A crypto transfer looks like one tap, but it passes through several distinct stages. Knowing them explains why a transfer takes time and why some mistakes can't be undone.
Published September 30, 2026 · 2 min read
You start by entering the receiver's address and the amount, and by choosing the network. The transaction goes from your address to the receiver's address on that particular network. Your wallet then signs it with the key that controls your address. Only after that does the transaction leave your device and enter the network.
Signing is how the network knows the transfer was authorised by whoever controls the sending address. The controlling key produces the signature, and without it no one can move the funds. This is why the key matters more than any password screen on top of it. Once the transaction is signed and sent, the instruction cannot be edited.
After signing, the transaction is broadcast to the network. It does not arrive immediately: it waits to be included in a block, and it pays that network's fee for the inclusion. Each blockchain has its own fee, so the same transfer can cost different amounts on different networks. Until a block includes it, the transfer is sent but not yet recorded.
Once the transaction is in a block, it has its first confirmation. Each further block that follows adds another, and the more confirmations there are, the more settled the transfer is. There is no single number that suits every case: the receiving service decides how many it requires. A custodial wallet credits the transfer automatically once that threshold is reached.
| Stage | What happens | Who acts | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signing | The transaction is signed with the key that controls the sending address | You | Receiver's address and network |
| Broadcast | The signed transaction is sent to the network | Your wallet | That the network fee is covered |
| Inclusion in a block | The transaction is recorded in a block and pays the network fee | The network | Nothing to do, just wait |
| Confirmations | More blocks follow and the transfer becomes more settled | The network | How many the receiver requires |
| Crediting | A custodial wallet credits the funds automatically | The receiving wallet | Minimum deposit and correct network |
In a custodial wallet, an incoming deposit is credited automatically after the network confirms it. That takes from a few minutes to about an hour, depending on the blockchain. In Nexus Pay, each deposit address belongs to one network, and every network has a minimum deposit amount shown in the app. A deposit below the minimum is not credited, so check it before you send.
The most common problems come from the address and the network, not from the transfer itself. Blockchain transfers are irreversible: nobody can bring back a transfer sent to the wrong address. Sending a coin through a different network than the address was issued for means it will not arrive, and it cannot be reversed. Before sending, check:
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