How to Recover Crypto Sent to Guarda via the Wrong EVM Network

The same wallet address or token ticker can exist across different blockchain networks if they are compatible. For example, you may intend to withdraw an EVM token through Ethereum but select BNB Smart Chain by accident. The transaction can complete successfully on the selected blockchain, but the tokens won't appear in the Guarda wallet where you expected to receive them.

Guarda normally prevents you from sending crypto to an incompatible address or network. Nonetheless, EVM networks create a special case because the same address can be valid across multiple compatible networks. This article primarily covers cases where the wrong network was selected on another platform when sending funds to your Guarda address.

Recovery through Guarda is possible only if Guarda supports the network where the funds actually arrived. If the transaction was made on an unsupported network, contact Guarda Support before attempting recovery.

How Funds Move Between EVM Networks

Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and many other networks are EVM-compatible. One important characteristic of these networks is that the same private key can control the same address across them.

For example, imagine you wanted to receive a token on Ethereum address 0x123..., but accidentally selected BNB Smart Chain, which also has the address 0x123.... If you control the private key for that address, you can import it into the corresponding network wallet in Guarda and access the funds there.

How to Recover an EVM Transaction in Guarda

First, check the transaction details on the platform you sent the funds from and confirm which network was selected. Then, check the transaction in a blockchain explorer like Blockchair and make sure the destination address matches your Guarda address.

Then:

1. Open the Guarda wallet containing the destination address.
2. Open the wallet details and select “Show Private Keys."
3. Enter your Guarda password and copy the private key.
4. In Guarda, select “Add Wallet” and open the “Import” section.
5. Select the network where the transaction actually occurred.
6. Import the private key.
7. Open the newly imported wallet and check your balance.

For example, if you accidentally sent a token through BNB Smart Chain to your Ethereum address, export the private key for that Ethereum address and import it as a BNB Smart Chain wallet.

A private key provides control over your assets. Never send it to Guarda Support, paste it into a website, or share it with anyone. Only import it directly through the official Guarda Wallet interface.

What If the Token Doesn't Appear?

First, check the transaction in the appropriate blockchain explorer. If the transaction was successful and the receiving address matches your imported wallet, the token may simply not be displayed automatically. You may need to add the token manually using its contract address on the network where it was actually sent.

Also remember that moving the recovered token afterward requires the network's native coin to pay the transaction fee. For example, a token on BNB Smart Chain requires BNB for gas, while an ERC-20 token on Ethereum requires ETH.