The two words are often used as synonyms, but they describe different things, and the difference shows up the moment you send funds. Here is how to tell them apart and what to check before a transfer.
Published September 30, 2026 · 2 min read
A coin is the native asset of its own blockchain. BTC is the coin of Bitcoin, and ETH is the coin of Ethereum. The blockchain and its coin are tied together: the coin is what that network is built around, and it does not depend on another chain to exist.
A token is issued on top of an existing blockchain rather than having its own. It borrows the host network's infrastructure to record who holds what. USDT and USDC are tokens, and each is issued on several networks. So the short version is that a coin is a network's own asset, while a token lives on a network.
| Aspect | Coin | Token |
|---|---|---|
| Blockchain | Has its own blockchain | Issued on an existing blockchain |
| Examples | BTC on Bitcoin, ETH on Ethereum | USDT and USDC |
| Networks | Native to one network | Can exist on several networks |
| Transfer fee | Paid on its own network | Paid on the host network it travels on |
| Address | Address for its own network | Address for the chosen host network |
Because a token rides on a host network, sending it still costs that network's fee and needs that network's address. The same token can exist on several networks, which is why the network has to match on both sides of a transfer. If the sender picks one network and the receiving address was issued for another, the funds may not arrive. Blockchain transfers are irreversible, so nobody can bring such a transfer back.
BTC and ETH are coins, each native to its own blockchain. USDT and USDC are tokens issued on several networks. Nexus Pay, a crypto wallet with a Visa card that opens inside Telegram, holds all four. Its deposit options reflect the split: BTC and ETH arrive over their own networks, while USDT and USDC can come in via TRC-20, ERC-20, BEP-20 or TON.
Check the network before you copy the address, not after. In Nexus Pay each deposit address belongs to one network, and a coin sent through a different network than the address was issued for will not arrive and cannot be reversed. Every network also has a minimum deposit amount shown in the app, and deposits below it are not credited. A short checklist helps:
Mostly at the moment of sending or receiving. Once funds are in a wallet, you can treat the balances as separate assets and swap between them. Swaps inside Nexus Pay cost 0% and use the exchange rate with no markup, and the amount you receive is shown before you confirm. The habit that saves money is simple: always ask which network a transfer is going through.
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