Networks, fees & gotchas
A 'network' is just a separate blockchain. USDT-on-Solana and USDT-on-Ethereum are different assets on different networks — same name, different tracks. You can never send across tracks without a bridge. Here's the playbook for each.
Quick comparison
| Network | Typical speed | Typical fee | Token |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solana | ~2 sec | <$0.01 fee | USDT (SPL) |
| Ethereum | ~15 sec | network gas | USDT (ERC-20) |
| BNB Chain | ~3 sec | <$0.10 fee | USDT (BEP-20) |
| Polygon | ~2 sec | <$0.01 fee | USDT (Polygon) |
| Base | ~2 sec | <$0.05 fee | USDC (Base) |
| Arbitrum | ~1 sec | <$0.05 fee | USDT (Arbitrum) |
| Tron | ~3 sec | low fee | USDT (TRC-20) |
Solana
Spinman's default. Fast, cheap, easy.
Pros: ~2 second confirmations · Fees under $0.001 · Phantom is the best beginner wallet
Cons: Less ubiquitous on smaller exchanges than ERC-20 / TRC-20
Best used for: Default for everything. Deposits and withdrawals.
Ethereum
Original, expensive, ubiquitous.
Pros: Every wallet and exchange supports it · Highest liquidity
Cons: $3–$20 in gas per transaction · 1–2 minute confirmations under load
Best used for: Only if your destination doesn't accept cheaper chains.
BNB Chain
Cheap EVM, Binance's home chain.
Pros: Fees under $0.10 · ~3 second blocks · Binance withdrawals natively support it
Cons: More centralized than Ethereum
Best used for: Withdrawing to Binance accounts.
Polygon
EVM, near-zero fees.
Pros: Sub-cent fees · ~2 second confirmations · Most EVM wallets support it natively
Cons: Sometimes confused with native MATIC token
Best used for: EVM users who want Solana-level fees.
Base
Coinbase's L2. Smooth on-ramp.
Pros: Penny fees · Coinbase auto-credits Base withdrawals · Strong wallet support (Phantom, MetaMask, Rabby)
Cons: Newer — some exchanges still don't list it
Best used for: Coinbase users + USDC flows.
Arbitrum
EVM L2, deep DeFi liquidity.
Pros: Penny fees · ~1 second confirmations · Most major exchanges support it
Cons: Withdrawals back to Ethereum take ~7 days (Spinman ↔ Spinman doesn't care)
Best used for: EVM users with Arbitrum-native funds.
Tron
USDT's biggest network outside Ethereum.
Pros: ~$1 fixed fee · ~3 second blocks · Universally accepted by exchanges
Cons: Need a Tron-aware wallet (TronLink, or Trust)
Best used for: Sending to / from Binance, Bybit, or anyone on TRC-20.
The one rule that matters
The network on both sides must match. When you withdraw USDT from Binance to Spinman, the network you pick on Binance has to match the address Spinman shows you. USDT on Solana → Solana address. USDT on Tron → Tron address. Mismatch = lost funds. There's no undo button on a blockchain.
What about bridges?
Bridges let you move tokens between chains (e.g. USDC on Ethereum → USDC on Base). For depositing to Spinman you don't need them — just buy or hold on the chain you want to send from. If you're moving large amounts between chains, prefer the official bridge from each ecosystem (Wormhole for Solana ↔ EVM, the native Base / Arbitrum bridges for Ethereum ↔ L2).