What ERC-20, TRC-20 and BEP-20 mean, and why the network matters when you send crypto

What is a token standard?

A token standard is a common set of rules that a token follows on a particular blockchain. Wallets and apps rely on it to recognise the token, show your balance and send it to another address. Without a shared standard, every token would need its own custom support. Think of it as a format: everything built to that format works with everything else that uses it.

What do ERC-20, TRC-20 and BEP-20 mean?

Each name points to a blockchain. ERC-20 is the standard on Ethereum, TRC-20 is the standard on Tron, and BEP-20 is the standard on BNB Smart Chain. When an app asks you to choose between them, it is really asking which blockchain the transfer should travel on. The table below sums it up.

Why does the same USDT exist on several networks?

A stablecoin issuer can release its coin on more than one blockchain. As a result, USDT can be issued as an ERC-20 token, a TRC-20 token and a BEP-20 token, one version per network. They share a name and a purpose, but each version lives on its own blockchain. A USDT balance on Tron is therefore a different token record from a USDT balance on Ethereum, even though both are called USDT.

What happens if I send a token through the wrong network?

The versions are not interchangeable at the address level, so the sending and receiving network must match. In Nexus Pay, for example, each deposit address belongs to one network. A coin sent through a different network than the address was issued for will not arrive and cannot be reversed. Blockchain transfers are irreversible, and nobody can bring back a transfer sent to the wrong address, so check the network before you press send.

How does the network choice affect fees and speed?

The networks differ in typical fee and speed, which is why the choice affects what a transfer costs. The exact figures change over time, so rely on what the sending service shows you at the moment of the transfer rather than on a number remembered from before. Confirmation time also depends on the blockchain. In Nexus Pay, deposits are credited automatically after the network confirms them, from a few minutes to about an hour. Some networks also set a minimum deposit amount, shown in the app, and deposits below it are not credited.

How do I choose the right network for a deposit?

Start from the destination, not the source. Open the deposit screen of the receiving wallet, pick the coin and the network, and copy the address it gives you. Then select the same network in the sending app. In Nexus Pay, USDT and USDC can be deposited via TRC-20, ERC-20, BEP-20 and TON, while BTC and ETH use their own networks.

• Choose the coin and the network in the receiving wallet first.
• Match that network exactly in the sending app.
• Check the minimum deposit amount shown in the app.
• Compare the fee the sender shows before you confirm.

Common questions