What Are Block Confirmations
In a blockchain network, every transaction must be packed into a block by miners (or validators) and followed by a certain number of subsequent blocks before it is considered "finalized." This process is called block confirmation. The more confirmations a transaction receives, the lower the chance of tampering and the higher the security.
Binance sets a minimum confirmation requirement for each coin and network. Your deposit will only be credited to your account once the transaction reaches the required number of confirmations.
If you don't have a Binance account yet, sign up for Binance and download the Binance app first — you can view the confirmation requirements for each coin on the deposit page.
BNB Deposit Confirmations
BEP20 Network (BNB Chain)
Depositing BNB on its native BNB Chain (BEP20) typically requires fifteen block confirmations. BNB Chain produces a new block roughly every three seconds, so fifteen confirmations take only about forty-five seconds to one minute. This is why BNB deposits via BEP20 arrive on Binance so quickly.
BEP2 Network (Beacon Chain)
If you choose the BEP2 network for your BNB deposit, the confirmation requirements and block speed differ slightly from BEP20. BEP2 is also quite fast, generally completing within one to two minutes. Note that depositing BNB via the BEP2 network requires a Memo — don't forget to include it.
ERC20 Network
BNB can also be deposited through the Ethereum ERC20 network, but the confirmation requirement is higher — typically twelve or more block confirmations. Ethereum's block time is around twelve seconds, so twelve confirmations take roughly two to three minutes. However, during periods of Ethereum network congestion, the wait can be considerably longer.
Confirmation Requirements for Other Major Coins
BTC (Bitcoin)
Bitcoin deposits to Binance usually require two block confirmations. Bitcoin's average block time is ten minutes, so two confirmations theoretically take about twenty minutes. Due to natural variations in block times, the actual wait can range from fifteen to forty minutes.
It's worth noting that Binance has two thresholds for BTC deposits: after one confirmation you can see the deposit record but cannot use the funds; after two confirmations the funds become available.
ETH (Ethereum)
ETH deposits require twelve block confirmations. With Ethereum's current block time of approximately twelve seconds, twelve confirmations take around two to three minutes. Under normal network conditions, ETH deposits arrive quite quickly.
USDT
USDT is the most commonly deposited token, and its confirmation count depends on the network you choose. USDT on TRC20 typically requires nineteen confirmations, taking about one to three minutes. USDT on ERC20 requires twelve confirmations, the same as ETH. USDT on BEP20 requires fifteen confirmations, the same as BNB on BEP20.
SOL (Solana)
The Solana network is extremely fast, with block times under one second. Although the confirmation requirement for SOL deposits may appear high (typically requiring finality across hundreds of slots), the actual arrival time is generally one to two minutes thanks to the rapid block production.
DOGE (Dogecoin)
DOGE deposits to Binance typically require forty block confirmations. DOGE has a block time of about one minute, so forty confirmations take roughly forty minutes.
How to Check Your Deposit's Confirmation Progress
In the Binance App
Open the Binance app, go to "Assets" then "Deposit History." Find your deposit record — it will show the current confirmation status, such as "5/12 confirmations," meaning five out of the required twelve confirmations have been completed.
On a Block Explorer
Every transaction has a transaction hash that you can look up on the corresponding block explorer. Use BscScan for BNB Chain, Etherscan for Ethereum, Tronscan for Tron, and Blockchain.com or Mempool for Bitcoin. Block explorers provide more detailed confirmation information.
Why Confirmations Sometimes Take a Long Time
Network Congestion
When a large number of users submit transactions simultaneously, the network becomes congested. Miners prioritize transactions with higher fees, so low-fee transactions have to wait in line. This is most common on the Bitcoin and Ethereum networks.
Block Time Variability
Blockchain block times are averages — the actual interval between blocks fluctuates. Bitcoin averages one block every ten minutes, but sometimes the gap between two blocks can be twenty minutes, and other times only five. This variability affects your deposit's arrival time.
Transaction Stuck in the Mempool
If your transaction fee is too low, it may remain in the mempool for an extended period waiting to be picked up. In this case, the confirmation progress will remain at zero. If you sent the transaction from a wallet that supports fee acceleration, you can try speeding it up.
The Relationship Between Confirmations and Security
Binance requires a certain number of block confirmations to prevent "double-spend attacks." In theory, an attacker could attempt to reorganize the blockchain to reverse a transaction after it has been confirmed. The more confirmations a transaction has, the harder reorganization becomes and the more secure the transaction is.
Different coins have different confirmation requirements, reflecting Binance's assessment of each network's security. For example, the Bitcoin network has massive hash power, so two confirmations are sufficient. Smaller coins with less hash power require more confirmations to ensure safety.
When depositing through Binance, the system automatically displays the required number of confirmations — you don't need to calculate anything yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my funds before confirmations are complete
No. Funds will only be credited and become available once the confirmation count reaches Binance's minimum requirement. Until then, you cannot trade, transfer, or withdraw those funds.
Do confirmation requirements ever change
Binance may adjust the confirmation requirements for certain coins based on network security conditions. For example, if a security incident occurs on a particular chain, Binance may temporarily increase the confirmation requirement. Any changes will be communicated through official announcements.
Confirmations are complete but the deposit hasn't arrived
If the block explorer shows that confirmations are complete but Binance hasn't credited your account, it may be that Binance is processing a large volume of deposit requests and the system is slightly delayed. Usually it resolves within a few minutes. If it takes more than an hour, contact support through the Binance app.
Security Tips
When making a deposit, in addition to confirmation counts, pay attention to the accuracy of the deposit address and network. A common mistake is pasting an address without verifying it, only to discover it was altered by malware. It's recommended to check at least the first six and last six characters of the pasted address against what's shown on the official Binance platform every time.