On-Chain vs. Off-Chain Activity
When settlement happens on the blockchain and when secondary layers take over.
Bitcoin Basics
Sending and Receiving Bitcoin
Addresses, confirmations, and checks to complete before you move funds on-chain.
Overview
Receiving Bitcoin requires sharing a receive address—often a new one per deposit for privacy. Sending requires the recipient's address, the correct network (Bitcoin mainnet), and a fee setting your wallet supports.
Send a small test amount when using a new address or wallet. Wait for confirmations before treating large receipts as settled. Save transaction IDs so you can track status on a block explorer.
Receiving funds safely
Generate a fresh receive address when possible. Address reuse harms privacy and complicates accounting.
For invoices, QR codes reduce transcription errors. Confirm the requested amount before displaying a code to a payer.
Sending with confidence
Use Bitcoin mainnet for real value, not test networks or unrelated chains. Hardware wallets that show destinations on-screen protect against malware.
Send a small test payment when dealing with a new counterparty or wallet. Wait for at least one confirmation before sending the remainder.
Tracking and records
Block explorers display confirmation status, fees, and outputs. Save transaction IDs for taxes and audits.
If a payment seems delayed, check mempool congestion before resending. Fee bump tools are preferable to panic.
