The same USDT can exist on several blockchains, and when you withdraw, the exchange asks you to choose a network: TRC20, ERC20, BEP20 or another one. The fee, the crediting speed and, most importantly, whether the money arrives at all depend on this choice. Below is what Tether and the exchanges write about USDT networks, how much a transfer costs on WhiteBIT and Binance as of 19 October 2026, and the rules for choosing a network.
Important. This material is for information only and is not investment advice. Exchange fees change, so the figures in the tables are a snapshot for a given date, not a tariff for all time. For buying the token, read How to Buy USDT with Hryvnia; for the token itself, see Stablecoins: What They Are and How USDT Differs from USDC.
What a USDT Network Is
A network, or blockchain, is a separate ledger that stores balances and records of transfers. USDT does not live in a single ledger: according to Tether, its tokens exist on several blockchains and are to be treated as equivalent and interchangeable, meaning one token on one network equals one token on another. The list of supported protocols names, among others, Ethereum (ERC20), Tron (TRC20), Solana, TON, NEAR, Aptos and Polkadot AssetHub.
Equivalence does not mean that tokens can be sent between networks directly. A transfer goes over the network you selected, and the recipient’s address must exist on that very network. That is why the Tether FAQ advises checking the destination address carefully and choosing the right protocol.
| Name in exchange interfaces | Blockchain | What the Tether page says |
|---|---|---|
| TRC20 | Tron | A separate section with the USD₮ contract |
| ERC20 | Ethereum | A separate section with the USD₮ contract. Tether also lists the ERC20 standard for Avalanche, Celo, Kaia and Kava |
| BEP20 | BNB Smart Chain | The network is on the list, but a contract address is given only for XAU₮ (the gold token), not for USD₮ |
This does not mean that USDT on BEP20 is “fake”: both WhiteBIT and Binance support it. It is only a reminder that the list of networks is defined by the platform, not just by Tether, so do not assume that every exchange and every wallet accepts all networks.
How Much a USDT Transfer Costs
For USDT on both exchanges, the withdrawal fee is a fixed amount in USDT, not a percentage. It depends on the network: the WhiteBIT help center states directly that the fee for the same stablecoin may differ depending on the network. Here is the data the exchanges publish openly (WhiteBIT, Binance) as of 19 October 2026.
| Network | WhiteBIT: fee, USDT | WhiteBIT: minimum, USDT | Binance: fee, USDT | Binance: minimum, USDT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRC20 (Tron) | 1 | 10 | 1.5 | 5 |
| ERC20 (Ethereum) | 0.6 | 10 | 0.4 | 3 |
| BEP20 (BNB Smart Chain) | 1 | 10 | 0.01 | 5 |
| Solana | 0.5 | 10 | 0.3 | 5 |
| TON | 0.5 | 10 | 0.3 | 3 |
| Polygon | 1 | 10 | 0.03 | 5 |
| Arbitrum One | 1 | 10 | 0.3 | 3 |
Two things are visible in the table. First, the “cheapest network” depends on the exchange. On WhiteBIT, among the listed networks the lowest charge is for TON and Solana (0.5 USDT each), followed by ERC20 (0.6), while TRC20 and BEP20 cost 1 USDT each. On Binance, the cheapest of the three most popular is BEP20 (0.01 USDT), then ERC20 (0.4), and TRC20 is the most expensive (1.5). In other words, the common advice “choose TRC20 because it is cheap” is not confirmed on these two exchanges today.
Second, a fixed fee hits small and large amounts differently. Below is our own calculation: the fee from the table divided by the transfer amount.
| Exchange and network | Fee on 20 USDT, % | Fee on 100 USDT, % | Fee on 1,000 USDT, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| WhiteBIT, TRC20 | 5 | 1 | 0.1 |
| WhiteBIT, ERC20 | 3 | 0.6 | 0.06 |
| WhiteBIT, BEP20 | 5 | 1 | 0.1 |
| Binance, TRC20 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.15 |
| Binance, ERC20 | 2 | 0.4 | 0.04 |
| Binance, BEP20 | 0.05 | 0.01 | 0.001 |
The minimum withdrawal amount also differs: on WhiteBIT it is 10 USDT for all the listed networks, on Binance it is 3 or 5 USDT depending on the network. WhiteBIT’s documentation says that the fee list is updated roughly once a minute, so check the current figures in the withdrawal form before you send.
