Introduction

Humans are prone to error. While transacting cryptocurrencies, mistakes can occur due to ignorance or an oversight caused by distraction or excitement. With the way the blockchains are built, wrong transactions might be irreversible, although in some cases, there’s a way around it. Let’s explore the possible options for recovering crypto sent on the wrong network.

How to Recover Crypto Transferred to the Wrong Network

Blockchain networks operate like digital ledgers, where copies of the ledger are spread across a network of computers worldwide. They are secured by cryptography, which makes them immutable. Due to the immutability of Blockchains, transactions executed on-chain cannot be altered, i.e., once confirmed, it’s nearly impossible to reverse.

However, the interoperability and similarity of some Blockchains give a chance of recovery, such as the case for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) Chains or with the use of advanced technology. Recovery is also possible if the transaction has not been submitted on-chain.

If you transferred your tokens to the wrong network, here’s what you should do immediately;

Check the Transaction Details

This includes the recipient address, the amount sent, and the network used (e.g., Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Solana, etc). If you cannot figure out the network, locate the transaction hash on the blockchain explorer of the network you used. This unique code allows you to track the transaction’s progress.

Sample of transaction details on Etherscan (Source: Freewallet)

Some famous blockchain explorers are listed below:

• Bitcoin Cash - bch.btc.com
• Ethereum - Etherscan.io
• Solana - Solscan.io
• Binance - Bscscan.com
• Ethereum Classic - gastracker.io
• Tron - tronscan.org

If you cannot get the network, analyze the recipient address format. You can research the format associated with different blockchain networks. Here’s a breakdown of address formats for some of the most popular blockchain networks:

Bitcoin (BTC)

1. Addresses start with either “1,” “3,” or “bc1”.
2. Length can vary between 26 and 34 characters.
3. Example Addresses:
   1. 1BvBMSEYstWetqTFn5Au4m4GFg7xJaNVN2
   2. 3Q43xTZrCDA8Cbh94QwsDhVRXXdH2NBGLS
   3. bc1qruurxjw48ut2pv6s9fx8vgzzes724wjh4hqp8fxe

Ethereum (ETH) and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible networks (e.g., BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, and more)

• Addresses always begin with “0x” followed by 40 alphanumeric characters (0-9 and a-f).
• Total length is 42 characters (including “0x”).
• Example Address: 0xAb5801a7D398351eDb38CFa80e6EBBd4Ab8a1CdB

Litecoin (LTC)

• Litecoin addresses start with “L” and resemble Bitcoin addresses.
• Newer addresses using SegWit technology start with “M” or “3.”
• Example Addresses:
  1. LQLVrKWKW2iNZGiWBqdBqipoPvfekvFsKb (Legacy format)
  2. MWBQJf7ZZPugKTWUX8jrLNZeVuZxJcLKs9 (SegWit format)

Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

• Legacy addresses can look similar to Bitcoin addresses but may start with a “1” or “3.”
• Newer CashAddr format addresses begin with “bitcoincash:” followed by alphanumeric characters.
• Example Addresses:
  1. 18jzukgPRTbuuGZ9tXtYt5nGtGGYnGDjCk (Legacy format)
  2. bitcoincash:qpm2csqwcrvjst89vjwcetqwx85wrhfvj6yzfjeaj (CashAddr format)

Note: In situations where assets were wrongly sent to a third party, it is their discretion to return your token.

Recovery Measures

Now that you’ve figured out the network to which you sent it, Here are some steps that could help you recover your cryptocurrency.

Check if the Receiving Wallet Supports Both Networks

Verify if the receiving wallet is compatible with your network and the network you mistakenly sent it to. The tokens should appear on your balance (it might be in a different format). If your wallet is compatible with one of the networks, import your private key into a new wallet that supports both blockchains.

A. Importing Private Keys

This method works best for non-custodial wallets where you own the private keys. Importing the wallet via private keys gives you access to assets stored there.

To recover your crypto, you’ll need to;

1. Import the receiving account to your non-custodial wallet: This step involves adding an account using its private key. This is done through an “Import Account” or similar option in the wallet’s interface.

For MetaMask: Click the dropdown arrow to add a new account

Click on the Add Account button

1. Get the private keys of the receiving address: You need access to the private keys associated with the receiving address. This will be obtained from the wallet where the address was originally generated.

Click on the Import Account Button

1. Once you have the private keys, input them into the wallet’s interface to import the associated account.
2. Manually add tokens if necessary: After importing an account, the tokens associated with that account may not appear automatically in the wallet interface. In such cases, you may need to manually add the token by providing its contract address. Get the token contract address from the blockchain explorer and add it to your wallet; your token should appear now.

To import Tokens on Metamask

1. Transfer tokens to the correct network: Once visible in your wallet, you can transfer them to the desired network or address.

If the tokens appear in a different format, use an exchange or a bridge compatible with the network received to swap them into the original tokens.

Illustration

For example, You intended to send some ETH (ERC-20 format) from your Trezor Hardware wallet to Metamask but used the BNB Smart Chain network instead of the Ethereum network.

Since Metamask is compatible with both Ethereum and BNB Smart Chain networks, the transaction would still go through. However, they would be received as Binance-pegged Ethereum (BEP-20 format) on the BNB Smart Chain network. Binance-pegged Ethereum (BEP-20 format) represents Ethereum assets pegged to the BNB Smart Chain network.

To get back your Ethereum, send the Binance-pegged Ethereum to your Gate.io BEP-20 Address for Ethereum; the tokens will be received as Ethereum on your Gate.io account.

You have successfully recovered your Ethereum, then send it to your MetaMask wallet via the Ethereum Network.

B. Contact the Exchange

This is recommended for custodial wallet transactions on a centralized exchange like Gate.io; you can contact customer support to submit a retrieval application.

C. Using a Recovery Service

This method is recommended only if you have exhausted the available options and large amounts of crypto are involved. Several companies specialize in crypto asset recovery, E.g., Coinfirm, CipherBlade, Ontrack, and M2 Recovery.

These companies use advanced tools and techniques to recover lost funds, but their services come at a cost, often a percentage of the recovered funds.

Research these companies carefully and choose one with a proven track record of successfully recovering lost funds. It’s also important to remember that there is no guarantee of success, and the funds may be lost permanently.

Conclusion

While we’ve explored some potential avenues for recovery, remember that the immutability of blockchains and the differences in codebases across networks often make recovering crypto sent to the wrong network difficult, if not impossible.

Therefore, prevention is your best option. Always verify the recipient address and the target network before confirming any crypto transaction. If you’re unsure about an address, especially when dealing with a new recipient, send a small test amount first to confirm everything is in order.