transactions · beginner
Sending and receiving SOL
What actually happens when you click send — addresses, signatures, and confirmations.
Quick summary
- 01Sending SOL is a single transaction signed by the sender's keypair.
- 02Recipients only need to share their public address — never private data.
- 03Confirmation typically takes a second or two.
- 04Fees are usually a fraction of a cent.
- 05Always verify the destination address character-by-character.
What you'll learn
- What actually happens when you click send.
- How to receive SOL safely.
- How to verify a transaction succeeded.
- Common mistakes to avoid.
Sending and receiving SOL is the most basic on-chain action you'll take. It looks simple — paste an address, type an amount, sign — but understanding what's happening underneath protects you from the most common mistakes.
Sending SOL
- 1
Get the recipient's address
An address is a long base58 string. Verify it character-by-character or via a known channel — never trust an address from a chat message alone.
- 2
Open your wallet and select Send
Choose SOL as the asset, paste the address, enter the amount. Read the simulated outcome carefully.
- 3
Sign the transaction
Your wallet signs with your private key. Nothing leaves your device but the signed transaction itself.
- 4
Wait for confirmation
A leader includes your transaction in a block, validators vote, and your wallet shows it confirmed in seconds.
Receiving SOL
To receive SOL, simply share your public address. There is no risk in sharing it — public addresses are designed to be shared. What you must never share is your seed phrase or private key.
Key takeaways
- →Sending SOL is one signed transaction, confirmed in seconds.
- →Receiving requires nothing more than sharing your public address.
- →Always verify destination addresses fully, not just the prefix and suffix.
- →Read the wallet's simulation before signing.
Frequently asked questions
What if I send to the wrong address?
Transactions are irreversible. Always verify before signing. If you control the destination, you can recover; if not, the SOL is gone.
Why did my transaction fail?
Common reasons: insufficient SOL for fees, the recipient's account doesn't exist for that token, or congestion caused the transaction to expire.
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