Which Network Is Faster
Speed depends not only on the network but also on the number of confirmations the receiving platform requires: the WhiteBIT help center notes that each platform sets it independently for each coin. On WhiteBIT, crediting USDT requires 20 confirmations on TRC20 and BEP20, 64 on ERC20, 50 on Solana and one on TON. According to Binance’s public data, a deposit there needs fewer: one confirmation on TRC20, BEP20, Solana and TON and six on ERC20.
So “which is faster” cannot be answered in one word: on WhiteBIT a deposit on TON needs one confirmation, and on TRC20, twenty. How many minutes that takes depends on network load: WhiteBIT’s help center warns that confirmation time may fluctuate. The verified pages give no guaranteed times for USDT, so we do not promise specific minutes.
How to Choose a Network
- First find out what the recipient supports. The Binance help page requires the selected network to match the network of the platform you are withdrawing to, and advises not to choose an option based only on the lowest fee. If the recipient accepts only ERC20, choose ERC20.
- If there are several options, compare the fee with the amount. For 20 USDT the difference between 0.05% and 7.5% is noticeable; for 1,000 USDT it is almost invisible.
- Check the minimum and your balance. On WhiteBIT, in the withdrawal form you can choose the currency in which the fee is charged and whether it is deducted from the amount or added to it.
- Compare the address in full. Fraudsters slip a similar address into your transfer history, one in which only the first and last characters match. WhiteBIT advises checking every character and using the address book.
- Make the first transfer a small one. Binance suggests sending a small amount first to verify the address. Keep in mind that the fee is fixed, so a test transfer costs as much as a separate one.
Risk. A mistake with the network can cost the whole amount. WhiteBIT warns that assets sent with wrong details may be lost irretrievably, and Binance writes that a transfer to the wrong network leads to permanent loss. According to the Binance FAQ on incorrect deposits, the exchange generally does not provide a token recovery service and only in some cases, at its own discretion, may help. Success is not guaranteed.
Which Networks WhiteBIT and Binance Support
According to public data as of 19 October 2026, WhiteBIT accepts and withdraws USDT on 12 networks, and Binance on 19. Common to both: TRC20, ERC20, BEP20, Solana, TON, Polygon, Arbitrum One, Optimism, NEAR, Polkadot Asset Hub and Plasma. Only Binance offers, among others, Aptos, Celo, Tezos, Kaia, Scroll, opBNB and Kava EVM. So if you send USDT from one exchange to another, you need to match the list of networks in both forms rather than rely on the name.
For users from the European Economic Area, WhiteBIT separately announced changes in how it handles USDT; we wrote about this in the material on stablecoins. About the exchanges themselves: WhiteBIT Review: A Crypto Exchange for Ukrainians and Binance P2P: How to Buy and Sell Crypto.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which USDT network is the cheapest?
It depends on the exchange and the day. As of 19 October 2026, among the networks in the table, WhiteBIT has the lowest fee on TON and Solana (0.5 USDT each), and Binance on BEP20 (0.01 USDT). Always check the figures in the withdrawal form.
Can I send USDT from TRC20 to an address on another network?
No: the sending network must match the network the recipient supports, and the address must exist on that very network. To change networks, USDT is usually deposited to an exchange on one network and withdrawn on another, if the exchange supports both. This is visible in the deposit and withdrawal forms.
What happens if I choose the wrong network?
According to WhiteBIT and Binance, the funds may be lost permanently. In some cases Binance may help at its own discretion, but it does not guarantee a refund. Write to the receiving platform’s support right away through official channels, not through messengers, and do not pay anyone “for a refund.”
Why is the fee different on WhiteBIT and Binance?
Each exchange sets its own fixed withdrawal fee and minimum amount for every network. They do not match, as the table above shows.
Do the same rules apply to USDC?
The principle is the same: the sender’s network must match the recipient’s network. But USDC has a different set of networks, so check it separately; details are in the material on stablecoins.
