Sending crypto looks simple from a user's perspective — enter an address, enter an amount, confirm. Behind the scenes, several things happen that determine the speed and cost of the transaction.

The Life of a Crypto Transaction

• Your wallet signs and broadcasts the transaction to the blockchain network

• Validators across the network verify you have sufficient funds and the transaction is legitimate

• The transaction is queued and grouped with others into the next available block

• The block is confirmed and added to the chain — the transfer is complete and irreversible

What Are Gas Fees?

Gas fees are payments made to the blockchain's validators — the computers processing and confirming your transaction. They are not a KIRAPAY fee; they go directly to the network.

• Gas fees vary significantly by network: Ethereum can be expensive; Base, and Polygon cost fractions of a cent

• Fees fluctuate with network congestion — high-traffic periods cost more

• Stablecoin transfers on low-fee networks typically cost under $0.01

💡  For Merchants

KIRAPAY lets you choose which blockchain you settle on. Directing payments to a low-fee network like Base or Polygon keeps transaction costs minimal for your customers — critical for conversions on smaller purchases.

Transaction Confirmations

A confirmation happens each time a new block is added after the block containing your transaction. More confirmations mean higher certainty the transaction cannot be reversed.

Common Reasons a Transaction Fails

• Insufficient gas — the transaction runs out of compute budget and reverts

• Wrong network — sending on Ethereum when the merchant expects Polygon

• Insufficient balance — not enough to cover both the payment and gas fee

• Incorrect address — always double-check before confirming

KIRAPAY's cross-chain routing handles network compatibility automatically, and the checkout clearly displays all fees and estimated completion times before a customer confirms payment.