What to do if my crypto transaction is stuck unconfirmed?
A stuck crypto transaction usually means fees are too low for current network congestion. Try RBF or CPFP to bump the fee, or wait for it to drop.
Updated
Watching a transaction sit unconfirmed can be nerve-wracking, especially with a booking on hold. It's almost always fixable - here's how.
Common causes and fixes
Low fee, high network congestion
Why this happens: When the Bitcoin or Ethereum mempool is busy, miners include the highest-fee transactions first. Low-fee sends get pushed back and can wait hours or days.
How to fix it:
- Check current mempool fees on mempool.space (BTC) or etherscan.io/gastracker (ETH).
- If your wallet supports RBF, replace the transaction with a higher fee.
- If your wallet supports CPFP, send a small transaction from a change output with a high fee to pull the parent through.
Wallet doesn't support fee bumping
Why this happens: Not every wallet supports RBF or CPFP - some custodial wallets and older apps don't.
How to fix it: Wait for the transaction to drop out of the mempool (usually 72 hours to 14 days). The funds return to your wallet and you can retry with a proper fee.
Booking held up while transaction resolves
Why this happens: trip1 can't confirm the booking until CoinGate sees the payment on-chain.
How to fix it:
- Message trip1 support with your booking reference and transaction hash.
- We can hold the rate temporarily or offer a rebook while the payment resolves - especially useful if check-in is close.
Prevent it next time
- Use Lightning for Bitcoin (near-instant, low fees) instead of on-chain when your booking is time-sensitive.
- For USDC or ETH, use a Layer 2 network like Arbitrum, Base, or Polygon - fees stay under a cent and confirmations arrive in seconds.
- If sticking with on-chain BTC or ETH, use your wallet's recommended fee (not the minimum) during busy times.
trip1 stuck unconfirmed transaction - FAQ
The fee you paid is likely too low for current mempool conditions. Miners prioritise higher-fee transactions when the network is busy.
Some wallets support RBF (Replace-By-Fee) or CPFP (Child-Pays-For-Parent) to bump the fee. Check your wallet's docs for how to use them.
Unconfirmed transactions eventually drop out of the mempool (usually within 14 days) and the funds return to your wallet. You can then retry with a proper fee.
Share your booking reference and the transaction hash with trip1 support. We'll rebook you or hold the rate while the payment resolves.
