Mar h 2026
Address Guide
ERC20 vs TRC20 Address Format: How to Tell Them Apart
- Editorial
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One of the quickest ways to identify whether you are dealing with an ERC20 or TRC20 address is to look at how it begins. ERC20 addresses on Ethereum always start with '0x' followed by 40 hexadecimal characters. TRC20 addresses on TRON always start with 'T' followed by 33 alphanumeric characters. Confusing these two formats when sending funds is one of the most common — and costly — mistakes in crypto.
One of the quickest ways to identify whether you are dealing with an ERC20 or TRC20 address is to look at how it begins. ERC20 addresses on Ethereum always start with '0x' followed by 40 hexadecimal characters. TRC20 addresses on TRON always start with 'T' followed by 33 alphanumeric characters. Confusing these two formats when sending funds is one of the most common — and costly — mistakes in crypto.
Sending ERC20 tokens to a TRC20 address (or vice versa) can result in permanent, irreversible loss of your funds. The tokens exist on different blockchains, so an Ethereum transaction sent to a TRON address lands nowhere recoverable. Some exchanges can assist with recovery in specific situations, but this is rare and usually involves long waits and no guarantees. The golden rule: always verify the address prefix AND the network label before confirming any withdrawal or deposit.
What Happens If You Send to the Wrong Address?
Sending ERC20 tokens to a TRC20 address (or vice versa) can result in permanent, irreversible loss of your funds. The tokens exist on different blockchains, so an Ethereum transaction sent to a TRON address lands nowhere recoverable. Some exchanges can assist with recovery in specific situations, but this is rare and usually involves long waits and no guarantees. The golden rule: always verify the address prefix AND the network label before confirming any withdrawal or deposit.
- ERC20 addresses: start with '0x' (example: 0x71C21...)
- TRC20 addresses: start with 'T' (example: TXbqP...)
- Wrong network = permanent, irreversible fund loss
- Always match deposit network to withdrawal network
- Send a small test amount first when using a new address
The address prefix is your first safety check. Double-check both the prefix AND the network label on your exchange or wallet before every transaction. Never assume — verify.
