How to Speed Up or Replace a Pending Cryptocurrency Transaction - sistim63/Ledger-Tips-and-Tricks-2025 GitHub Wiki

If you’ve ever sent a cryptocurrency transaction only to see it stuck in a “pending” state for hours (or even days), you’re not alone. Network congestion, low gas fees, or technical issues can cause delays. Fortunately, there are ways to speed up or replace a pending transaction.

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Why Do Transactions Get Stuck?

Before fixing the issue, it helps to understand why transactions get stuck:

  1. Low Gas Fees – If you set a gas fee too low, miners may prioritize higher-paying transactions.
  2. Network Congestion – During peak times (e.g., NFT drops, DeFi launches), blockchains like Ethereum can get backlogged.
  3. Nonce Issues – If an earlier transaction is pending, subsequent ones may get stuck.
  4. Technical Glitches – Occasionally, wallet or node syncing issues can cause delays.

How to Speed Up a Pending Transaction

1. Increase Gas Fees (Replace-by-Fee, RBF)

Many wallets and blockchains (like Bitcoin and Ethereum) support Replace-by-Fee (RBF), allowing you to resend the same transaction with a higher fee.

  • In MetaMask:
    • Go to Activity → Find the pending transaction → Click Speed Up.
    • Adjust the gas fee and confirm.
  • In Bitcoin (with RBF-enabled wallets):
    • Resend the transaction with a higher fee, replacing the original one.

2. Cancel the Transaction (If Possible)

If your wallet doesn’t support RBF, you may need to cancel the transaction by sending a new one with:

  • The same nonce (transaction number)
  • A higher gas fee
  • A zero-ETH transfer to yourself (on Ethereum)

This effectively overrides the stuck transaction.

3. Wait for Network Conditions to Improve

If the network is extremely congested, sometimes waiting is the best option. Check gas trackers like:

4. Use Accelerator Services (For Ethereum)

Some services like Ethereum Transaction Accelerator (by Etherscan) allow you to push your transaction through by paying a small fee.

How to Prevent Stuck Transactions in the Future

  • Check Gas Fees Before Sending – Use gas estimators to avoid underpaying.
  • Enable RBF in Your Wallet – If supported, this allows easy fee adjustments.
  • Batch Transactions – On networks like Ethereum, bundling operations (e.g., via DeFi smart contracts) can save gas.
  • Use Layer 2 Solutions – Networks like Arbitrum or Polygon offer faster and cheaper transactions.

Conclusion

A stuck transaction can be frustrating, but solutions like increasing gas fees, using RBF, or canceling and resending often resolve the issue. By monitoring network conditions and setting appropriate fees, you can minimize delays in the future.

Pro Tip: Always double-check transaction details before sending crypto to avoid unnecessary delays!

Would you like a step-by-step guide for a specific blockchain or wallet? Let me know!