Transferring Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens is a common activity for crypto users, yet delays or missing deposits can cause confusion and anxiety—especially when the exchange confirms success but your wallet, such as 91Token, shows no sign of the transaction. This guide explains why Ethereum transfers may appear slow, how long confirmations typically take, and what steps you can take to resolve common issues.
Understanding Ethereum Network Confirmations
When transferring Ethereum (ETH) or ERC-20 tokens like USDT, the speed of the transaction depends on the Ethereum network’s current congestion and the gas fee (miner fee) you’ve set. Unlike traditional banking systems, blockchain transactions require validation by miners or validators before they are finalized.
👉 Discover how gas fees impact your Ethereum transfers and learn to optimize them for faster results.
How Long Does It Take for 12 Network Confirmations?
On Ethereum, a "confirmation" refers to the number of blocks mined since your transaction was included in the blockchain. While some services require only one confirmation, others (especially exchanges) may wait for 12 confirmations to ensure finality.
Given that Ethereum produces a new block approximately every 12 seconds, 12 confirmations typically take:
About 2.5 to 3 minutes under normal network conditions.
However, if your transaction is stuck due to low gas fees, it may take much longer—or even be dropped from the mempool entirely.
Why Is My Ethereum Transfer Taking So Long?
Delays in receiving Ethereum or tokens usually stem from one of these factors:
1. Low Gas Fee
The most common reason for slow transfers is an insufficient gas price. Miners prioritize transactions with higher fees. If yours is too low, it may sit unprocessed for hours—or never get confirmed.
Pro Tip: Use tools like Etherscan’s Gas Tracker to check current recommended gas prices before sending.
2. Network Congestion
During periods of high activity (e.g., NFT mints, market volatility), the Ethereum network becomes congested. This increases competition among transactions, slowing down lower-fee transfers.
3. Exchange Processing Time
Even if you initiate a withdrawal, exchanges like Binance or OKX often have internal review and processing delays. They may take several minutes to broadcast the transaction to the blockchain.
👉 Check real-time Ethereum gas prices and avoid costly delays with smart transaction planning.
Exchange Shows Success – But My 91Token Wallet Hasn’t Received Funds
This situation is more common than you might think. Here’s how to diagnose and fix it:
Step 1: Verify the Transaction on Etherscan
Go to etherscan.io and enter your wallet address. Look for the incoming transaction.
- If the transaction appears: The funds are on their way. Wait for confirmations.
- If no transaction exists: The exchange hasn’t broadcast it yet.
Contact the exchange’s support team to confirm whether the withdrawal was actually sent to the blockchain—not just marked as “successful” in their system.
Step 2: Refresh Your Wallet Interface
Sometimes, wallets like 91Token don’t auto-refresh. Try:
- Pulling down to refresh on the asset page
- Ensuring the token is visible (enable “Add Custom Token” or “Auto-Detect Assets”)
- Switching network settings (e.g., from Wi-Fi to mobile data)
Step 3: Check for Transaction Failure
If the transaction exists on Etherscan but shows “Failed,” it likely ran out of gas or encountered a smart contract error. In this case, no funds are deducted from your wallet—but the gas fee is lost.
Typical Ethereum Transfer Speeds by Network
| Asset Type | Network | Average Confirmation Time |
|---|---|---|
| ERC-20 USDT | Ethereum | 10–20 minutes |
| TRC-20 USDT | Tron | Under 5 minutes |
| BTC | Bitcoin | 30–60 minutes |
Note: These times assume adequate gas fees. Delays beyond these ranges usually indicate low fees or congestion.
What Happens If a Transaction Isn’t Packed?
If your transaction remains unconfirmed for over an hour:
- No gas fee is deducted if it's never mined.
- Most failures occur due to too low a gas price.
- You can replace or cancel the transaction using wallet tools (like MetaMask) by sending a new transaction with the same nonce and higher gas.
Can I Recover a Stuck Transaction?
Yes—here’s how:
- Open your wallet (e.g., MetaMask, Trust Wallet).
- Find the pending transaction.
- Choose “Speed Up” to increase gas, or “Cancel” to replace it with a zero-value transaction at higher gas.
This forces the network to recognize the updated version and drop the old one.
Using Ethereum Testnets for Development
Developers often use Ethereum testnets to deploy and test dApps without spending real ETH.
Popular testnets include:
- Ropsten: Uses Proof-of-Work; often congested due to popularity
- Rinkeby: PoA-based; stable and fast
- Goerli: Cross-client testnet, widely supported
- Sepolia: Recommended for newer projects
To get test ETH:
- Use a faucet (e.g., Goerli faucet)
- Some require social verification (e.g., Twitter/X account)
- After submission, wait for confirmation—usually within minutes
These test environments simulate real-world conditions without financial risk.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How long should an Ethereum transfer normally take?
A: Under normal conditions, most ETH or ERC-20 transfers confirm within 1 to 15 minutes, depending on gas fees and network load.
Q: Why does my exchange say “success” but my wallet shows nothing?
A: The exchange may have marked the internal withdrawal as complete, but the transaction hasn’t been broadcast or confirmed on-chain. Always verify via Etherscan.
Q: Can I speed up a pending transaction?
A: Yes. Most wallets allow you to "speed up" by resubmitting with a higher gas fee using the same nonce.
Q: What if my transaction disappears from Etherscan?
A: It may have been dropped due to low fees. You can resend the transaction with higher gas. The original will not deduct funds.
Q: Do I lose money if my transaction fails?
A: If a transaction fails, the principal amount is refunded, but the gas fee used for processing is non-refundable.
Q: Is it safe to use third-party wallets like 91Token?
A: Yes, as long as you control your private keys and download the app from official sources. Always double-check contract addresses when adding tokens.
Ethereum remains a cornerstone of decentralized finance and Web3 innovation. While its scalability has improved with upgrades like The Merge and layer-2 solutions, users must still understand gas mechanics and network behavior to avoid frustration.
Whether you're transferring stablecoins or interacting with dApps, staying informed ensures smoother, safer experiences in the evolving crypto ecosystem.
👉 Stay ahead of network congestion—monitor Ethereum gas trends and optimize your transactions today.