What is TRC-20? A token standard on TRON
TRC-20 is a token standard on the TRON blockchain for tokens such as USDT. Addresses start with T and transfers need TRX for network resources.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 5, 20264 min readFact-checked
On this page
- TRC-20 is a token standard on TRON, not a coin or blockchain.
- People use it mainly to move USDT between wallets and exchanges.
- TRC-20 transfers need TRX for network resources.
- TRC-20 addresses start with T and work only on TRON.
- Sending to the wrong network can lose tokens permanently.
In practice, TRC-20 is the rulebook that lets wallets and exchanges handle many tokens on TRON without custom code for each one. TRON is a proof-of-stake blockchain that supports smart contracts, and TRON blockchain profiles it with live data. You can compare it with other Blockchains that host their own token standards. A TRC-20 token is a smart contract. A smart contract is a program that lives on a blockchain. A fungible token means each unit is interchangeable with another.
What is TRC-20?
TRC-20 is the fungible token standard on the TRON blockchain. It exists to give tokens a common interface on TRON, and it is mainly used for tokens such as USDT. A token becomes TRC-20 when its contract implements required functions and events. TRON itself is a separate network, and TRC-20 is not a coin or a blockchain.
Why do people use TRC-20?
People use TRC-20 tokens to transfer fungible value on the TRON network. The most common use is sending USDT between wallets and exchanges. Wallets and exchanges can list TRC-20 tokens without manual work, so support is wide.
- Send USDT quickly between wallets and exchanges.
- Move value across borders without a bank transfer.
- Use a network that often has lower costs than some other chains.
- Trade tokens on exchanges that support the TRON network.
- Receive tokens in a wallet that lists TRC-20 assets.
How do TRC-20 transfers work?
TRC-20 tokens are smart contracts, and moving them is an interaction with that contract. The TRON network charges resources for that interaction, and the network uses TRX to pay for those resources. Your address must be on TRON, and TRC-20 addresses start with T.
What are the risks of TRC-20?
TRC-20 transfers only work on the TRON network. If you send tokens to a non-TRON address or pick a different network at the exchange, the transfer can fail or the tokens can be lost. A confirmed transfer to the wrong network usually cannot be reversed.
How is TRC-20 different from ERC-20?
TRC-20 and ERC-20 are both token standards, but they live on different networks. TRC-20 is on TRON, while ERC-20 is on Ethereum blockchain. The two standards are compatible at the interface level, so much ERC-20 code can run on TRON with small changes. TRC-20 is also different from TRON's older native token type, called TRC-10, which uses native protocol features rather than smart contracts.
Frequently asked questions
No. TRON is a blockchain, and TRC-20 is a token standard that runs on it. You can hold TRX, the network's native coin, without holding any TRC-20 token.
No. Ethereum addresses usually start with 0x and belong to a different network. Sending TRC-20 tokens there can lose them permanently.
Yes, the TRON network uses TRX to pay for the resources a transfer consumes. Some wallets or exchanges may cover that cost, but the network still requires it.
No. USDT is one popular TRC-20 token, but many other tokens use the same standard. Fake tokens can also use the standard and a similar name.
