Why Is My Crypto Transaction Pending or Stuck?
When you send crypto, Guarda creates and broadcasts the transaction to the relevant blockchain network. From that point, confirmation depends on the network rather than Guarda. In this guide, we'll explain what can keep a transaction pending and what you can do about it.
How Transaction Confirmation Works on Different Networks
There is no universal confirmation time for crypto transactions. Every blockchain processes transactions differently, although network activity, fees, and transaction ordering are common factors.
| Network | How Transactions Are Processed | What Can Affect Confirmation |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | Transactions enter the mempool, where miners select them for inclusion in blocks. Blocks are produced about every 10 minutes on average, and transactions offering higher fee rates are generally more attractive to miners. | Fee rate (sat/vB), network congestion, and transaction size. A low-fee transaction can remain in the mempool while higher-fee transactions are processed first. Multiple confirmations require additional blocks. |
| Ethereum (ETH) | Transactions enter the mempool and are included in blocks by validators. Ethereum produces slots approximately every 12 seconds. Transactions from the same address must also be processed in nonce order. | Network demand, max fee and priority fee, and transaction nonce. An earlier pending transaction from the same address can prevent later transactions from being processed. |
| BNB Smart Chain (BNB) | Transactions follow an EVM-style model and are included in blocks by validators. Ordinary transactions typically confirm quickly under normal network conditions. | Network activity, gas price, and nonce order. As with Ethereum, an earlier pending transaction from the same address can hold up later transactions. |
| TRON (TRX) | Transactions are included in blocks produced approximately every 3 seconds by elected Super Representatives under TRON's Delegated Proof-of-Stake model. TRON uses Bandwidth and Energy as network resources rather than relying only on a conventional gas-fee model. | Available Bandwidth/Energy, TRX available to cover resource costs, network conditions, and transaction validity. TRX transfers mainly consume Bandwidth, while smart-contract and TRC-20 operations also require Energy. If resources are insufficient, TRX may be burned to cover the required cost. |
| Solana (SOL) | Transactions are sent to validators for processing and reference a recent blockhash. Unlike a Bitcoin transaction that may remain in a mempool for an extended period, a Solana transaction has a limited validity window and can expire if it isn't processed in time. | Network load, priority fee, transaction validity window, and validator processing. If the referenced blockhash becomes too old before processing, the transaction expires rather than remaining pending indefinitely. |
A longer-than-usual confirmation time doesn't automatically mean your transaction is lost. Always check the transaction on the relevant blockchain explorer before sending the funds again.
How Long Can a Crypto Transaction Stay Pending?
There is no single maximum waiting time that applies to every blockchain.
Bitcoin transactions can wait for block space when their fee rate is less competitive. Ethereum and other EVM transactions may be delayed by network demand, gas settings, or an earlier transaction from the same address. Other networks use different transaction-processing mechanisms and may handle delayed or expired transactions differently.
For this reason, the amount of time a transaction has been pending is less useful than its current status on the blockchain.
Why Can a Transaction Take Longer Than Expected?
The Network Is Congested
Blockchains have limited processing capacity. When many users submit transactions at the same time, transactions may compete for inclusion in a block. This is particularly noticeable on some networks. On Bitcoin, miners generally prioritize transactions with higher fee rates. On Ethereum and other EVM networks, higher priority fees make transactions more attractive for inclusion.
What to do: check the transaction on a blockchain explorer. If it remains pending and there is no action available to speed it up, you just need to wait for network conditions to change.
The Network Fee Is Too Low
This is closely related to network congestion. On networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, transactions offering more competitive fees are often processed before transactions with lower fees. A fee that would normally be enough may therefore result in a longer wait if the network is busier.
What to do: on supported EVM networks, Guarda allows you to replace a pending transaction using the same nonce and a higher network fee. See the instructions below.
An Earlier Transaction Is Still Pending
On Ethereum and other EVM networks, transactions from the same address are ordered using a nonce. If an earlier transaction hasn't been processed, a later transaction may have to wait for it even if the later transaction has a sufficient network fee.
For example, if Transaction #1 remains pending and you subsequently create Transaction #2, the network normally cannot process #2 before #1.
What to do: check your address on the relevant blockchain explorer and look for an earlier pending transaction.
Don't repeatedly create the same transaction because the original one appears stuck. A pending transaction may still be confirmed later, which could result in more than one transfer.
How to Check a Pending Transaction
The blockchain explorer shows the current on-chain status of your transaction.
- Open the affected transaction in Guarda.
- Copy its transaction hash (TXID).
- Open a blockchain explorer for the network you used.
- Paste the transaction hash into the search bar.
- Check the transaction status, fee, amount, sender, and receiving address.
If you're not sure which blockchain explorer to use, see “Why Is My Incoming Transaction Not Showing in Guarda?”.
You may see one of the following situations:
- Pending: the transaction hasn't been confirmed yet.
- Successful/Confirmed: the blockchain has already processed the transaction.
- Transaction not found: the explorer cannot currently locate the transaction using the provided hash.
If the transaction has failed, see “Why Did My Crypto Transaction Fail?” instead. Failed transactions require different troubleshooting from transactions that are still pending.
How to Speed Up a Pending Transaction on EVM Networks (Ethereum, Binanse Smart Chain, Polygon)
If your transaction is still pending, you can try to speed it up by replacing it with a transaction that uses the same nonce but a higher network fee. The higher fee makes the replacement transaction more competitive for inclusion in a block.
To do so:
- Open the wallet from which you sent the pending transaction.
- Start a new transaction and enter the same recipient address and the same amount as in the pending transaction.
- Open Advanced Fee Settings.
- Select the Custom fee preset.
- Enter the same nonce used by the pending transaction. You can find the nonce in the transaction details on the relevant blockchain explorer.
- Increase the network fee so that it is higher than the fee of the initial transaction.
- Check the recipient address, amount, nonce, and fee.
- Submit the transaction.
The network should handle the new transaction as a replacement for the pending one. If the replacement is confirmed, the blockchain won’t proceed with the original transaction separately.
Don't create a regular second transaction with a new nonce to speed up the first one. It won't replace the pending transaction and may result in an additional transfer once both transactions are processed.