How do you move crypto from an exchange to a cold wallet?

To transfer crypto to a cold wallet, you withdraw it from the exchange to a receive address generated by your hardware wallet. Once it arrives, you hold the keys yourself instead of the exchange holding them for you. The steps are similar on most platforms, though menus differ.

What do you need before you start?

• A set-up hardware wallet with its recovery phrase written down and stored safely offline.
• The wallet's app installed, with an account added for the coin and network you plan to send.
• An exchange account that allows sending. Robinhood, for example, requires an identity check that can take up to five business days before crypto transfers are enabled, as of October 2026.
• Funds that are free to move. On Coinbase, crypto bought with cash still on hold can be traded but not sent off the platform until the hold ends.

If you are unsure why you would do this, see hot wallet vs cold wallet.

How do you transfer crypto from Coinbase or Robinhood to a cold wallet?

1. Get the receive address. In your wallet app, open the account and choose Receive. Pick the account on the same network you will send on.
2. Verify it on the device. Trezor's guide says to show the address on the hardware wallet's own screen and compare it with what you pasted, because malware on a computer can swap copied addresses.
3. Start the send on the exchange. On Coinbase, choose Send crypto, select the asset and amount, choose the network, and paste the address. On Robinhood, open the coin, tap Send, paste the address and enter the amount.
4. Add a memo or tag if needed. Robinhood notes that some assets, such as XRP, require one.
5. Review and confirm. Complete any two-step verification the exchange asks for.

Both exchanges say crypto sends are final. Coinbase charges a network fee, and Robinhood says it adds no fee of its own beyond the network fee shown before you confirm.

Why should you send a test transaction?

A test transaction is a small amount sent first to prove the address and network are right. Gemini's guide recommends sending a small test and only moving the full amount once it arrives. You pay a network fee twice, but if something is wrong you lose only the test amount.

How do you choose the right withdrawal network?

Many coins and stablecoins run on more than one network. Coinbase warns that picking the wrong network can mean funds are lost, and Robinhood says sending to an incompatible network can cause permanent loss. Make sure the network on the exchange matches the account in your wallet. Robinhood also limits Bitcoin withdrawals to certain address formats, so check that your wallet's address type is accepted.

If something goes wrong, read what happens if you send crypto to the wrong address. For timing, see how long a crypto transfer takes.