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Crypto network guide
The Bitcoin Network, Explained
Quick answer
Bitcoin is the original blockchain network, launched in 2009. It settles value directly between wallets using Proof of Work mining, adds a new block roughly every 10 minutes, and caps supply at 21 million BTC. Transfers typically confirm in 10–60 minutes and cost a fee that rises and falls with demand.
Updated August 2026 · Reviewed by the Anytime Capital trading desk
Bitcoin at a glance
- Launched
- 2009
- Consensus
- Proof of Work (SHA-256)
- Block time
- ~10 minutes
- Typical transfer time
- 10–60 minutes
- Typical network fee
- Varies with demand
- Native asset
- Bitcoin (BTC)
Network fee: Roughly $0.50–$5 per transaction through most of 2025–2026, with spikes well above that during mempool congestion. Third-party network figures, not Anytime Capital pricing — our pricing is on the fees & limits page.
How long does a Bitcoin transfer take?
A Bitcoin transfer is usually spendable after 1 confirmation (about 10 minutes) and considered final by most platforms after 2–6 confirmations, so 10–60 minutes is typical in 2026. Low-fee transactions during congestion can wait hours in the mempool before their first confirmation.
Compare every chain on one page: how long crypto transfers take on every major network.
How does a Bitcoin transfer actually work?
When you send BTC, your wallet signs a transaction with your private key and broadcasts it to the network's mempool — the waiting room of unconfirmed transactions. Miners select transactions (highest fee-per-byte first), bundle them into a block, and race to solve a Proof of Work puzzle. The winning block lands on the chain roughly every 10 minutes, and every transaction inside it has its first confirmation.
Each block mined after yours adds another confirmation. One confirmation means your transaction is on-chain; six confirmations (about an hour) has been the traditional standard for treating large transfers as irreversible. Most exchanges and payment processors in 2026 credit deposits at 1–3 confirmations.
Why do Bitcoin fees change so much?
Bitcoin block space is fixed — about 1–4 MB of transaction data every 10 minutes — so fees are an auction. When demand is quiet, a standard transfer clears for well under a dollar. When demand surges (bull-market volatility, inscription waves like the 2023–2024 Ordinals boom), fee rates can jump 10–50x within hours.
Your wallet's fee setting is a bid, not a fixed price. Bid too low during congestion and the transaction can sit unconfirmed for hours or days. Anytime Capital's wallet suggests a live fee rate at send time so you can choose between fastest and cheapest with real numbers in front of you.
Is there USDT or USDC on the Bitcoin network?
No — as of 2026 there is no mainstream dollar stablecoin that settles on Bitcoin's base layer. Bitcoin's scripting is deliberately minimal, so token systems that thrive on Ethereum, Tron, and Solana never took hold on Bitcoin itself. (Tether's original 2014 launch used Omni, a protocol layered on Bitcoin, but that version was phased down years ago; Tether announced USDT for Bitcoin's Lightning and RGB layers in 2025, and adoption is still early.)
Practical rule: if someone asks for "USDT on the Bitcoin network," stop and re-confirm — they almost always mean USDT on Tron (TRC-20) or Ethereum (ERC-20). Sending BTC to a USDT address, or vice versa, loses funds.
Which Bitcoin address format should you use?
All four Bitcoin address formats hold the same BTC — the differences are fees and compatibility. Native SegWit (bc1q…) addresses cut transaction weight, which means meaningfully lower fees than legacy (1…) addresses, and every major platform accepts them in 2026. Taproot (bc1p…) goes further on privacy and smart-contract flexibility, but a handful of older services still can't send to it.
- Receiving from any platform, maximum compatibility: bc1q (native SegWit)
- Oldest hardware or paper wallets: may still use 1… (legacy) — works, costs more to spend from
- 3… addresses are typically multisig or exchange infrastructure
- bc1p (Taproot): fine between modern wallets; confirm support before giving it to an older service
Stablecoins on Bitcoin
No mainstream stablecoins run on Bitcoin. To move dollar-pegged value, use USDT or USDC on a supporting network — see stablecoins & their networks.
What does a Bitcoin address look like?
| Format | Looks like | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy (P2PKH) | Starts with 1 | Oldest format; highest fees per byte |
| Script (P2SH) | Starts with 3 | Multisig and wrapped SegWit |
| Native SegWit | Starts with bc1q | Lower fees; the default in most modern wallets |
| Taproot | Starts with bc1p | Newest format; check the recipient supports it before sending |
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Anytime Capital is a US-based money services business with thousands of customers. Debit and credit cards from every major US bank work here, verification takes minutes, and delivery goes straight to the Bitcoin address you choose.
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Digital assets are not FDIC-insured, are not bank deposits, and may lose value. Availability and limits subject to identity verification and compliance review.
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The Anytime Capital non-custodial wallet generates native SegWit (bc1q) Bitcoin addresses — you hold the keys, we never do.
Your keys, always
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