How Long Do Crypto Deposits Take?
From instant to 5+ days—deposit times vary wildly. Here's exactly how long each method takes on every major exchange.
Quick Summary
Debit cards are instant but cost 2-4% in fees. ACH bank transfers are free but take 3-5 business days (though some exchanges let you trade immediately). Wire transfers settle same/next day. Crypto deposits depend on the blockchain—Bitcoin needs 6 confirmations (~1 hour), faster chains like Solana are near-instant.
Deposit Times by Method
| Method | Time to Credit | Time to Trade | Time to Withdraw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit Card | Instant | Instant | Instant |
| Wire Transfer | Same/Next day | On credit | On credit |
| ACH (Standard) | 3-5 business days | On credit | After settlement |
| ACH (Instant) | 3-5 business days | Instant* | After settlement |
| Crypto Transfer | Network dependent | After confirmations | After confirmations |
*Instant ACH lets you trade immediately, but you can't withdraw until funds fully settle (3-5 days).
Deposit Times by Exchange
| Exchange | Debit Card | ACH | Wire | Instant Trading? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | Instant | 3-5 days | 1-3 days | Yes (up to $1K) |
| Kraken | Instant | 3-5 days | 0-2 days | Limited |
| Gemini | Instant | 4-5 days | Same day | Yes |
| Binance.US | Instant | 3-5 days | 1-2 days | Yes |
| Crypto.com | Instant | 3-5 days | 1-2 days | Yes |
Crypto Deposit Confirmation Times
When depositing crypto from another wallet or exchange, you need to wait for blockchain confirmations:
| Cryptocurrency | Confirmations | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 3-6 confirmations | 30-60 minutes |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 12-35 confirmations | 3-10 minutes |
| Solana (SOL) | 1 confirmation | ~1 second |
| USDC (ERC-20) | 12-35 confirmations | 3-10 minutes |
| Polygon (MATIC) | 200+ confirmations | 7-10 minutes |
| Avalanche (AVAX) | 1 confirmation | ~1 second |
| Litecoin (LTC) | 6 confirmations | 15-20 minutes |
Why ACH Takes So Long
ACH (Automated Clearing House) is a batch payment system that only processes on business days. Here's why it takes 3-5 days:
- Day 1: You initiate deposit. Exchange sends ACH request to your bank.
- Day 2-3: Banks batch process ACH requests through the Federal Reserve.
- Day 3-4: Funds transfer between banks.
- Day 4-5: Exchange confirms receipt and waits for potential reversals.
Weekends and holidays don't count. A Friday deposit might not clear until the following Thursday.
Instant Trading Explained
Many exchanges offer "instant trading" for ACH deposits. Here's what that actually means:
✅ What You Can Do
- • Trade immediately (buy/sell crypto)
- • Access funds as soon as deposit initiates
- • Act on market opportunities without waiting
❌ What You Can't Do
- • Withdraw crypto before settlement
- • Send crypto to external wallet
- • Withdraw USD until funds clear
Essentially, the exchange is extending you credit until your ACH settles. If the ACH fails (insufficient funds), your trades could be reversed.
Speed vs Cost Tradeoff
| Need | Best Method | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest deposit | ACH | Free | 3-5 days |
| Fastest + cheapish | Wire transfer | $0-$35 | Same day |
| Instant + withdrawal | Debit card | 2-4% | Instant |
| Large amount fast | Wire transfer | $5-$35 | Same day |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my ACH deposit still pending? +
Can I speed up my crypto deposit? +
Why does wire transfer take longer on some exchanges? +
What happens if I deposit to the wrong network? +
The Bottom Line
ACH is free but slow (3-5 days). Debit cards are instant but expensive (2-4%). Wire transfers hit the sweet spot for larger amounts (same-day, low fixed fee). For crypto deposits, Solana and Avalanche are near-instant; Bitcoin takes about an hour. Plan ahead to avoid paying rush fees.
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