To transfer crypto between exchanges, copy the deposit address from the receiving exchange, select the correct network, paste it into the sending exchange withdrawal form, enter the amount, and confirm. Transfers typically complete in one to sixty minutes. Choosing the wrong network is the leading cause of permanent fund loss for beginners.
- Always match networks: both exchanges must support the exact same blockchain (e.g., ERC-20, TRC-20, BEP-20).
- Memo/tag fields matter: for XRP, XLM, and ATOM, skipping the memo means your funds may never arrive.
- Do a test send first: send a small amount, confirm it arrives, then send the rest.
- Self-transfers between your own exchange accounts are not taxable events in India, but 1% TDS is still deducted on withdrawals above the prescribed threshold under Section 194S of the Finance Act 2022.
- Indian exchanges now collect FATF Travel Rule data on transfers above certain limits, so keep your KYC documents ready.
Before You Transfer: Networks, Memos and Whitelists
The most expensive lesson in crypto is sending USDT over TRC-20 to an exchange that only supports ERC-20. Both are USDT, but the underlying blockchains are completely different. Your funds land in a wallet the exchange does not control, and recovery is rarely guaranteed. According to Chainalysis, user errors including wrong-network sends accounted for a measurable share of the $40 billion in crypto moved to incorrect addresses globally between 2021 and 2023.
Every major Indian exchange, including CoinDCX, ZebPay, Mudrex and WazirX, lists the supported networks right next to the deposit address. Read that label carefully before you copy anything. If you are unsure whether a new listing supports a particular network, check our upcoming exchange listings tracker for network details as coins get added.
Network Matching: Quick Reference Table
| Coin | Common Networks | Memo/Tag Required? | Typical Confirmation Time | Typical Withdrawal Fee (Indian Exchanges) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USDT | ERC-20, TRC-20, BEP-20 | No | 1-5 minutes (TRC-20 fastest) | 1-2 USDT (TRC-20); 5-15 USDT (ERC-20) |
| BTC | Bitcoin (Native SegWit) | No | 10-60 minutes | 0.0001-0.0005 BTC |
| ETH | ERC-20 | No | 1-5 minutes | 0.003-0.01 ETH (gas-dependent) |
| XRP | Ripple (XRP Ledger) | Yes | Under 1 minute | 0.25-1 XRP |
| XLM | Stellar | Yes | Under 1 minute | 0.01-0.1 XLM |
| SOL | Solana | No | Under 1 minute | 0.01-0.1 SOL |
Fee ranges sourced from CoinDCX, ZebPay and WazirX fee schedules, July 2026. Fees change frequently; verify on the platform before withdrawing.
Withdrawal Whitelists
Several exchanges let you whitelist withdrawal addresses, meaning you can only send funds to pre-approved wallets. This is a strong security feature, but it adds a 24 to 48 hour delay when you add a new address. Plan ahead if you are working to a deadline.
Before any of this applies to you, your account on both exchanges needs full KYC verification. If you have not completed that yet, our guide on how to complete crypto KYC in India walks you through the PAN and Aadhaar steps on each major platform.
Step-by-Step: How to Transfer Crypto Between Exchanges
This procedure works whether you are moving crypto from WazirX to CoinDCX, from an Indian exchange to a global one, or vice versa. The logic is identical every time.
- Log in to the receiving exchange and navigate to the deposit section for the coin you want to receive.
- Select the network (e.g., TRC-20 for USDT if both exchanges support it; TRC-20 fees are typically a fraction of ERC-20 fees).
- Copy the deposit address exactly. Do not type it manually. If a memo or tag is shown, copy that separately.
- Log in to the sending exchange and go to Withdraw for that same coin.
- Paste the address into the recipient field. Double-check the first four and last four characters against the original.
- Select the same network you chose on the receiving side. This step is where most errors happen when transferring crypto between exchanges.
- Enter the memo/tag if required. Leaving it blank on XRP or XLM transfers is a common, costly mistake.
- Send a test amount first, something like Rs 200 to Rs 500 worth. Wait for it to arrive before sending the full amount.
- Confirm the full transfer after the test clears. Save the transaction hash (TXID) for your records.
The TXID lets you track the transfer on a blockchain explorer like Etherscan or Solscan. If the receiving exchange is slow to credit, paste your TXID into their support chat as proof the funds left your wallet.
Fees, Timing and TDS on Crypto Transfers in India
Crypto transfer fees are set by the sending exchange, not the blockchain itself in most cases. Indian exchanges typically charge a flat withdrawal fee per coin. For USDT on TRC-20, this is often 1 to 2 USDT. For ETH on ERC-20, it can be significantly higher depending on gas prices at the time.
