Review an Ethereum send with the right gas budget

Match the asset to the receiving network

Confirm whether the recipient expects ETH or a particular token, then verify the blockchain and receiving address. For an ERC-20 token, check the contract identity on that network. Names and symbols help people recognize assets, but the correct contract and network establish which token the transaction involves.

An Ethereum-style address is not proof that an exchange accepts every network using that address format. Follow the receiving account's current deposit instructions. Changing a wallet's selected network changes the network view; it does not carry an existing balance to another chain. A different destination network requires a supported transfer route.

Separate the asset amount from the ETH fee

Ordinary Ethereum mainnet sends require ETH for network execution, including transfers of ERC-20 tokens. Gas measures the work performed, and the fee depends on gas usage and the effective price per gas. The Ethereum gas documentation explains the base fee, priority component, and the difference between a gas limit and gas pricing.

For ETH, review the payment and fee as a combined debit. For a token, check the token balance and ETH budget separately. If the cost looks unexpected, inspect the transaction before adjusting advanced settings. The guide to reviewing transfer costs explains how to compare timing and fees while retaining a compatible route.

Read the operation before signing

A basic ETH payment moves native value. A standard ERC-20 send calls the token contract with a recipient and amount. An approval is a separate permission allowing another spender to use tokens. These distinctions are defined in the ERC-20 token standard and help explain why approval success does not mean a payment was delivered.

Review the recipient, token identity, amount, fee, and any permission requested. If a straightforward send presents an unfamiliar spender or an unexplained allowance, inspect the workflow before authorizing it. Keep enough fee currency for any later ordinary transfers you intend to make, and reassess each proposal using its current estimate.

Confirm what actually happened

Save the transaction hash and view the record on the correct network. Check the execution result and the asset movement. For a token transfer, the transaction's top-level destination can be the token contract, while the token recipient appears in the transfer details. Compare those details with your intended payment.

A transaction included onchain can fail during execution and still consume gas. A hosted recipient may also have a separate crediting requirement after a successful transfer. The detailed ETH and ERC-20 send guide explains these differences and how to interpret a pending transaction before attempting another send.

Common Ethereum send questions

Does a token balance cover the gas?

Not automatically. In an ordinary self-custody mainnet transfer, the payer needs ETH for the network fee. Specialized applications may arrange sponsorship or another payment workflow, but that capability must be explicit in the application you are using.

Should I copy a gas limit from an earlier payment?

Use the current transaction estimate instead. An ETH payment and a token contract call can perform different amounts of work. Lowering the gas limit indiscriminately can prevent completion. If an estimate or simulation cannot explain the proposed action, investigate the asset and operation before proceeding.