Addressing Blockchain Congestion

Published on: Jan 12, 2024

In Brief

With crypto markets warming up and Bitcoin drawing a lot more attention, congestion on the network is causing issues for some users.

Bitcoin dust issues & network congestion. Here’s what you need to know:

The rise in congestion, led by inscriptions and other network activity, has resulted in what are called ‘Dust’ errors. In short, these Dust errors are affecting some users’ ability to send funds.

Given Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, Trust Wallet does not have direct control over these issues. However, we want to address this matter more thoroughly to:

Clarify why some users are experience issues in the app.
Things you can do to potentially avoid Dust errors.

Understanding 'Dust' Errors:

'Dust' refers to small, unspent amounts of cryptocurrency in a wallet and impacts all UTXO chains like Bitcoin. When sending funds, these small amounts can result in 'Dust' errors, preventing the transaction from proceeding. Trust Wallet 2.0 did not introduce this issue, but rather, it is a common challenge inherent to blockchain transactions.

Bitcoin Congestion and Transaction Fees:

Bitcoin congestion occurs when the network experiences high demand, leading to delays and increased transaction fees. During periods of congestion, fees can spike, sometimes exceeding the transaction value. Trust Wallet does not control these fees, as they are determined by the broader network.

With an increased congestion on the BTC chain from inscriptions and user adoption, the UTXO issues get exaggerated, especially in instances when users are sending amounts which are less than the required fee to operate on the chain.

What Can I Do to Avoid Dust Errors

Avoid sending very small transactions with a high fee. Since the network will attempt to create a UTXO (UTXO is dust) from a small transaction, the transaction will fail.
Send what is possible using Max Amount, with default fee setting. This will leave the small UTXOs, but send out the non-dust ones.
If nothing more can be sent with default fee setting (only dust UTXOs exist), try sending with lowered fee. You can adjust the fee from the transaction confirmation screen. Warning: with a low fee a transaction will take longer, sometimes even multiple days!

We understand the frustration this may cause and assure you that we are actively exploring solutions to enhance user experience during congested periods. Your understanding and patience are highly appreciated as we work towards providing the best possible service.

You can learn more here: https://community.trustwallet.com/t/unable-to-send-due-to-dust-error/1188

Thank you for your continued trust in Trust Wallet.

Best regards, The Trust Wallet Team