Crypto 101

You’re here to make a payment, not become a crypto trader. If a peptide vendor only accepts crypto and you have never used it, start here. You do not need to understand the whole blockchain ecosystem to check a payment properly.

Confirm what the vendor accepts, allow time to get spendable funds, then check every detail before sending. We’ll use Trust Wallet and USDC on Solana as an example—not a route that every vendor accepts.

Before moving money, work through Gray 101’s vendor checks and verify the COA. A successful payment tells you nothing about what is in the vial.

What exactly does the vendor want you to send?#

Get the asset, network and receiving address in writing. “Send USDT” is not enough. Ask for the token amount, any payment deadline, and whether a memo or tag is required.

⚠️ Wrong network, real money at risk

Do not send USDT on Tron/TRC-20 to a payment request for Solana. Matching token names do not make networks interchangeable. The transfer may fail—or funds may become inaccessible and the vendor may never be credited.

Once confirmed, a blockchain transfer has no card-style chargeback. Support cannot simply reverse it. Recovery sometimes exists, but you cannot count on it.

Before each payment, have the vendor confirm: token · network · amount · full address · memo/tag if required. If anything differs on your send screen, stop.

Even a valid-looking address does not prove that the recipient supports your network. Choosing a cheaper network changes the payment route. Why wrong-network recovery is uncertain.

Why use USDC or USDT instead of Bitcoin or SOL?#

For a dollar-priced invoice, a dollar stablecoin usually makes the amount easier to follow.

USDC, USDT and SOL are different assets. SOL cannot pay a USDC invoice unless the vendor agrees. USDC also exists on multiple networks; use the one requested. A $1 target is not a guarantee. USDC risks.

Can I use Coinbase, or do I need Trust Wallet?#

An exchange account holds assets for you and controls withdrawals. A self-custody wallet, such as Trust Wallet, lets you control the keys and sign transfers yourself. Its backup becomes your responsibility.

Do not assume an exchange permits a vendor payment just because its Send button works. For example, Coinbase’s prohibited-use policy covers unlawful activity and certain pharmaceutical-related businesses. Check the rules before paying; a restriction can lead to account action.

An exchange can fund your own wallet where permitted. Trust Wallet does not hide a payment’s history or exempt it from exchange rules. Self-custody gives you control; it is not protection against account restrictions.

Set up your wallet before you need it#

1. Download through Trust Wallet’s official website. Avoid links sent by strangers or sponsored “support” results.
2. Create your own wallet. Complete its backup and security checks. For a recovery-phrase wallet, keep the words in order, privately offline.
3. Open Receive, select the asset and network, and check the receiving details before adding funds.

🔑 Your recovery phrase is control of your money. Never share it with a vendor, an administrator or “support.” Do not use a wallet someone else created for you: they may still have its keys.

A receiving address can be shared; a recovery phrase cannot. More on wallet basics.

Why can’t I send the crypto I just bought?#

A visible balance is not always a sendable balance. First-time buyers can hit identity checks (KYC), payment review and withdrawal holds. Finish setup before committing to a vendor’s payment deadline.

Coinbase, for example, can hold cash deposits even after you use them to buy crypto. Its account screen shows when funds become available to send. There is no universal seven-day wait, and support cannot shorten the hold. Check Coinbase’s available-balance explanation.

• Buying inside the wallet? Check the third-party provider’s supported region, identity requirements, total cost and delivery estimate before paying. Self-custody does not remove the purchase provider’s checks.
• Withdrawing from an exchange? Copy your own wallet’s receiving details. Match the token and network, review withdrawal fees and limits, and wait for the transfer to arrive.

Buying or withdrawing the exact stablecoin on the correct network avoids an unnecessary swap. Use a provider available where you live; changing your apparent location or splitting deposits does not make an ineligible route eligible.

Budget for fees as well as the invoice. Purchase charges, withdrawal fees, swap costs and network fees are separate. Buying $200 worth of crypto does not necessarily leave $200 available to send.

How do I swap SOL to USDC in Trust Wallet?#

Skip this step if you already have the requested USDC on Solana. If you have SOL instead:

1. Open Swap and select SOL → USDC, both on Solana, if offered.
2. Enter the amount. Review the output, minimum received and fees; you need enough USDC to cover the invoice.
3. Keep enough SOL for network charges unless the app explicitly confirms another fee arrangement. Do not blindly choose “Max.”
4. Confirm, wait for completion, then check the USDC balance and network.

A swap changes the asset. A bridge changes the network and adds complexity; you do not need one for this same-network example.

“0% swap fee” does not necessarily mean a free transaction. Trust Wallet’s current stablecoin-swap offer explicitly separates network gas from its own fee. Read the final quote rather than relying on an old screenshot.

What should I check before pressing Send?#

Open the correct asset on the correct network, choose Send, then check:

• Token and network: exactly the pair the vendor confirmed.
• Full address: compare the entire pasted address with the trusted payment instructions. Do not copy from transaction history.
• Amount and fees: the net amount the recipient will receive.
• Memo/tag: included if required.
• Deadline: get updated instructions if the quote has expired.

First payment to this address? Ask whether the recipient accepts a small test and how it will be credited. Agree on minimums and the remaining balance first: a below-minimum transfer may not be credited.

Recheck the details for the main payment. If an address suddenly changes in a message, confirm it through a contact channel you already trust.

How do I prove the payment arrived?#

Save the transaction hash (TXID), network, token, amount and destination. Send the vendor the TXID and order reference. Never send your recovery phrase.

Use the explorer linked from your wallet to inspect the record. A matching transaction is stronger evidence than a cropped “sent” screenshot. Transfer troubleshooting.

What scams catch first-time crypto users?#

• Fake support: anyone asking for your recovery phrase or an upfront “unlock” payment.
• A last-minute address switch: a compromised account can send convincing instructions.
• Fake tokens: a familiar name or logo is not enough. Check the wallet’s asset listing and issuer information.
• Recovery offers after a loss: do not pay strangers promising a guaranteed reversal. FTC guidance.

Take your time. A vendor rushing you past a mismatched network or unresolved hold is a reason to pause the order.

Continue reading#

• Gray 101: finding a vendor — check the order before choosing a payment route.
• Testing 101: verify a COA — connect the seller’s claims to an actual lab record.
• Dictionary — look up the community’s testing and peptide terms.
• All guides and posts — return to the full guide library.