Why Can't I Withdraw Crypto From an Exchange?

You can't withdraw crypto from an exchange when one of its rules says your coins are not free to leave yet. The most common reasons are a hold on money you just deposited, a security lock after an account change, or a compliance check on the transfer. None of them means your coins are gone.

Why does an exchange hold my money at all?

An exchange that holds your coins is a bit like a hotel safe: the coins are yours, but the hotel keeps the key and sets the rules for opening it. Those rules protect the exchange from fraud and keep it in line with the law. Here is how they show up.

Why is my balance bigger than what I can withdraw?

This is the hold on fresh money. If you bought crypto with a bank transfer or a card, the payment can still be reversed for a few days. So Coinbase and others show two numbers: your total balance and the smaller amount "available to withdraw". The gap closes on its own once the payment clears. Crypto you deposited from another wallet usually has no such hold after it is confirmed.

What other rules can block a withdrawal?

• Security lock. A new password, new phone number or reset two-factor code often freezes withdrawals for 24 to 48 hours. It protects you if someone else made the change.
• Compliance review. A large or unusual transfer can be paused while staff check it. Many exchanges also ask who owns the receiving wallet, because of an industry rule that makes them share sender and receiver details.
• Paused network. Binance, Kraken and others halt deposits and withdrawals on a chain during upgrades. Nothing is wrong with your account.
• Minimum amount. Every coin has a smallest amount you can send, set partly by the network fee. Small leftovers can't leave until you top them up.

First, compare your total balance with the "available" figure — that answers most cases in seconds. If the button itself is greyed out or shows an error, go through what is blocking your withdrawal. If you withdrew bitcoin and it now says "pending", read why a bitcoin withdrawal stays pending.