A withdrawal that shows 'pending' or 'processing' on an exchange without a transaction hash has not reached the blockchain yet โ the delay is inside the exchange. The most common reasons are a security hold after an account change, a new address in a whitelist waiting period, a manual review, a network paused for maintenance, or simple batching. Once the exchange shows a hash, the delay becomes a blockchain question and normal confirmation times apply. Telling these two situations apart is the first and most useful step.
First question: is there a transaction hash?
Open the withdrawal details in the exchange's history. If a TxID or hash is shown, copy it into a block explorer of the withdrawal network; the transaction hash identifier helps if you are unsure which network that is. If the explorer shows the transaction, the exchange has sent it, and what remains is confirmations. If there is no hash, nothing has been broadcast, and the only party who can speed it up is the exchange.
Why exchanges hold withdrawals
- Security hold after a change. Changing a password, 2FA method, e-mail or phone, or logging in from a new device, typically freezes withdrawals for a period, often 24 hours, sometimes longer. Our own partner programme does the same: payouts are locked for 48 hours after an e-mail change.
- Address whitelist. If the account uses an address whitelist, a newly added address may only become usable after a waiting period, and withdrawals to it stay pending until then.
- Risk or compliance review. Large or unusual withdrawals, first withdrawals after a deposit, or withdrawals to addresses flagged by the exchange's analytics can be checked manually. The exchange may ask for information about the purpose or the recipient.
- Network maintenance or suspension. During a network upgrade, congestion or a wallet issue, exchanges pause deposits and withdrawals for that coin or that network only. Announcements and status pages list these.
- Batching and hot-wallet top-ups. Some coins are sent in batches every few minutes or hours. If the hot wallet runs low, withdrawals wait until it is refilled from cold storage.
- Limits. Daily withdrawal limits based on verification level can leave a request waiting or reject it.
How to tell which one it is
| What you see | Most likely cause | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Status 'Pending review' or 'Under review' | Manual or compliance check | Wait, answer any request from support |
| Message about a security change | Security hold | Wait for the stated time |
| Coin page says withdrawals suspended | Network maintenance | Wait or choose another network |
| 'Processing' for minutes, other coins fine | Batching or hot-wallet top-up | Usually resolves within hours |
| Hash shown, explorer shows pending | Low fee or busy chain | Confirmation times of that chain |
What not to do
- Do not cancel and recreate the request repeatedly. Each new request starts any queue or review from the beginning.
- Do not change account security settings to 'unlock' it โ that usually triggers a new hold.
- Do not reply to strangers who contact you about the withdrawal on Telegram, WhatsApp or by e-mail. Exchange support never asks for your password, 2FA codes or seed phrase, and 'unlock fees' are a scam; read fake crypto support scams.
- Do not create a swap order and let it expire while you wait. If the withdrawal is going to a KOT.CASH deposit address, the order countdown keeps running; if it runs out, the deposit is still matched later by hash, but a fixed rate will not be honoured.
When the withdrawal goes to a swap deposit
If you are withdrawing straight to a swap order, two details save trouble. First, enter the order amount plus the exchange's withdrawal fee, so that the amount arriving matches the order. Second, pick the same network the order expects โ TRC20, BEP20, ERC20 โ and, for coins like XRP or ATOM, fill in the destination tag or memo from the order page. An exchange that has no memo field for that coin cannot send to a memo deposit; withdraw to your own wallet first.
Once the hash appears
From then on the timing is that of the network. On TRON and Solana a deposit is confirmed within about a minute or two, on Ethereum about the same, on Bitcoin a block โ usually 10โ30 minutes. The deposit confirmations lookup shows how many confirmations the provider behind KOT.CASH waits for on each coin. If the hash is confirmed but the recipient has not credited it, the problem is on the receiving side: wrong address, wrong network or a missing memo.
FAQ
Why is my exchange withdrawal pending without a hash?
The exchange has not broadcast it. Common reasons are a security hold, a whitelist delay, a review, a paused network or batching.
How long do security holds last?
It depends on the exchange; 24 hours after a password or 2FA change is common, and some holds are longer.
Can I speed up a pending exchange withdrawal?
Only the exchange can. Check announcements, answer support requests, and avoid cancelling and recreating the request.
The withdrawal has a hash but did not arrive. What now?
Look the hash up in an explorer. If it is confirmed to the right address, contact the recipient; if it is pending, it is a network fee or congestion question.
Is someone offering to unlock my withdrawal for a fee a scammer?
Yes. Exchanges do not charge unlock fees through private messages.