Understanding Confirmation Time
A broadcast transaction is not a confirmed transaction. Between the two sits the blockchain: blocks added at a fixed rate, with confirmations stacking as they arrive. This guide shows what happens in that gap — and why "instant" is a word that belongs to marketing, not to blockchains.
Broadcast versus confirmation
When your wallet says "success," it means the transaction was broadcast — sent to the network and visible in the mempool. It does not mean a block has included it. The block inclusion happens on the network's schedule, and for TRC20 a single block is usually enough for practical finality.
The honest range
TRC20: typically under three minutes from broadcast to first confirmation, with most arriving in under one minute. ERC20: five to fifteen minutes at normal gas, longer at peak. BEP20: typically under one minute. The range is important because checking at minute four when the honest range extends to fifteen creates unnecessary support tickets.
FAQ
How long should I wait before worrying?
For TRC20, after about ten minutes of pending check the network status page. For ERC20, the range is wider and more dependent on gas pricing. Knowing the practical range for your network prevents a support ticket filed for a transaction that was never actually stuck.