What To Do If You Send Trust Wallet Funds to the Wrong Network

Andrew By
Last Updated: November 26, 2025

Sending crypto on the wrong network is one of the 1888~^825~^6148 most common issues among Trust Wallet users. With so many blockchain networks available—ERC20, BEP20, TRC20, Polygon, Arbitrum, and others—it’s easy to accidentally choose the wrong one during a transfer. The good news is that wrong-network transfers are often recoverable, depending on where you sent the funds and whether you control the receiving wallet.

This guide explains everything you need to know about recovering crypto sent through the wrong blockchain network, how to diagnose your situation, and what actions you should take immediately. It also includes practical advice for U.S.-based users dealing with exchanges such as Coinbase, Kraken, Binance.US, and Crypto.com.

Why Wrong-Network Transfers Happen

Most popular tokens—such as USDT, USDC, ETH, BNB, and MATIC—exist on multiple networks. Even though the ticker symbol looks the same, the blockchain they run on is different. This creates confusion when transferring.

Here are some common mistakes users make:

  • Sending USDT-BEP20 to a wallet expecting USDT-ERC20
  • Sending ETH-BEP20 to Coinbase (which does not support BEP20)
  • Sending MATIC on Polygon to an ERC20-only address
  • Sending BNB-BEP2 to a BEP20 wallet
  • Sending tokens on Arbitrum or Optimism to a wallet that only supports Ethereum mainnet

Each case has different recovery possibilities.

Scenario 1: You Sent Crypto to Your Own Trust Wallet but on the Wrong Network

This is the best situation because your funds are almost always safe. They simply don’t show up because Trust Wallet hasn’t added the correct network token.

For example:

  • You sent USDT-BEP20 to your Ethereum (ERC20) address
  • You sent ETH on BEP20 to your Trust Wallet ETH address
  • You sent MATIC on Polygon to your ETH wallet

Most blockchains use address-compatible formats, so the receiving address can still “hold” those tokens—you just need to enable the right network.

How to fix it

  1. Open Trust Wallet.
  2. Tap the token list toggle (top-right).
  3. Search for the network you used (e.g., BEP20, Polygon, Arbitrum).
  4. Enable the correct version of the token.
  5. If not listed, add the token manually using the contract address.

Where to get token contract addresses

  • Etherscan (ERC20)
  • BscScan (BEP20)
  • Polygonscan (Polygon)
  • Arbiscan (Arbitrum)
  • TronScan (TRC20)

Once added, your funds will appear.

Scenario 2: You Sent Crypto to an Exchange Wallet on the Wrong Network

This is the most stressful scenario and depends entirely on the exchange. Some exchanges can recover cross-chain deposits; others cannot.

Exchanges that sometimes recover wrong-network deposits

  • Binance
  • Crypto.com
  • KuCoin
  • OKX
  • Kraken (case-by-case)

Exchanges that rarely or never recover wrong-network deposits

  • Coinbase
  • Gemini
  • Robinhood
  • Revolut

What to do

  1. Contact the exchange’s support team.
  2. Provide:
    • TxID (transaction hash)
    • Token name and amount
    • Network used (ERC20, BEP20, etc.)
    • Your deposit address
  3. Wait for review.

Exchanges may charge a recovery fee and require identity verification.

When recovery is impossible

If the exchange does not support the wrong network at all, they cannot recover the funds because they don’t control the private keys for that chain.

Scenario 3: You Sent Crypto to a Wallet You Control, but the Wallet Doesn’t Support the Network

Some wallets only support a few networks.
For example:

  • Ledger Live might not show BEP20 tokens
  • MetaMask might not show BEP2 tokens
  • Coinbase Wallet might not show TRC20 tokens

What to do

  1. Add the missing network manually (MetaMask, Trust Wallet).
  2. Import the private key or seed phrase into a wallet that supports the network.
  3. Check the balance once the network is added.

Your funds will appear once the wallet recognizes the network.

Scenario 4: You Sent Crypto to the Wrong Address Entirely

If the address is random, mistyped, or belongs to someone else you do not control:

  • The transaction is irreversible
  • The funds cannot be forced back
  • Blockchain networks do not support chargebacks

This is the worst-case scenario.

However, if the address belongs to:

  • A friend
  • A wallet you own
  • An exchange account you recognize
    There may still be a way to recover the tokens.

Scenario 5: You Sent Funds to a Contract Address

Sending tokens to a contract address (like sending USDT to the USDT contract) usually results in permanent loss. Most token contracts cannot return funds, and teams rarely intervene.

How To Check If Your Funds Are Recoverable

Use these steps:

  1. Look up your TxID on the correct blockchain explorer.
  2. Verify the “To” address—is it yours, the exchange’s, or unknown?
  3. Check if that address supports the network you used.
  4. Confirm whether the wallet shows the ability to add the network.

This will tell you if recovery is possible.

How To Prevent Wrong-Network Transfers

  • Always check the network (ERC20, BEP20, TRC20, Polygon, etc.).
  • Match the network on both Trust Wallet and the exchange.
  • Send a small test transaction first.
  • Read deposit instructions carefully—especially on Coinbase and Kraken.
  • Keep network fees in mind to avoid mistakes under pressure.

Conclusion

Sending Trust Wallet funds on the wrong network is a common but often recoverable mistake.
You can typically recover your tokens if:

  • You control the receiving wallet
  • The exchange supports manual recovery
  • The network is compatible with your address

Funds are usually lost only if:

  • The destination address is not yours
  • The wallet or exchange does not control the network
  • You sent to a contract address

Understanding networks and verifying them before sending can save you from costly errors in the future.