When making deposits or withdrawals on Binance, the system will prompt you to select a "Network". The page will list a huge array of options such as BSC (BEP20), ERC20, TRC20, Polygon, Arbitrum, Solana, etc. This leaves many beginners utterly confused, not knowing which to choose, and worried that choosing the wrong one will lead to lost coins. In fact, these networks are just like different shipping routes of a logistics company; they can all deliver your cryptocurrency from Point A to Point B, with differences lying in speed, cost, and scope of application. Once you understand the characteristics and applicable scenarios of each network, you can make the optimal choice to save on fees while ensuring safety and speed. Before operating, ensure you have completed registration and identity verification on the Binance official website, and installed the latest version of the Binance official APP on your phone. Apple users facing installation issues can refer to the iOS installation guide to resolve them. This article will explain in detail the characteristics of each mainstream network to help you make the right choice in any scenario.
Core Concept: What is a Blockchain Network?
A Network is a Blockchain
Every "Network" is actually an independent blockchain. Bitcoin has the Bitcoin network, Ethereum has the Ethereum network (ERC20), TRON has the TRON network (TRC20), and BNB Smart Chain is the BSC network (BEP20). Each chain has its own operating rules, block generation speeds, and fee standards.
Tokens Can Exist on Multiple Chains
Tokens like USDT do not exist on just a single chain; versions are issued simultaneously on multiple chains like Ethereum, TRON, and BSC. This is much like fiat currency existing in both paper and coin forms—they hold the same value inherently, but the medium is different. USDT on different chains has the same value (always 1 US dollar), but they cannot be transferred directly between chains—you cannot directly send Ethereum-based USDT to a TRON address.
Consequences of Choosing the Wrong Network
If the sender and receiver select different networks, in milder cases you will have to spend time and effort to recover the funds; in severe cases, the assets will be permanently lost. It's like agreeing to pick up a package at Locker A, but it was delivered to Locker B—sometimes you can coordinate to get it back, but other times it's truly gone forever.
Mainstream Networks Explained
ERC20 (Ethereum Network)
Basic Info: Ethereum is currently the blockchain network with the most mature ecosystem and the highest number of applications. ERC20 is the technical standard for tokens on Ethereum, supported by almost all cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets.
Address Format: A 42-character hexadecimal string starting with "0x", such as 0x1234...abcd.
Fees: The Gas fee on Ethereum is the highest among all mainstream networks. A standard USDT transfer might cost $5-$20 in Gas fees, and can even exceed $50 during network congestion. Gas fees are paid in ETH, the native token of Ethereum.
Arrival Speed: Usually requires 12-20 block confirmations, taking about 3-10 minutes. It can be slower during network congestion.
Applicable Scenarios: Large transfers (where the fee proportion is negligible), the receiver only supports ERC20, interacting with DeFi protocols on Ethereum.
TRC20 (TRON Network)
Basic Info: TRON is a public chain focused on high throughput and low fees, with extremely high usage rates in USDT transfer scenarios. According to statistics, the volume of USDT transactions on TRC20 even exceeds that of Ethereum.
Address Format: A 34-character string starting with "T", such as T1234...xyz.
Fees: Extremely low. A USDT transfer usually costs only 1 USDT or can even be free (the sender might charge a nominal fee).
Arrival Speed: Usually 20-40 block confirmations, taking about 1-3 minutes.
Applicable Scenarios: Daily small transfers, frequent transfers, scenarios demanding low fees.
BEP20 / BSC (BNB Smart Chain)
Basic Info: BSC is the smart contract blockchain launched by Binance. It is highly compatible with Ethereum but much cheaper in terms of fees. It is the core chain of the Binance ecosystem.
Address Format: Same as Ethereum, a 42-character string starting with "0x". Note: Although the address format is identical to Ethereum, they are different networks.
Fees: Very low. A transfer usually costs under $0.1. Gas fees are paid in BNB.
