Article Summary
This article explains how to receive bitcoin into your River account, including on-chain and Lightning methods, confirmations, and generating a receive address.
Before you are eligible to receive bitcoin into your River account, you will need to submit your ID for verification. For instructions on how to submit your ID, please see this Help Center article.
There are two methods to receive bitcoin into your River account, on-chain and the Lightning Network. This guide will explain both methods of receiving bitcoin.
The time that it takes for bitcoin to reach your account will depend on the speed of the network. River applies the following confirmation logic when receiving bitcoin on-chain:
- Any transaction less than 0.1 BTC requires 2 confirmations
- Any transaction greater than 0.1 BTC requires 3 confirmations
Step 1: Locate receive button
To generate a receive address on river.com, click "Receive bitcoin," found on your River homepage. If you are using the River app, tap "Receive" on the homepage.
Step 2: Copy address
Copy your newly generated on-chain address or Lightning address. You can also scan the QR code.
Step 3: Initiate send
The sending process varies between different exchanges and wallets. Typically, you can use one of the following options:
- Scan the QR code that River provides directly from your exchange or wallet app
- Paste the receive address that River provides into the destination field when sending
If you would like to automatically convert your received bitcoin into cash, please see this Help Center article.
Helpful Resources
If you have an account with a different exchange, follow the appropriate guide below for steps on how to receive bitcoin into your River account.
Exchange |
Resource |
URL |
| Coinbase | https://help.coinbase.com/en/coinbase/trading-and-funding/cryptocurrency-trading-pairs/steps-to-send-crypto | Link |
| Kraken | https://support.kraken.com/articles/send-and-receive-crypto | Link |
| Gemini | https://support.gemini.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004710226-How-do-I-withdraw-crypto-from-my-Gemini-account | Link |
| Strike | https://strike.me/faq/how-do-i-send-bitcoin/ | Link |
| Swan | https://help.swanbitcoin.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058709153-How-do-I-withdraw-my-Bitcoin-from-Swan | Link |
| Crypto.com | https://help.crypto.com/en/articles/3511870-how-to-withdraw-cryptocurrency-from-my-crypto-com-exchange-wallet-to-external-wallet-address | Link |
On-chain vs. Lightning: What’s the difference?
Not sure which method to use when receiving bitcoin? On-chain is best for larger or more important bitcoin transactions. Lightning is best when speed and low fees matter most.
Feature |
On-chain Transaction |
Lightning Transaction |
| What it is | Transactions are received directly on the Bitcoin blockchain, the most established and secure way to receive Bitcoin | Transactions are received over the Lightning Network, Bitcoin's faster "layer 2" |
| Speed | Usually takes minutes to hours, depending on how busy the Bitcoin Network is | Near-instant, most arriving within seconds |
| Fees | Fees vary based on Network activity and can be higher during congestion | Fees are very low, often near zero |
| Best for | Larger transfers or long-term storage | Smaller, everyday payments |
| Privacy | Transactions are publicly visible on the blockchain, which anyone can look up | Payment details aren't all recorded on-chain, so it's a more private option |
| How to receive in River | Generate and paste an on-chain address for your River account | Generate and paste a Lightning invoice for your River account |