Move coins off an exchange
Coins on an exchange are held by the exchange. Moving them to your KeepKey puts you in control of the keys. The two things that go wrong are sending on the wrong network and sending to the wrong address — both are avoidable.
1. Get your receive address — and verify it on the device
In KeepKey Desktop, open the asset you’re withdrawing and click Receive. Click Verify on Device and read the full address on the KeepKey screen.
For Bitcoin, Native SegWit (addresses that start with bc1q) is the default choice and works with every major exchange. See Bitcoin Address Types.
2. Choose the matching network on the exchange
The exchange’s withdrawal form asks for a network. It must be the network your KeepKey address belongs to:
| Withdrawing | Pick | KeepKey Desktop asset |
|---|---|---|
| BTC | Bitcoin | Bitcoin |
| ETH | Ethereum (ERC-20) | Ethereum |
| USDC / USDT | the network you’ll hold it on — e.g. Ethereum | that network’s token list |
The same token can exist on several networks. ETH on Arbitrum or Base is not ETH on Ethereum mainnet — send it on a network your KeepKey Desktop account shows, and look for the balance on that network. See Networks, Coins & Tokens.
3. Paste, then compare the exchange’s copy with your KeepKey
Paste the address into the withdrawal form. Before you submit, compare what the exchange shows — the form, and its confirmation screen or email — with the address on your KeepKey screen, the whole line, in groups of four. Clipboard malware changes addresses at the moment you paste (details).
Many exchanges have you add (“whitelist”) a withdrawal address first and wait before using it. Do the full comparison at that step, since you’ll reuse the entry.
4. Send a small test withdrawal first
Withdraw a small amount. When it appears in KeepKey Desktop, withdraw the rest to the same address. Exchanges often charge a flat withdrawal fee, so the test costs that fee again — worth it for a first transfer.
5. Save it
Save the verified address in the exchange’s address book with a label like “My KeepKey — BTC”. Next time you’ll compare against a known entry instead of starting over.
Common mistakes
- Wrong network — funds may be unrecoverable, or only recoverable by the exchange’s support at their discretion.
- Comparing only the first and last characters — lookalike addresses are generated to match those (why).
- Copying an address from your transaction history instead of from KeepKey Desktop’s Receive screen.