How to Send Bitcoin to Another Person or Wallet

The basic steps to send bitcoin

Sending bitcoin requires three pieces of information: the recipient's wallet address, the amount you want to send, and a small fee that goes to the network (not to the recipient). You initiate the transaction through whatever platform holds your bitcoin — a cryptocurrency exchange like Coinbase or Kraken, a wallet app on your phone, or a hardware wallet like Ledger. The transaction then broadcasts to the bitcoin network, where it waits to be confirmed by miners. Confirmation typically takes 10 minutes to a few hours, depending on how busy the network is and what fee you paid.

The actual mechanics are the same whether you are sending $10 or $10,000, but the stakes of making a mistake are much higher with large amounts. Bitcoin transactions are permanent — once you send it, you cannot reverse it. There is no "undo" button and no customer service team that can retrieve it if you send it to the wrong address.

Key Takeaways

• You need the recipient's wallet address (a long string of letters and numbers), the amount to send, and acceptance of a network fee before you can initiate a transaction.
• Bitcoin transactions cannot be reversed once sent, so verify the recipient's address character-by-character or by scanning a QR code rather than typing it from memory.
• Confirmation time varies from 10 minutes to several hours depending on network congestion and the fee you choose to pay.
• Different platforms (exchanges, wallet apps, hardware wallets) have slightly different interfaces, but the underlying process is the same.
• Network fees are paid to miners who process transactions, not to the recipient, and the fee amount affects how quickly your transaction gets confirmed.

Getting the recipient's wallet address

The recipient must give you their wallet address before you can send anything. A wallet address looks like a random string of 26 to 35 characters — a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers. An example might be 1A1z7agoat2YYSW3wWNhSo3RN1AYwgG2gg, though real addresses are longer and different. The recipient can share this address as text, or more commonly, as a QR code that you can scan with your phone's camera.

Ask the recipient to copy and paste their address directly from their wallet app or platform, rather than typing it out. A single wrong character will send your bitcoin to an address that belongs to nobody, and the bitcoin will be lost forever. If they give you a QR code, use your phone's camera or the QR scanner built into your wallet app to read it — this eliminates the risk of a typo.

Some recipients may ask you to send to a username or email address instead of a long wallet address. This is only possible if you are both using the same platform (like sending from one Coinbase account to another Coinbase account). In that case, the platform handles the address translation behind the scenes. If you are sending to someone on a different platform or to a hardware wallet, you must use the actual wallet address.

Choosing where to send from

Your options depend on where your bitcoin is currently stored. If you hold bitcoin on an exchange like Coinbase, Kraken, or Gemini, you can send directly from that exchange's website or app. If you use a mobile wallet app like Blue Wallet, Trust Wallet, or Electrum, you send from that app. If you own a hardware wallet like Ledger or Trezor, you connect it to your computer and send through the wallet's software.

Each platform has a slightly different interface, but they all ask for the same information: where the bitcoin is going (the recipient's address), how much to send, and what fee to pay. Some platforms let you choose your fee; others set it automatically based on current network conditions. Exchanges and apps typically charge no additional fee on top of the network fee — they just pass along what the miners require. Hardware wallets also charge only the network fee.

Understanding network fees and confirmation time

Every bitcoin transaction requires a network fee, which is paid to the miners who process and confirm transactions. This fee is separate from any fee the platform itself might charge (though most do not charge an additional fee on top of the network fee). The network fee is measured in satoshis per byte — a unit of data size. Higher fees mean your transaction gets priority and confirms faster. Lower fees mean your transaction waits longer in the queue.

When you initiate a send, your platform will show you the current fee estimate. On a quiet day, a standard fee might confirm in 10 to 30 minutes. On a busy day, the same fee might take several hours. If you choose a lower fee to save money, confirmation could take 12 hours or longer. If you choose a higher fee, you might see confirmation in 10 minutes. Most people choose the "standard" or "normal" fee option, which balances cost and speed.

