact wording varies by app.
| If you’re giving | Choose this network | It may be called |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | Bitcoin | Bitcoin, BTC |
| Ethereum (ETH) | Ethereum mainnet | Ethereum, ERC-20, ERC20 |
| USD Coin (USDC) | Ethereum | Ethereum (ERC-20), ERC20 |
| Tether (USDT) | TRON | TRON (TRC-20), TRC20, Tron |
| TRON (TRX) | TRON | TRON, TRX |
| BNB | BNB Smart Chain | BNB Smart Chain (BEP-20), BSC, BEP20 |
| Solana (SOL) | Solana | Solana, SOL |
| XRP | XRP Ledger | XRP Ledger, XRP, XRPL |
| Dogecoin (DOGE) | Dogecoin | Dogecoin, DOGE |
Don’t choose a network that isn’t in this table for that coin, even if your app suggests it as cheaper or faster. Common examples that we do not accept: USDT on Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Solana or Polygon; USDC on BNB Smart Chain, Solana, Polygon, Base or Arbitrum; and ETH on “layer 2” networks such as Arbitrum, Optimism or Base.
Coin vs network: what’s the difference?
Think of the coin as the money and the network as the road it travels on. Bitcoin only travels on the Bitcoin network, so there’s nothing to choose. Tokens like USDT and USDC are different: their issuers create separate versions of the same token on many blockchains. A USDT token on TRON and a USDT token on Ethereum are worth the same, but they live on different ledgers that can’t see each other.
That’s where the labels come from:
- ERC-20 is the standard for tokens on Ethereum.
- TRC-20 is the token standard on TRON. It works like ERC-20 but runs on TRON’s own blockchain.
- BEP-20 is the token standard on BNB Smart Chain, also modelled on ERC-20 but used on a different blockchain.
So “USDT (TRC-20)” means Tether’s token on TRON, and “USDT (ERC-20)” means Tether’s token on Ethereum. They have the same name and price, but they are separate tokens on separate networks.
Why USDT only on TRON and USDC only on Ethereum
Each address we publish is watched and verified on one network. Accepting each token on a single network keeps that verification reliable and gives you one clear choice to make.
- USDT (Tether) is issued on many blockchains, including Ethereum and TRON. We accept it on TRON only, and our USDT address starts with
T. - USDC (Circle) is issued natively on dozens of networks, Ethereum among them, but not on BNB Smart Chain, and Circle stopped issuing it on TRON in February 2024. A token called USDC on BNB Smart Chain is a bridged version, not Circle’s own. We accept USDC on Ethereum only.
- Retired USDT networks. Tether stopped issuing USDT on Omni (Bitcoin), Kusama and Bitcoin Cash SLP in August 2023, and on EOS and Algorand in 2024. If an old wallet still offers USDT on one of these, don’t use it to donate.
One address, several networks
Our Ethereum, USDC and BNB address is the same 0x address, and our USDT and TRX address is the same T address. That’s normal: Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain and other “EVM-compatible” networks all use the same address format, so one address can exist on all of them at once.
The consequence is important: a valid-looking address does not mean the right network. If you paste our 0x address and choose BNB Smart Chain while sending USDC, most apps will let you, because the address is valid there too. The tokens arrive on the wrong network, where we can’t credit them to your donation.
Addresses on unrelated networks look different (bc1 for Bitcoin, T for TRON, r for XRP, 0x for Ethereum), so most wallets and exchanges will flag an address that doesn’t match the network you picked. Treat that warning as a stop sign, not something to click past.
What happens if you pick the wrong network
Blockchain transfers can’t be reversed, and a wrong-network transfer is no exception. What happens next depends on the networks involved:
- Between two EVM networks (for example, USDC sent on BNB Smart Chain or Polygon to our 0x address): the tokens arrive at the same address on the other network. Getting them back requires manual work and that network’s own fees, and it isn’t always possible.
- Between unrelated networks: most apps reject the address before you can send. If a transfer does go through to an address that doesn’t exist on that network, it’s usually unrecoverable.
If it has already happened
Contact us straight away with your transaction ID, the coin, the network you used and the amount. We’ll tell you honestly whether anything can be done. Recovery is sometimes possible but it isn’t guaranteed, so please don’t rely on it. Exchanges are no different: Kraken, for example, says recovery of misrouted deposits is not guaranteed and may charge a fee to attempt it.
Speed and fees by network
Speed and cost differ a lot between networks, but for a donation the right network is always the one we accept for that coin. This table is here so you know what to expect, not to help you pick a cheaper one.
| Network | How fast blocks arrive | The fee is paid in |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | About every 10 minutes on average | BTC, based on transaction size and demand |
| Ethereum | A new slot every 12 seconds | ETH (“gas”), also when sending USDC |
| BNB Smart Chain | About every 0.45 seconds (since January 2026) | BNB |
| TRON | Every 3 seconds; final after about a minute | TRX, or staked energy and bandwidth |
| Solana | Well under a second | SOL (5,000 lamports per signature base fee) |
| XRP Ledger | A new ledger every 3 to 5 seconds | XRP (a tiny amount that is destroyed) |
| Dogecoin | About every minute | DOGE |
A 60-second check before you send
- The coin in your app matches the coin you chose on our donation screen.
- The network you selected matches the network on our screen, letter for letter.
- The address was copied fresh from our screen, and the first and last few characters match.
- For XRP, no destination tag is needed for our address.
- You have enough of the network’s own coin for the fee if you’re sending from your own wallet (ETH for USDC, TRX for USDT).
- You’re using a withdrawal to an address, not a transfer to another user of the same exchange.
Common questions
My exchange only offers USDT on Ethereum or BNB Smart Chain. What should I do?
Don’t send it on those networks. Either check whether the exchange offers TRON (TRC-20) for USDT withdrawals, or give USDC on Ethereum, or another coin we accept, instead.
Is TRC-20 USDT the same as ERC-20 USDT?
They are both Tether tokens worth one US dollar, but they live on different blockchains (TRON and Ethereum) and can’t be sent to each other directly. For a donation to us, only TRC-20 USDT will arrive where we can credit it.
Why does my app accept your address on the wrong network?
Because our 0x address is a valid address format on every EVM network, including Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon and Arbitrum. Your app can’t know which network we watch; only the network you select decides where the tokens go.
Can I use a layer 2 network such as Arbitrum or Base to save on fees?
Not for a donation to us. We only accept ETH and USDC on Ethereum mainnet, so funds sent on a layer 2 network won’t be credited to your donation.
Do I need a memo or destination tag?
No. None of the coins we accept needs a memo or destination tag for our addresses, including XRP.