Deposits and Withdrawals

Moving assets onto and off a centralized exchange is where on-chain reality meets internal accounting. A deposit is not credited until the exchange's systems detect your transaction, apply the required confirmation count, and update your ledger balance. Withdrawals reverse the path — and are often where solvency problems surface first.

Confirmation thresholds vary by asset and exchange policy. Bitcoin might require three confirmations; Ethereum ERC-20 tokens often need more block depth during congestion. Internal transfers between exchange accounts — common on platforms with sub-accounts or P2P markets — skip the blockchain entirely and settle instantly inside the ledger.

Withdrawal queues appear when hot wallet inventory runs low, compliance reviews flag the destination, or the exchange faces a bank run. Fee structures differ: some exchanges absorb network fees for VIP tiers; others pass through gas spikes directly. Always test with a small withdrawal before moving your full stack — and whitelist addresses when the platform supports it to block address-substitution attacks.