USDT Deposits: TRC20 vs ERC20
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What a stablecoin is
A stablecoin is a cryptocurrency intended to track a stable reference value — for USDT, one US dollar. Unlike Bitcoin, the point is that it does not move. That makes it useful for funding a betting account: your balance should not swing 10% overnight because of something unrelated to your bets.
Stablecoins are not risk-free. They depend on the issuer holding adequate reserves, and they are subject to regulation that continues to change. Treat USDT as a transfer mechanism rather than a place to store savings.
The network is not the coin
This is the concept worth internalising. “USDT” is not a single thing — it is a token issued separately on multiple blockchains. USDT on Tron and USDT on Ethereum are both worth one dollar and are equally real, but they travel on different rails and are not interchangeable in transit.
Sending USDT on one network to an address expecting another is the most common and most expensive mistake in crypto deposits. Depending on the chains involved, the funds may be recoverable only with the recipient's active help, or not at all.
TRC20 versus ERC20
- TRC20 is USDT on the Tron network. Fees are very low and confirmation is typically fast. It is the dominant choice for moving USDT in Asia, which is why most betting-related transfers use it.
- ERC20 is USDT on Ethereum. It is the most widely supported option across exchanges and wallets, but transfers cost Ethereum gas fees, which vary with network congestion and can become significant on a small deposit.
Other networks carry USDT too — including Solana, Polygon and BNB Smart Chain. Support for these varies, so never assume a destination accepts a network just because your wallet offers it.
As a rule of thumb: TRC20 for cost and speed if the recipient supports it, ERC20 when compatibility matters more than fee. Confirm which network applies to your deposit before sending — do not infer it from this page.
Before every transfer
- Confirm the network with the recipient, in writing, for that specific deposit.
- Copy the address, never type it. Then check the first and last several characters against the source after pasting — address-swapping malware exists.
- Send a small test amount first if the deposit is large or the address is new. The fee on a test transfer is trivial against the alternative.
- Check whether a memo or tag is required. Some networks and exchanges need one, and omitting it can misdirect the funds.
- Keep the transaction hash. It is the only proof that a transfer happened and is the first thing support will ask for.
Confirmation times
A transfer is not complete when your wallet says “sent”. It must be included in a block and then reach the number of confirmations the recipient requires. That threshold is set by the recipient, not the network, so a deposit can sit visible-but-uncredited for a period. This is normal and is not a sign anything has gone wrong.
Security basics
Nobody legitimate ever needs your wallet seed phrase or private key — not an exchange, not support, not CTBAPI. Anyone asking for it is attempting to steal from you. Be equally sceptical of anyone who contacts you first offering help with a deposit; verify against the handles on our contact page before responding.
Funding a CTBAPI account
CTBAPI accounts are funded and settled in USDT, whether you are opening a soccer account on Pinnacle (ps3838.com) or a racing account on CITIbet. Confirm the current deposit network and address with support before sending anything — ask on Telegram. Further detail is in the FAQ.
Ready to fund an account? Get started here.
This page explains how stablecoin transfers work and is not financial advice. Betting involves risk — see our responsible gambling page.