Coins and tokens: a distinction that matters when sending

A coin is the native asset of its own blockchain: BTC on Bitcoin, ETH on Ethereum, SOL on Solana. A token lives on a chain it does not own, created by a contract.

Why you should care

• Fees are paid in the chain's coin. To move a token on Ethereum you need ETH for gas. Holding a token with no native coin means you cannot move it.
• Tokens exist on several chains. The same name on different networks is different addresses that cannot reach each other.
• Tokens carry contract risk. Whoever controls the contract may be able to freeze or change things. A native coin has no such owner.

Practically

Before sending a token, check you hold some of the chain's native coin for fees. And check the network, because the token name alone does not identify where it lives. Swap Heaven lists each network separately for exactly that reason.