In the cryptocurrency space, many newcomers lose virtual coins due to transferring to the wrong network when depositing or withdrawing. There are various cryptocurrencies and blockchains, and different chains are like different banks. Cross-chain transfers may not succeed, for example, TRC20 to ERC20 usually will not succeed. Once a transfer is made to the wrong chain, virtual coins are generally difficult to recover. Below are solutions for different scenarios of transferring coins and encountering wrong networks or addresses.
1. Exchange to Exchange
If you transferred to the wrong network, first check the whereabouts of the coins on-chain; they will generally arrive at the target exchange. If you don't know how to check, directly contact the exchange's customer service and submit the required information. Usually, you need to deposit GAS fees in advance to the exchange; the cost for hundreds of dollars worth of ETH is not low, and if the value of the incorrectly transferred coins is below this, it is not advisable to pursue. If transferred to someone else's exchange account, you need to contact the other party, who will coordinate with customer service, and the GAS fee will be borne by the party that made the transfer error. If the other party does not cooperate, you can complain to their exchange's customer service or report to the police, but negotiating for a solution is more time and effort-efficient. Most exchanges will automatically match the network when the user inputs the receiving address and remind them of any errors during confirmation.
2. Wallet to Wallet
Transferring to your own wallet: If you transfer to the wrong network, for example, transferring from a Binance (BSC) wallet to an ETH (ERC20) address, you just need to export the private key or mnemonic phrase of the ERC20 wallet, copy it to the BSC wallet, and you can retrieve the virtual currency.
Transferring to someone else's wallet: Requires cooperation from the other party. The other party must provide their wallet private key or mnemonic phrase to retrieve the funds. Acquaintances may cooperate, but strangers usually will not due to security concerns. If transferred to a black or gray project wallet, recovery is basically impossible because the private key is crucial for asset security; whoever has the private key can directly transfer the assets away.
3. Exchange to Wallet
First, check the whereabouts of the coins on-chain. If the coins are still on the exchange, you can contact customer service to retrieve them. If transferred to a stranger's wallet and the other party does not cooperate, due to the irreversibility of blockchain, the assets cannot be returned. Contacting exchange customer service at this point is also useless. Claims that assets can be recovered without the other party's cooperation are likely a scam; 'blockchain rollback' goes against the immutability of blockchain.
4. Wallet to Exchange
If you transfer to the wrong network, contact the exchange's customer service. You may need to recharge on-chain tokens as GAS fees to the exchange, and customer service will transfer coins according to the provided receiving address. To avoid trouble, be sure to double-check the receiving address and network before transferring.