Choosing the right network: fees, speed & support

Popular assets like USDC, USDT and ETH exist on many networks at once. The token is "the same" in name and price, but each network version is a separate on-chain asset with its own fees, speed and wallet support. Choosing the right one saves money and avoids errors.

What to weigh

• Fees. Layer-2s and alt-L1s (Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, Solana, Tron) are usually far cheaper than Ethereum mainnet. If you're moving small amounts, fees matter a lot.
• Speed. Most modern networks confirm in seconds to a couple of minutes. Bitcoin is slower (and may need several confirmations).
• Where you're sending. Match the network your destination wallet, exchange, or app actually supports. An exchange that lists "USDC (Solana)" won't credit USDC sent on Base.
• Liquidity for the route. Some asset-network combinations have deeper liquidity and better rates than others.

A simple rule of thumb

Pick the network your receiving side supports first, then choose the cheapest route into it. If you control both wallets, favour low-fee networks for stablecoins and small transfers.

How CryptoRoute helps

Every asset shows its network explicitly, and the route page lists which networks an asset is available on. The live quote includes the exact rate and fee for that specific network pair, so you can compare before sending.