Coinbase Wallet sends crypto via five recipient address types — wallet address, QR code, ENS address, cb.id username, and Wallet Username.
Every send requires correct blockchain network selection and sufficient network fee balance — the wrong network leads to permanent, unrecoverable loss.
| Send Method | Address Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet address | Full alphanumeric string | Any wallet, any chain |
| QR Code scan | Camera scans encoded address | In-person, eliminates typing errors |
| ENS Address (.eth) | Human-readable Ethereum name | ETH and ERC-20 sends |
| cb.id / Wallet Username | @username or cb.id handle | Coinbase Wallet users only |
| Shareable Link | URL-based send up to $500 | Recipients without a wallet address |
USD Value DisplayCoinbase Wallet shows send amounts in USD alongside token units. Network fees go directly to blockchain validators, not to Coinbase — sending to the wrong address causes permanent, irreversible loss.
Three inputs determine send success: the correct recipient address, a matching blockchain network, and sufficient network fee balance in the native token — ETH for Ethereum, SOL for Solana, BNB for BNB Chain. Missing any one causes failure or permanent loss.
| Method | How It Works | Error Risk | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paste wallet address | Copy from source → paste in field | Medium – verify after paste | Remote sends |
| QR Code scan | Camera reads encoded address | Lowest | In-person sends |
| ENS Address (.eth) | Human-readable name resolves to address | Low | ETH and ERC-20 sends |
| cb.id username | @username resolves to Coinbase address | Low | Coinbase Wallet users |
| Asset | Supported Networks | Wrong Network Result |
|---|---|---|
| ETH | Ethereum, Base, Optimism, Arbitrum | Permanent loss |
| USDC | Ethereum, Base, Polygon, Avalanche, BNB Chain | Permanent loss |
| BTC | Bitcoin native chain only | Permanent loss |
| USDT | Ethereum (ERC-20), BNB Chain (BEP-20), Tron (TRC-20) | Permanent loss |
USDC on Ethereum differs from USDC on Polygon because each network uses a separate smart contract address — tokens with the same name exist independently across chains. Always confirm the recipient’s supported network before selecting the blockchain.
Tap the Payments tab, then tap Send to start a new transfer.
Coinbase Wallet displays values in both USD and token units.
Paste, scan a QR code, enter an ENS address, or use a cb.id/@username.
Choose the correct blockchain, review amount, address, and network fee.
Tap Confirm to broadcast. Track the transaction hash in the activity feed.
Verify After PastingAfter pasting a recipient address, verify the first 6 and last 6 characters. Clipboard Hijacking malware replaces copied addresses — QR code scan eliminates this risk entirely.
| Fee Tier | Confirmation Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Slower — minutes to hours in congestion | Non-urgent sends |
| Medium | Standard — minutes under normal conditions | Most sends |
| High | Fastest – prioritized by validators | Urgent or time-sensitive sends |
EIP-1559 enables dynamic fee adjustment on Ethereum and other EVM-compatible chains, automatically adapting to network demand. Low fees can cause transactions to remain pending during heavy congestion since validators prioritize higher-fee transactions.
Click the extension icon and unlock with your password, click Send, select the asset and amount, enter the recipient address (paste, ENS, or username), select the network, review the fee, and click Confirm.
| Feature | Mobile App | Browser Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Entry point | Payments tab → Send | Home screen → Send |
| QR Code scan | Built-in camera scanner | Not available |
| Ledger hardware wallet | Not supported | Supported — requires blind signing |
| Biometric confirmation | Face ID / fingerprint | Password only |
ENS addresses automatically resolve .eth names into full Ethereum addresses. Wallet Usernames resolve @handles into registered Coinbase Wallet addresses without needing a full address.
| Identifier | Format | Resolves To | Compatible Networks |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENS Address | yourname.eth | Ethereum wallet address | Ethereum + EVM chains |
| cb.id username | yourname.cb.id | Coinbase Wallet address | EVM-compatible chains |
| Wallet Username | @yourname | Coinbase Wallet address | Supported chains |
Always verify that the resolved wallet address matches the intended recipient before confirming — resolution happens automatically but should still be double-checked.
Shareable Link sends up to $500 in crypto via a URL — no recipient wallet address required. The recipient claims funds by opening the link, and unclaimed funds return automatically after 5 days.
Tap Payments → Send, choose the asset and amount (up to $500), then tap “Send with a shareable link.”
Funds deduct from your balance immediately. Copy the link and send it only to the intended recipient.
They open the link, download Coinbase Wallet if needed, and tap “Claim now.”
Anyone With the Link Can ClaimLegitimate claim links begin with wallet.coinbase.com or go.cb-w.com/claim. Avoid unofficial or modified URLs, and share the link only with the intended recipient.
Replace-By-Fee (RBF / BIP-125) rebroadcasts a pending Bitcoin transaction with a higher fee, replacing the low-fee version in the mempool — the original transaction must have included the RBF flag at submission.
| Asset | RBF Supported | Speed-Up Method |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | Yes – BIP-125 | Use RBF in activity feed |
| Ethereum (ETH) | Yes – via fee bump | Increase gas in pending tx settings |
| ERC-20 tokens | Yes – via ETH gas bump | Same as ETH |
| Solana (SOL) | No RBF | Confirms in ~400ms — no need |
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | User copies recipient’s wallet address |
| 2 | Malware detects crypto address format in clipboard |
| 3 | Malware replaces the copied address with attacker’s address |
| 4 | User pastes — sees similar-looking address — doesn’t verify |
| 5 | User confirms — funds sent to attacker permanently |
Attacker addresses often visually resemble the original, matching the first and last characters to avoid detection. QR code scanning bypasses the clipboard entirely, eliminating this risk.
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “No compatible assets” | Address type doesn’t match asset/chain | Verify network and address format |
| Transaction pending indefinitely | Network fee too low for congestion | Use RBF (BTC) or increase gas (ETH) |
| Insufficient funds | Network fee not covered by native token | Add ETH/SOL/BNB for gas before sending |
| Wrong network selected | Asset sent on incompatible chain | Permanent loss – verify before confirming |
| Invalid address format | Typing error or wrong chain address | Check format matches target network |
Tap Payments then Send, select the asset, enter the amount, input the recipient address via wallet address, QR code, ENS name, or username, select the network, review the fee, and tap Confirm.
Tap Send, select the asset, enter the recipient’s address or scan their QR code, select the matching network, review the fee, and confirm. Always verify the first and last 6 characters after pasting.
Yes. Tap Send, enter your Coinbase deposit address for the specific asset, select the matching network, and confirm. Alternatively, link your Coinbase account for direct transfers without manual entry.
It sends up to $500 in crypto via a URL without needing the recipient’s wallet address. Unclaimed funds automatically return after 5 days. Legitimate links begin with wallet.coinbase.com or go.cb-w.com/claim.
Select the Low fee tier before confirming, send during off-peak hours, or use lower-cost networks like Base, Polygon, or BNB Chain when the asset supports multiple chains.
Most failures come from insufficient network fee balance, wrong network selection, or an incompatible address format. Check that your native token balance covers the fee and that the network matches the recipient’s wallet.