Once your transaction is broadcast to the network, you can see it in a block explorer — a public record of all bitcoin transactions. Search for your transaction using the transaction ID (a long string your platform gives you after you send). The block explorer will show you how many confirmations your transaction has received. Most merchants and platforms consider a transaction final after 3 to 6 confirmations, which typically takes 30 minutes to an hour.

Verifying the address before you send

Before you click the final "send" or "confirm" button, your platform will show you a summary of the transaction. At this point, you must verify that the recipient's address is correct. Do not rely on memory or a quick glance. Compare the address character-by-character, or better yet, use a QR code so there is no room for error.

A common scam involves malware that replaces a copied wallet address with the attacker's address. If you copy and paste an address, paste it into a text editor first to verify it is what you intended, then copy it again into your wallet app. Some wallet apps show you the first few and last few characters of the address as a final check — use this feature if it is available.

Once you confirm the transaction, it is sent to the network and cannot be stopped or reversed. If you sent it to the wrong address, the bitcoin is gone. If you sent it to the right address but the recipient's wallet is not set up to receive it, the bitcoin will still arrive in their wallet — they just may not see it until they import the address or check their balance.

What happens after you send

After you click confirm, your platform will show you a transaction ID and a status like "pending" or "unconfirmed." Your bitcoin is now in the network's memory pool, waiting to be included in a block. You can track its progress using a block explorer by searching for the transaction ID. The recipient will see the incoming transaction in their wallet almost when ready, even before it is confirmed, though most wallets show it as "unconfirmed" or "pending" until it has been included in a block.

The recipient can spend the bitcoin once it has one or more confirmations, though most wait for 3 to 6 confirmations before considering it truly final. If the recipient is a merchant or exchange, they may require a certain number of confirmations before they release goods or credit your account. This is why confirmation time matters — a transaction that takes 12 hours to confirm is still valid, but it is slower than one that confirms in 30 minutes.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is sending to the wrong address. This happens when someone types an address from memory, copies a corrupted address from a phishing website, or falls for malware that replaces the address in their clipboard. Always use a QR code if possible, or copy and paste the address directly from the recipient's official wallet or website.

The second common mistake is sending the wrong amount. Double-check the amount before you confirm. Some platforms show the amount in your local currency and in bitcoin — make sure you are sending the quantity you intended, not a decimal place off.

A third mistake is paying too high a fee when you are not in a hurry. If you do not need the transaction to confirm in 10 minutes, choose a lower fee and wait. You can save money this way, especially if you are sending a large amount.

Finally, some people send a test amount first to verify the address works, then send the rest. This is a reasonable precaution if you are sending a large amount to an address you have never used before. It costs a bit more in fees, but it eliminates the risk of losing everything to a typo.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel a bitcoin transaction after I send it?

No. Once a transaction is broadcast to the network, it cannot be cancelled or reversed. If you sent it to the wrong address, the bitcoin is gone. If you sent it to the right address but made a mistake with the amount, you would have to ask the recipient to send some back — they are not obligated to do so.

How long does it take to send bitcoin?

The transaction broadcasts almost when ready, but confirmation takes 10 minutes to several hours depending on network congestion and the fee you paid. Most transactions confirm within 30 minutes to an hour. You can see your transaction in a block explorer when ready, even before it is confirmed.

Do I pay a fee every time I send bitcoin?

Yes. Every transaction requires a network fee paid to miners. The fee varies depending on how busy the network is and what priority you choose. You cannot send bitcoin without paying a fee, though you can choose a lower fee and accept slower confirmation time.

What if I send bitcoin to an exchange that does not support it?

Bitcoin will still arrive in the address you sent it to. If you sent it to an exchange address that the exchange does not recognize or support, you may not be able to access it through that exchange's interface. You would need to import the private key or use a different wallet to recover it. Always verify that the recipient's platform supports bitcoin before you send.

Can someone reverse a bitcoin transaction if I made a mistake?

No. Bitcoin transactions are permanent and irreversible. There is no customer service team that can undo a transaction or recover bitcoin sent to the wrong address. This is why verification before sending is so important.