How to Convert USDT (TRC20) to USDT (ERC20)

By Hongkiat Lim. in Internet. Updated on February 20, 2024.

If you have USDT TRC20 stablecoins sitting around and are looking to convert them to ERC20, you’re in the right place. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process. But first, let’s understand the key differences between TRC20 and ERC20.

Understanding the Difference Between TRC20 and ERC20

ERC-20 and TRC-20 are standards for token issuance and management on different blockchain platforms. ERC-20 is the standard for the Ethereum blockchain, providing a set of rules for Ethereum-based tokens, ensuring they work seamlessly within the Ethereum ecosystem, including compatibility with wallets and exchanges.

Conversely, TRC-20 is the standard for the TRON blockchain, designed to offer similar functionalities to ERC-20 but optimized for TRON’s characteristics. TRON aims for higher scalability and lower costs, featuring faster transactions and reduced fees. This makes TRC-20 tokens suitable for high-throughput applications and those looking to cut transaction costs.

While both standards facilitate token transfers, transaction approvals, data access, and token creation, their main difference lies in their respective blockchains: Ethereum for ERC-20 and TRON for TRC-20.

This distinction influences transaction speed, costs, and the specific applications each is best suited for.

How to Identify if Your Tokens are TRC20 or ERC20

Determining whether your tokens belong to the TRC-20 (TRON network) or ERC-20 (Ethereum network) standard can be done through a few simple steps:

Check the Wallet or Exchange: The platform where your tokens are stored usually indicates the network. Look for network information in the token details section.
Token Address: Each token has a unique address. Copy this address and search it on blockchain explorers specific to each network. Use Etherscan.io for Ethereum (ERC-20 tokens) and Tronscan.org for TRON (TRC-20 tokens).
Transaction Fees: Paying gas fees in ETH suggests an ERC-20 token, while paying in TRX indicates a TRC-20 token.
Transaction Speed and Cost: TRC-20 transactions are generally faster and cheaper than those of ERC-20. Quick, low-cost transactions may indicate TRC-20 tokens.

By examining these factors, you can easily figure out if your tokens are TRC-20 or ERC-20.

Step-by-Step Guide to Swapping TRC20 to ERC20 Tokens

In this guide, I’ll provide a detailed walkthrough on how to convert USDT TRC20 from a Trust Wallet to USDT ERC20 in a Coinbase account. Before we start, here are some important points:

You’ll need TRX to pay for network fees on the Tron network. If you don’t have TRX in your wallet (the one holding USDT TRC20), you’ll need to acquire some.
Due to gas fees, you won’t receive the exact amount you swap. For example, swapping 100 USDT TRC20 might result in receiving approximately 80-90 USDT ERC20.
The transaction isn’t instant and could take anywhere from 10-20 minutes to a day or more, depending on network congestion.

Now, let’s dive into the swap process.

First, head over to SimpleSwap.io. Under the “Crypto Exchange” tab, input the amount and select USDT TRC20 as your current coin and USDT ERC20 for the coin you want to receive. You’ll see an estimated amount you’ll receive in return. If everything looks good, hit the “Exchange” button.

Next, provide your USDT ERC20 wallet address in the “Enter the wallet address” field. This is the destination for your swapped coins.

Scroll down and click “Additional Information“. Here, enter your USDT TRC20 refund address and your email. This step is crucial for refunds if needed.

Once you’ve double-checked all the details, click “Create an exchange“. You’ll be taken to a page indicating “Awaiting your deposit“, showing the amount to send and the deposit address.

Copy this deposit address, go to your wallet (such as Trust Wallet), paste the address, enter the correct amount, and proceed to “Next“.

Review the transaction details, including the network fee, and then confirm by clicking “Confirm“.

You can track the transfer status by navigating to “Transaction details” > “View on block explorer“.

This will direct you to a page like the one shown in the TronScan screenshot below:

Back on SimpleSwap.io, once the “Pending deposit” status completes, the process will move through “Confirmation“, “Exchanging“, and “Sending” phases.

Upon completion, you’ll see the final confirmation page.

Subsequently, the receiving wallet will display the USDT ERC20 amount as “Pending” while awaiting blockchain confirmation.

You can also monitor progress on Etherscan:

The entire swap process can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes to a few hours, depending on blockchain traffic. Once finalized, the status will update to complete, and the funds will be available in your USDT ERC20 wallet.