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

How to Send Bitcoin: Complete Guide for Beginners

Sending Bitcoin is one of the most fundamental skills every crypto user needs to master. Whether you're paying a friend in Colombo, buying goods online, or transferring between your own wallets, this guide by IAMUVIN covers everything you need to know about sending BTC safely.

What You Need Before Sending Bitcoin

• A Bitcoin wallet with BTC in it (see our wallet creation guide)
• The recipient's Bitcoin address — a string of 26-62 characters
• Enough BTC to cover the amount + network fees
• A stable internet connection

Understanding Bitcoin Addresses

Bitcoin addresses come in several formats. Each is valid, but newer formats have lower fees:

Format	Starts With	Fee Level	Example
Legacy (P2PKH)	1	Highest	1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DM...
SegWit (P2SH)	3	Medium	3J98t1WpEZ73CNm...
Native SegWit (Bech32)	bc1q	Low	bc1qw508d6qejxtd...
Taproot (Bech32m)	bc1p	Lowest	bc1p5cyxnuxmeuw...

Tip: If your wallet supports it, always use Native SegWit (bc1q) or Taproot (bc1p) addresses for the lowest fees.

Step-by-Step: How to Send Bitcoin

Step 1: Open Your Wallet

Open your Bitcoin wallet app (Trust Wallet, Exodus, BlueWallet, or whatever you use). Navigate to your Bitcoin balance.

Step 2: Tap "Send"

Look for the Send button. It's usually prominently displayed on the main screen or under the Bitcoin asset.

Step 3: Enter the Recipient's Address

You have several options:

1. Paste the address — Copy the address from the recipient and paste it
2. Scan a QR code — Use your phone's camera to scan the recipient's QR code
3. Select from contacts — Some wallets let you save frequently used addresses

CRITICAL: Always double-check the address. Bitcoin transactions are irreversible. If you send to the wrong address, your Bitcoin is gone forever. At minimum, verify the first 4 and last 4 characters.

Step 4: Enter the Amount

Enter how much Bitcoin you want to send. Most wallets let you enter the amount in BTC or your local currency equivalent.

Step 5: Set the Transaction Fee

The network fee determines how fast your transaction is confirmed:

Priority	Confirmation Time	Fee Level	Best For
High	~10-20 minutes	Highest	Urgent payments
Medium	~30-60 minutes	Moderate	Normal transactions
Low	~1-24 hours	Lowest	Non-urgent transfers

Use tools like mempool.space to check current fee rates. Visit our tools page for more resources.

Step 6: Review and Confirm

Before hitting send, verify the recipient address is correct, the amount is correct, the fee is acceptable, and the total does not exceed your balance. Once confirmed, tap Send.

Step 7: Track Your Transaction

After sending, your wallet will provide a Transaction ID (TXID). Track it on blockchain explorers like mempool.space, blockchain.com/explorer, or blockchair.com.

How Bitcoin Transaction Confirmations Work

When you send Bitcoin, the transaction goes through these stages:

1. Broadcast — Your transaction is sent to the network
2. Mempool — It waits in a queue of unconfirmed transactions
3. First Confirmation — A miner includes it in a block (~10 minutes)
4. Additional Confirmations — Each new block adds another confirmation

Most services require 3-6 confirmations before considering a transaction final, which typically takes 30-60 minutes.

Common Mistakes When Sending Bitcoin

• Sending to the wrong address — Triple-check before confirming
• Sending BTC to a non-BTC address — Don't send Bitcoin to an Ethereum address
• Setting fees too low — Your transaction could get stuck for hours or days
• Not accounting for fees — Make sure you have enough to cover amount + fees
• Sending the wrong amount — Verify whether you're entering BTC or fiat

What If My Transaction Is Stuck?

If your transaction is unconfirmed for a long time:

• Wait — Most transactions confirm eventually, even with low fees
• RBF (Replace-By-Fee) — If your wallet supports it, you can increase the fee
• CPFP (Child-Pays-For-Parent) — Advanced technique to speed up confirmation

Sending Bitcoin from an Exchange

If your Bitcoin is on an exchange like Binance:

1. Log into your exchange account
2. Navigate to Withdraw
3. Select Bitcoin (BTC)
4. Choose the correct network (Bitcoin/BTC — not BEP20 or ERC20)
5. Enter the recipient address and amount
6. Complete 2FA verification
7. Confirm the withdrawal via email if required

Important: Exchange withdrawals often have minimum amounts and fixed withdrawal fees. Check your exchange's fee structure.

Sri Lanka Context

Sending Bitcoin from Sri Lanka works the same as anywhere else — the Bitcoin network is global and borderless. However, keep in mind:

• Internet connectivity affects when you can broadcast transactions
• Be aware of potential ISP monitoring if privacy is a concern
• There are no Sri Lankan regulations specifically governing Bitcoin transfers
• Cross-border Bitcoin transfers may have tax implications

Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Always verify addresses and amounts before sending. IAMUVIN is not responsible for any lost funds due to user error. Cryptocurrency carries significant risk.