Fees & Networks

Which Network Should I Use for Crypto Transfers?

Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, Solana — each has different fees, speeds, and security tradeoffs. This guide tells you which to choose for every common scenario.

6 min read
#networks#layer-2#transfers#arbitrum#base

You're about to send crypto, and your wallet shows multiple network options: Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, BNB Chain. Choosing the wrong one can mean lost funds or unexpectedly high fees. This guide explains which network to use and when.

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Critical rule: the sender and receiver must use the same network. If you send ETH on Arbitrum but the receiver expects it on Ethereum mainnet, the funds may be inaccessible. Always confirm the network with the recipient before sending.

The Major Networks Explained

Ethereum Mainnet (Layer 1)

The original Ethereum network. Maximum security and decentralization, but higher fees and slower speeds. Use this for large, high-value transactions where security justifies the cost.

Layer 2 Rollups (Arbitrum, Optimism, Base)

These networks run on top of Ethereum, inheriting its security while processing transactions much faster and cheaper. They periodically "settle" batched transactions back to Ethereum mainnet.

  • Arbitrum — largest L2 by TVL. Wide DeFi ecosystem. Used by many major protocols.
  • Optimism — growing ecosystem, strong governance (OP token). Powers Coinbase's Base.
  • Base — built by Coinbase. Easy to use, low fees, growing fast. No native token (uses ETH for gas).

Polygon (PoS)

A sidechain that runs alongside Ethereum. Very cheap (fractions of a cent per transaction) but slightly different security model. Good for gaming, NFTs, and very small transfers.

Other Chains (Solana, BNB, Avalanche)

These are separate blockchains — not Ethereum Layer 2s. They have their own validators, tokens, and ecosystems. You can't directly send ETH to Solana — you'd need to bridge (convert) first.

Network Comparison

Network comparison for common transfers (Feb 2026)
Network          | Avg. Transfer Fee | Speed     | Security
─────────────────|───────────────────|───────────|──────────────
Ethereum (L1)    | $0.50–$10         | ~12 sec   | Highest
Arbitrum         | $0.01–$0.10       | ~1 sec    | High (Ethereum L2)
Optimism         | $0.01–$0.10       | ~2 sec    | High (Ethereum L2)
Base             | $0.001–$0.05      | ~2 sec    | High (Ethereum L2)
Polygon PoS      | <$0.01            | ~2 sec    | Moderate
Solana           | <$0.01            | ~0.4 sec  | Moderate
BNB Chain        | $0.03–$0.10       | ~3 sec    | Lower

Note: Fees vary with congestion. These are typical ranges.

How to Choose

  • Sending to an exchange? — check which networks the exchange supports for deposits. Coinbase supports Base, Arbitrum, and Optimism. Kraken supports Arbitrum. Binance supports many chains. Sending on an unsupported network means lost funds.
  • Sending to another person? — agree on the network first. For Ethereum-native tokens, Arbitrum or Base offer the best combo of low fees and security.
  • Using DeFi? — check which network the protocol is deployed on. Most major DeFi protocols are on Arbitrum and Base.
  • Getting paid on RentAHuman? — our platform supports L2 payments, so you can receive funds cheaply on Arbitrum or Base and move them where you need.
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Need to move funds between networks? Use the official bridge for each L2 (e.g., Arbitrum Bridge, Base Bridge), or a multi-chain bridge like Across or Stargate. Always verify you're on the official bridge URL — fake bridges are a common scam vector.

What If I Sent to the Wrong Network?

It depends:

  • Sent to a wallet you control — usually recoverable. Add the correct network to your wallet (MetaMask lets you add custom networks) and the funds should appear at the same address.
  • Sent to an exchange on wrong network — contact support immediately. Some exchanges can recover funds on unsupported networks, but it's not guaranteed and may take weeks.
  • Sent to a completely incompatible chain — (e.g., sent to a Solana address from Ethereum) this is likely unrecoverable.
The golden rule of crypto transfers: always send a small test transaction first. Send $1 before you send $1,000. The fee for the test is trivial compared to the cost of a mistake.

For more on fees, see why gas fees are high and how to pay less. And if your transaction is stuck, check our pending transaction guide.

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