Sent is not final
Pressing send in a wallet does not immediately make a transfer irreversible. A signed transaction is broadcast, selected for a block, and then gains finality under the network's consensus rules. A single completed label in an app can hide these distinct stages.
Inclusion and confirmations
A transaction hash may exist while the transaction remains pending. Even after initial block inclusion, some networks retain a possibility of reorganization. Proof-of-work systems often describe security through later confirmations, while proof-of-stake systems may use justified and finalized checkpoints. The appropriate threshold depends on the network and amount at risk.
Why finality differs
Finality is not produced in the same way or on the same timetable across blockchains. Some designs make reversal progressively less probable; others attach economic penalties to a defined finality process. Consult current network documentation instead of applying one familiar number of minutes to every chain.
Exchange crediting is separate
An exchange deposit is also separate from network finality. The venue may require its own confirmation threshold and can delay crediting for maintenance, a minimum amount, or risk controls. If a block explorer shows success but the account does not, verify the supported network, destination tag or memo, and the exchange's status page.
Pending and failed states
A transaction can remain pending because the fee is too low or an earlier transaction from the same account blocks the sequence. A failed transaction may change no state while still consuming a network fee. Record the hash, sender, recipient, network, status, and block number before contacting support.
A transfer checklist
Before transferring, confirm the network, address format, venue support, required memo, and minimum deposit, then use a small test. After sending, verify the hash in an independent explorer rather than relying only on a notification. Design the process around the absence of a central party that can reverse a mistaken transfer.