On the tax side, moving crypto between your own accounts is not a taxable event in India. You are not selling or exchanging a Virtual Digital Asset (VDA), so the 30% flat tax under Section 115BBH does not apply. That said, the 1% TDS deduction under Section 194S of the Finance Act 2022 still applies at the withdrawal stage on Indian exchanges for transactions above Rs 10,000 per financial year (Rs 50,000 for specified persons). You can claim this TDS back when filing your ITR if you have no net gains. Our full breakdown of crypto tax in India covers exactly how to report this.
FATF Travel Rule: Why Exchanges Are Asking You Extra Questions
If you have recently tried to withdraw a significant amount from CoinDCX or ZebPay, you may have been asked for the name and address of the receiving exchange. That is the FATF Travel Rule in action. As of 2023, India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) had registered over 30 Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers (VDA SPs) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, all of whom are required to collect and share originator and beneficiary data on crypto transfers above certain thresholds. Our explainer on the FATF Travel Rule covers what data is collected and why it matters for Indian users specifically.
Recovering from Wrong-Network Mistakes
Sending crypto on the wrong network is one of the most searched problems in this space, and for good reason. Recovery is possible in some cases but never guaranteed, and it almost always requires contacting the receiving exchange support team directly.
If you sent ERC-20 tokens to an exchange BEP-20 deposit address, the funds are technically sitting in a wallet the exchange controls, just on a different chain. Some large exchanges have a manual recovery process, often charging a flat fee of $25 to $100 equivalent for the effort. Smaller exchanges may not offer recovery at all.
What to Do Immediately After a Wrong-Network Send
- Stop. Do not send more funds to the same address hoping to fix it.
- Copy your TXID from the sending exchange withdrawal history.
- Contact the receiving exchange support within the hour, before the transaction gets buried.
- Provide the TXID, the amount, the coin, and both network names clearly in your first message.
- Ask specifically if they offer cross-chain recovery and what the fee is.
Prevention is the only reliable strategy here. The test-send habit costs you one extra transaction fee. A wrong-network send can cost you the entire transfer amount with no recourse.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I transfer crypto between exchanges safely?
Get the deposit address and network from the receiving exchange, then go to the withdrawal section of the sending exchange, paste the address, select the matching network, enter the amount, and confirm. Always do a small test send first when transferring crypto between exchanges. The process takes under five minutes to set up, and the transfer itself usually completes within thirty minutes.
What happens if I send crypto on the wrong network?
Your funds land on a blockchain the receiving exchange is not monitoring for that address. In some cases, exchanges can manually recover the funds from the correct chain for a fee, typically $25 to $100 equivalent. In other cases, especially with smaller platforms, the funds are unrecoverable. Always verify the network label on both sides before confirming any withdrawal.
Does transferring crypto between exchanges attract TDS in India?
The 1% TDS under Section 194S of the Finance Act 2022 applies at the point of withdrawal on Indian exchanges for transactions above Rs 10,000 per financial year (Rs 50,000 for specified persons), regardless of whether you are sending to your own account or selling. However, a self-transfer between your own accounts is not a taxable disposal, so no 30% VDA tax applies. You can offset the TDS against your total tax liability when filing your annual ITR.
Why do Indian exchanges ask for FATF Travel Rule information when I withdraw?
Indian exchanges registered with FIU-IND under PMLA must comply with the FATF Travel Rule, which requires collecting the name, address, and account details of both the sender and recipient for transfers above certain limits. This is an anti-money-laundering requirement that applies globally. Read our FATF Travel Rule explainer for the full picture on how this affects Indian crypto users.
How long does a crypto transfer between exchanges take?
It depends on the blockchain. XRP and Solana transfers typically arrive in under a minute. Bitcoin can take ten to sixty minutes. Ethereum varies with network congestion. After the blockchain confirms the transaction, the receiving exchange then needs a set number of confirmations before crediting your account, which can add another ten to thirty minutes on busy networks.
The safest approach to every crypto transfer between exchanges is to slow down, verify the network twice, use the test-send habit every single time, and keep your TXID handy. These habits cost you a few extra minutes and almost zero money. Skipping them can cost you the entire transfer amount with no recourse.
This is not financial advice. Fee and threshold data sourced from CoinDCX, ZebPay, WazirX fee schedules and Finance Act 2022 (Section 194S). FIU-IND registration data referenced from FIU-IND public disclosures. Last updated: July 2026. Reviewed by the CryptoWire editorial team.
