How to Send Bitcoin: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sending Bitcoin for the first time can feel daunting. Here is a clear step-by-step guide to sending Bitcoin safely from a hardware wallet or exchange.

Sending Bitcoin is not complicated once you understand how it works — but it does require care. Unlike a bank transfer, Bitcoin transactions are irreversible. If you send to the wrong address, there is no customer service line to call. The money is gone.

This guide walks you through everything: what you need to know before sending, how to send from an exchange, how to send from a hardware wallet, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

Before You Send: Key Concepts

Bitcoin Addresses

A Bitcoin address is like a bank account number — it is a string of letters and numbers that identifies where Bitcoin should be sent. Modern addresses start with "bc1" (native SegWit), though older formats starting with "1" or "3" are still valid.

Example: `bc1qxy2kgdygjrsqtzq2n0yrf2493p83kkfjhx0wlh`

Always double-check the address before sending. Copy and paste it — never type it manually. And verify the first and last few characters after pasting, as some malware (clipboard hijackers) will swap addresses in your clipboard.

Transaction Fees

Bitcoin transactions require a fee paid to miners who process and confirm them. Fees are not fixed — they fluctuate based on network congestion.

• Low fee: Cheaper, but may take hours to confirm during busy periods
• High fee: More expensive, but confirms within minutes
• Most wallets offer fee options (slow / medium / fast) and show an estimated cost in your currency

Confirmations

A Bitcoin transaction needs to be confirmed by the network before it is complete. Most exchanges and wallets require 1-3 confirmations before considering a transfer finalised. Each confirmation takes roughly 10 minutes.

How to Send Bitcoin From an Exchange (e.g. Kraken)

If your Bitcoin is sitting on an exchange and you want to send it to your own wallet or someone else:

1. Log into your exchange account and go to the Withdraw or Send section.

2. Select Bitcoin (BTC) as the asset.

3. Enter the recipient's Bitcoin address. Paste it carefully and verify the characters.

4. Enter the amount you want to send. Most exchanges show both BTC and your local currency equivalent.

5. Choose a fee level if the option is available (standard, priority, etc.).

6. Review the transaction. Confirm the address, amount, and fee one more time.

7. Confirm and authorise. This usually requires your 2FA code.

8. Wait for the transaction to broadcast and confirm. You can track it on a block explorer like mempool.space using the transaction ID.

Most major exchanges process Bitcoin withdrawals within a few minutes. The on-chain confirmation time depends on the network and the fee you chose.

How to Send Bitcoin From a Hardware Wallet

If you are using a Ledger or Trezor, the process is slightly different — and more secure, because your keys never leave the device.

From a Ledger (Ledger Live)

1. Open Ledger Live on your computer and connect your Ledger device.

2. Unlock your Ledger with your PIN.

3. In Ledger Live, go to your Bitcoin account and click Send.

4. Paste the recipient address into the To field.

5. Enter the amount — you can input in BTC or your local currency.

6. Choose a network fee — Ledger Live shows estimated confirmation times for each fee level.

7. Click Continue and review the transaction summary.

8. Verify on your Ledger device. The device screen shows the recipient address and amount. Confirm they match what you entered.

9. Approve on the device using the physical buttons. This is the critical security step — your private key signs the transaction inside the hardware wallet.

10. The transaction is broadcast to the network. You can track it via the transaction ID.

From a Trezor (Trezor Suite)

1. Open Trezor Suite and connect your Trezor Safe 5 or other device.

2. Enter your PIN on the device.

3. Select your Bitcoin account and click Send.

4. Enter the recipient address and amount.

5. Set the fee level and click Review & Send.

6. Verify the transaction on your Trezor — the device shows the address and amount on its screen.

7. Confirm on the device touchscreen. The transaction is signed and broadcast.

The hardware wallet step of verifying the address on the device's own screen is essential. It protects you against clipboard hijacking — even if your computer is compromised, the address shown on the hardware wallet screen is what actually gets signed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Sending to the wrong address. Always check the full address — at minimum the first 8 and last 8 characters after pasting. Use the QR code scanner if available, as this eliminates clipboard risk. Sending the wrong amount. Check both the BTC amount and the fiat equivalent before confirming. Decimal errors can be costly. Using too low a fee during busy periods. A very low fee can result in your transaction being stuck for hours or days. Use a fee estimator like mempool.space to check current rates. Sending Bitcoin to an Ethereum address (or vice versa). Bitcoin addresses and Ethereum addresses are different. Sending Bitcoin to an Ethereum address will result in lost funds. Not confirming on the hardware wallet screen. Always read the address shown on your hardware device, not just your computer screen.

Tracking Your Transaction

Once sent, you can monitor your Bitcoin transaction using a block explorer:

• mempool.space — shows real-time transaction status, confirmations, and fee data
• blockstream.info — clean and simple block explorer

Enter your transaction ID (txid) or the recipient address to see the current status.

Summary

Sending Bitcoin is straightforward when you take the right steps:

• Always verify the recipient address — twice
• Choose an appropriate fee for the urgency
• If using a hardware wallet like a Ledger, always confirm on the device screen
• Track your transaction on a block explorer

Take your time, especially the first few times. Bitcoin transactions are irreversible, but they are also transparent — you can always see exactly what happened and where.