Arrival Speed: Usually 15 block confirmations, taking about 1-2 minutes.
Applicable Scenarios: Operating within the Binance ecosystem, using BSC DApps like PancakeSwap, scenarios demanding low fees and high speeds.
Polygon (MATIC Network)
Basic Info: Polygon is a sidechain solution for Ethereum, offering extremely low fees and fast transaction confirmations.
Address Format: Starts with "0x", identical to the Ethereum format.
Fees: Extremely low, usually under $0.01.
Arrival Speed: Very fast, usually 1-2 minutes.
Applicable Scenarios: Participating in DeFi and gaming projects in the Polygon ecosystem, ultra-low-cost transfers.
Arbitrum One
Basic Info: Arbitrum is a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, inheriting Ethereum's security while drastically reducing fees.
Address Format: Starts with "0x", identical to the Ethereum format.
Fees: Much lower than the Ethereum mainnet, usually $0.1-$1.
Arrival Speed: Usually a few minutes.
Applicable Scenarios: Operating in the Arbitrum ecosystem, scenarios needing Ethereum-level security but wishing to save money.
Optimism
Basic Info: Similar to Arbitrum, it is also an Ethereum Layer 2 solution with a rapidly developing ecosystem.
Address Format: Starts with "0x".
Fees: Low, usually $0.1-$1.
Arrival Speed: Usually a few minutes.
Applicable Scenarios: Participating in Optimism ecosystem projects, low-cost transfers demanding Ethereum's security.
Solana (SOL Network)
Basic Info: Solana is a public chain renowned for high speeds and low fees, with a rapidly growing ecosystem.
Address Format: Different from Ethereum, it is a Base58-encoded string.
Fees: Extremely low, usually under $0.01.
Arrival Speed: Extremely fast, usually a few seconds.
Applicable Scenarios: Operating within the Solana ecosystem, scenarios demanding ultimate speed.
Network Comparison Summary Table
Fees (from lowest to highest): Solana ≈ Polygon < TRC20 ≈ BSC < Arbitrum ≈ Optimism << ERC20.
Speed (from fastest to slowest): Solana > BSC ≈ TRC20 ≈ Polygon > Arbitrum ≈ Optimism > ERC20.
Compatibility (from highest to lowest): ERC20 > TRC20 > BSC > Polygon > Arbitrum > Optimism > Solana.
Best Choices for Different Scenarios
Transfers Between Exchanges
If you are transferring coins from another exchange to Binance, or from Binance to another exchange, prioritize TRC20 or BSC. The reasons are low fees and fast speeds, plus most mainstream exchanges support these two networks. Always confirm that the receiving exchange also supports your chosen network before transferring.
Transferring to Your Own MetaMask Wallet
MetaMask connects to the Ethereum mainnet by default, so if your MetaMask only has the Ethereum network added, select ERC20. But if you have added the BSC network to your MetaMask, you can select BSC to save on fees. Remember: Select the network that your MetaMask is currently connected to.
Transferring to a Friend
If your friend is also a Binance user, using the Binance internal transfer is completely free. If your friend uses a different platform, ask them which receiving networks are supported and select a matching network.
Participating in DeFi Projects
This depends on which chain the project resides on. If it's PancakeSwap, choose BSC. If it's Uniswap, choose ERC20 or the corresponding Layer 2 network. If it's Raydium, choose Solana.
Security Precautions
The most critical principle when selecting a network is: The sender and receiver MUST select the exact same network. There are no exceptions to this rule. Secondly, when transferring to a new address for the first time, always do a small test transfer (like 10 USDT) first; only transfer the large amount after confirming the test arrived normally. Lastly, if you are unsure which network to select, ERC20 is the safest choice—although expensive, it has the best compatibility and the lowest chance of making a mistake. When in doubt, it's better to pay a slightly higher fee than to choose an unfamiliar network just to save a little money.