Why Your Bitcoin/ETH Isn’t Appearing in Wallet – Full Recovery Guide

**Why Your Bitcoin or Ethereum Isn’t Showing Up in Your Wallet – Recovery Guide (2025)**

It can be really frustrating to send Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH) to your wallet and not see it show up. Whether you’re just starting out or you've been in the crypto game for a while, missing transactions can be nerve-wracking. But don't worry—most of the time, there’s an easy fix.

In this guide, we’ll talk about **common reasons your BTC or ETH might not be showing up** and give you **simple steps** to get your funds back in 2025.

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**Common Reasons Your Bitcoin or Ethereum Isn’t in Your Wallet**

**1. Transaction Still Pending**

When you send a transaction, it needs to get confirmed before it shows up in your wallet. Delays can happen because of:

- **Network congestion** (lots of people using Bitcoin or Ethereum).

- **Low fees** (if your ETH fee is too low, it may get stuck).

✅ **Fix:**

- Check the status of your transaction on a **block explorer** (use [Blockchair](https://blockchair.com/) for BTC or [Etherscan](https://etherscan.io/) for ETH).

- If it’s been pending for a long time, try speeding it up with services like ViaBTC for BTC or increasing the gas on MetaMask for ETH.

**2. Wrong Wallet Address or Network**

If you send **BTC to an ETH address** (or the other way around) or use the wrong network (like sending ETH via BSC), you won’t see your funds.

✅ **Fix:**

- Double-check the **receiving address** before sending.

- If sent to the wrong network, reach out to support; some exchanges can help recover your funds.

**3. Wallet Not Synced or Outdated**

Some wallets need to sync fully, like Bitcoin Core or Electrum. Mobile wallets, like Trust Wallet or MetaMask, can glitch sometimes.

✅ **Fix:**

- **Refresh your wallet** (pull down to reload).

- **Update the app** (check Google Play or the App Store).

- For desktop wallets, **resync the blockchain**.

**4. Tokens Not Visible (ETH & ERC-20 Issue)**

Wallets like MetaMask don’t always show all tokens automatically—you might need to add them yourself.

✅ **Fix:**

- Find the **token contract address** (try using [CoinGecko](https://www.coingecko.com/)).

- In MetaMask, click **Import Token** and enter the address.

**5. Exchange Delays**

If you took money out of an exchange (like Binance or Coinbase), it might take some time to process.

✅ **Fix:**

- Check your withdrawal status in your exchange account.

- Look for the **TXID** (transaction ID) on a block explorer.

**6. Wrong Network in Wallet**

MetaMask and other wallets can connect to different networks (like Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, etc.). If you're on the wrong one, your balance won’t show up.

✅ **Fix:**

- **Switch networks** (for example, from BSC to Ethereum Mainnet).

**7. Funds Sent with a Different Protocol**

If you sent BTC via the **Lightning Network** or ETH through **Polygon/Arbitrum**, it won’t show up in a regular wallet.

✅ **Fix:**

- Use a **Lightning-compatible wallet** (like Phoenix Wallet for BTC).

- For ETH on Layer 2, **move funds back** to the mainnet or switch networks.

**8. Hacked Wallet**

If you see your balance drop suddenly, you might have been **hacked**.

✅ **Fix:**

- **Revoke any suspicious approvals** ([Etherscan Token Approvals](https://etherscan.io/tokenapprovalchecker)).

- Move any remaining funds to a new wallet.

- **Enable 2FA** and check for malware.

Hidden Crypto? How to Recover ‘Missing’ Funds from Your Wallet

**Step-by-Step Recovery Guide for Missing BTC or ETH**

**Step 1: Check the Transaction**

- For **BTC**: Use [Blockchair](https://blockchair.com/) with your TXID.

- For **ETH**: Use [Etherscan](https://etherscan.io/).

- If **confirmed**, refresh your wallet.

- If **pending**, either wait or speed it up.

**Step 2: Verify the Address**

- Make sure the **sent address** matches your wallet’s **public address**.

- If it’s wrong, contact support; some exchanges can help fix this.

**Step 3: Sync & Update Your Wallet**

- **Mobile wallets**: Consider reinstalling or clearing your cache.

- **Desktop wallets**: Resync the blockchain.

**Step 4: Manually Add Tokens if Needed**

- In MetaMask:

- Click **Import Tokens** and enter the contract address.

**Step 5: Change Networks if You’re Using MetaMask or Trust Wallet**

- Make sure you’re on **Ethereum Mainnet** (not BSC or Polygon, etc.).

**Step 6: Contact Support if You’re Still Stuck**

- **Exchanges (like Binance or Coinbase)**: Open a ticket with your TXID.

- **Wallet providers**: Reach out to their official support channels.

Crypto Payment Failed? Here’s How to Fix It Fast (2025 Guide)

**FAQs: Missing Bitcoin or Ethereum**

**Q1. My BTC transaction has been unconfirmed for hours. What now?**

A: Check if it's stuck in the mempool. If it is, you might try **Replace-by-Fee (RBF)** or just wait.

**Q2. I sent ETH to a Bitcoin address. Can I get it back?**

A: **No**, probably, unless the exchange owns that address. Reach out to support as soon as possible.

**Q3. Why is my ETH balance zero in MetaMask?**

A: You might be on the wrong network. Switch to **Ethereum Mainnet**.

**Q4. How long do withdrawals from Binance take?**

A: It typically takes **5-30 minutes**, but it might take longer if the network is busy.

**Q5. My wallet was hacked. Can I recover my crypto?**

A: **You can’t reverse transactions**, but you can:

- Report it to exchanges if your funds moved there.

- Revoke any bad approvals.

**Q6. How do I find my missing ERC-20 tokens?**

A: You’ll need to **import the token** with its contract address.

**Q7. Can I cancel a pending Ethereum transaction?**

A: You can’t cancel, but you can **speed it up** by increasing the gas fee in MetaMask.

**Conclusion**

Most issues with missing Bitcoin or Ethereum come down to **pending transactions, wrong addresses, or wallet sync issues**. By following this guide, you should be able to **diagnose and recover your missing funds** for the most part.

Related Article

• Crypto Wallet Frozen? Here's How to Regain Access in Minutes
• Failed Crypto Transaction? Step-by-Step Recovery Process
• Network Congestion & Gas Fees: Why Your Crypto Transfer Failed
• How to Recover Funds After a Failed Crypto Transaction (Step-by-Step)
• MetaMask/Trust Wallet Balance Missing? Here’s How to Fix It