Here is the honest truth: if you choose the wrong network, your money most likely cannot be recovered. This is not a scare tactic. It is the basic rule of blockchain—once a transaction is confirmed on-chain, it cannot be reversed.
I have seen someone send 50,000 USDT to the opBNB network, but the receiving exchange did not support that chain. The money is still stuck on-chain today. So before your first withdrawal, spend five minutes understanding networks. It is worth more than anything else.
Step 1: Find out what network the receiving side supports
Before withdrawing, confirm one thing: which chain does the wallet or exchange you are sending to support? Getting the address right is not enough. The network must also match.
Case A: Sending to another exchange (such as OKX or Bybit) Go to the receiving platform's deposit page for that coin. The page will clearly list supported networks (such as TRC20, ERC20, BEP20). You can only choose from that list. If a network is not listed, choosing it is basically throwing money away.
Case B: Sending to your own wallet (such as TokenPocket, MetaMask, Ledger) Open your wallet and find the deposit address for that coin. Check which chain it belongs to. For example, when you open the USDT receiving page, it may say "TRC20" or "ERC20." The network you select for withdrawal must match exactly.
Step 2: Choose the network on Binance—do not trust the default option
Open the Binance withdrawal page. After entering the amount and address, you will see a "Network" drop-down menu. Binance may pre-select a network for you, but do not trust it. Choose it manually.
What to do: Click the "Network" drop-down and look at the available options. Only choose the network you confirmed in Step 1. For example, if the receiving side supports TRC20, choose TRC20.
How to know it is correct: After selecting the network, the page will show the network fee and estimated arrival time. If those numbers appear, you have selected correctly.
Step 3: Check three times, then send
Before clicking "Submit," do one last thing.
Check three times:
Is the receiving address correct? Check the first 6 and last 6 characters.
Is the selected network correct? Compare it with what you confirmed in Step 1.
Is the amount correct?
Common mistake: BEP20 and opBNB look too similar. I have seen several people make this mistake. When withdrawing BNB, do not accidentally click opBNB—it is not compatible with most wallets and exchanges.
How to know it is correct: After clicking Submit, the page will jump to "Withdrawal History" and the status will show "Processing." Wait at this point and do not submit again.
Risk warning: some networks do not recognize each other, and the problem is serious
Different networks are not simply "different." They are completely separate. Sending ERC20 USDT to a TRC20 address is like putting cash into a machine that only takes a different currency—the machine will not accept it, and you cannot get it back out.
Binance has clearly stated: if you withdraw using the wrong network, the transaction cannot be reversed on the blockchain. Binance cannot help you recover the funds. You can only contact the receiving platform's support and hope for the best. That hope is usually very small.
How to verify after the operation is complete
After withdrawing, go to "Withdrawal History" to check the status. If it says "Completed," it means Binance has broadcast the transaction on-chain. Go to a block explorer and enter the TxID (transaction hash) to see how many confirmations the transaction has. Once there are enough confirmations, the receiving platform or wallet will show the funds. For your first withdrawal, it is strongly recommended to send a small test amount first, such as 10 USDT. After it arrives, send the rest.
