Sent crypto to the wrong address? Your options
A blockchain transaction can't be undone, and nobody can force it back. But "wrong address" covers very different situations, and in some of them you can still get the funds back. First work out where they went.
First: look up the transaction
- In your wallet's activity, open the transaction and copy its hash (a code starting with
0x). - Paste it into the explorer for that network: Etherscan for Ethereum, Basescan for Base, Arbiscan for Arbitrum.
- Look at the To address. Explorers often label it: an exchange, a token contract, or nothing at all.
If the address is right but the network is wrong, that's a different problem with better odds. See sent crypto to the wrong network.
Case 1: another address of yours
Nothing is lost. If you sent it to another wallet or account you own, open that wallet on the same network and the funds are there.
Case 2: an exchange or a company
If the explorer labels the address as an exchange, or you pasted someone else's deposit address, the funds went to that company's wallet.
- Contact the company's support through its official website or app, never through a link someone sends you.
- Give them the transaction hash, network, token, amount and time.
- If they can identify the deposit, they may be able to return it. It isn't guaranteed and can take time.
Case 3: a person you can reach
If it went to a friend, a colleague or a seller you know, ask them to send it back. They control that address and can return it on the same network.
Case 4: a typo, or an address nobody uses
If the address doesn't belong to anyone, the funds are almost certainly lost. Most wallets catch typos in 0x addresses with a built-in check,
so this usually happens when an address was edited by hand or copied incompletely.
Case 5: a scammer or a poisoned address
If you copied a look-alike address from your history, or someone talked you into sending, the funds went to the scammer and can't be pulled back. Report it to the platform where you were contacted and to the police. In the US you can also report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov). If the scammer moves the funds to an exchange, a police report can help the exchange freeze them.
Beware of "recovery" services.
People who have lost funds are targeted by fake recovery agents, often in comments and direct messages. They charge a fee up front or ask for your recovery phrase, and recover nothing. No one can reverse a blockchain transaction.
How to avoid it next time
- Copy addresses from their original source, never from your transaction history.
- Check the beginning, the middle and the end of the address, not just the first and last characters.
- Save addresses you use often in your wallet's address book.
- Send a small test first to any new address, and wait until it arrives.
Ready when you are
The swap panel is on the home page. No account; you sign every step in your own wallet.
Related
BasetoEthereum
Move USDC from Base to Ethereum.
On BaseUSDbCtoUSDC
Swap USDbC for USDC on Base.
Sent crypto to the wrong network? What to do next
Sent tokens on the wrong network? Whether you can get them back depends on where they went. Here is how to work out which case you are in and what to do.
How to spot fake tokens and poisoned addresses
Two of the most common crypto scams: fake tokens that copy real names, and look-alike addresses planted in your history. How to protect yourself.
What is a token approval, and how do you revoke one?
Token approvals let apps spend your tokens. What they are, why unlimited approvals and signed permits are risky, and how to check and revoke them.
Updated October 2026. Nothing here is financial or legal advice. Crypto transactions cannot be reversed.