Let me give you the truth first: if you choose the wrong network, your money will most likely be gone. This is not meant to scare you. It is how blockchain works — once a transaction is confirmed, it cannot be reversed.
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I have seen someone send 25,000 USDT to the Polygon network, but the receiving OKX account only accepted ERC20. That money is still stuck on-chain today. So before your first withdrawal, spend five minutes understanding networks. It is worth more than anything.
Step 1: Before Withdrawing, Confirm One Thing — Which Network Does the Recipient Support?
Before you withdraw, confirm: Which chain does the receiving side support?
Case A: Sending to another exchange or platform Go to the receiving platform's Deposit page, find the coin you are sending, and the page will clearly list supported networks (like TRC20, ERC20, BEP20). You can only choose one of the listed networks. If a network is not listed, choosing it is like throwing money away.
Case B: Sending to your own wallet (such as OKX Web3 Wallet or MetaMask) Open your wallet, find the deposit address for that coin, and check which chain it belongs to. For example, when you open the USDT receiving page, it will show "TRC20" or "ERC20". The network you choose when withdrawing must be exactly the same.
Step 2: Choose the Network on OKX — Do Not Fall for the "Default Option"
Open the OKX withdrawal page, enter the amount and address, and you will see a "Withdrawal network" dropdown menu below.
What to do: Click the dropdown under "Withdrawal network" and look at the available networks. Only choose the one you confirmed in Step 1. For example, if the recipient supports TRC20, choose TRC20.
How to know it is correct: After choosing the network, the page will show the network fee (miner fee) and estimated arrival time. When those numbers appear, you have selected the right option.
Step 3: Check Three Times Before You 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 network correct? (Compare it with what you confirmed in Step 1.)
Is the amount correct?
How to know it is correct: After you click submit, the page will go to "Withdrawal history", and the status will show "Processing". Wait for it. Do not submit again.
Common Mistake: Network Names Look Too Similar
BEP20 and opBNB look very similar. I have seen several people make mistakes here. When withdrawing BNB, do not accidentally click opBNB — it is not compatible with most wallets and exchanges.
Risk Warning: Some Networks Do Not Recognize Each Other
Different networks are not simply "different". They are completely disconnected. 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.
OKX officially states that a network mismatch may cause permanent loss of assets. If you choose wrong, customer service cannot help you. You can only try to find it on-chain yourself.
What If You Already Chose the Wrong Network?
There are two cases:
Case A: You sent it to another exchange Do not contact OKX. Contact the receiving platform's customer service and ask if they can return the assets. But the chance is not high.
Case B: You sent it to a wallet you control (such as MetaMask) This can be fixed, but only if you have the wallet's private key or seed phrase. Import your wallet address into OKX Web3 Wallet or MetaMask, then switch to the wrong network. You will see the assets there, and you can send them back to OKX. Note: your wallet needs the correct network's gas fee (like ETH or BNB) to make the transfer.
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How to Verify a Successful Withdrawal
After withdrawing, go to "Withdrawal history" and check the status. If it says "Completed", it means OKX has broadcast the transaction on-chain. Enter the TxID (transaction hash) in a block explorer to see the number of confirmations. 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. Confirm it arrives before sending the rest.
