How to Move Digital Assets Between Networks

This guide covers how to move digital assets from one network to another without losing access to them along the way. It applies to any transfer between decentralized networks, not just a single type of asset.

Transfer Steps

1. Confirm the destination network actually supports the specific asset before sending anything, since support varies even for assets that look identical.
2. Double-check that the network selected in the sending app matches the network expected on the receiving side, not just the asset name shown.
3. Start with a small test transfer first, rather than moving the full amount on the first attempt, especially the first time using a new pairing of networks.
4. Wait for full confirmation on the network before treating the transfer as settled or initiating anything that depends on it.
5. Keep a record of the transaction identifier until the transfer is fully confirmed on both ends, in case you need to look up its status later.

What to Watch For

Sending to a network the receiving side doesn't support is one of the more common and harder-to-reverse mistakes in self-custody, and it often isn't obvious until after the transfer is already sent. When a test transfer isn't practical, slow down and re-check every setting instead of skipping ahead.

For background on how networks differ, see Centralized vs. Decentralized Networks, and for what to check before approving the transfer itself, see How to Verify a Transaction Before Approving It.