How to choose a network for a deal - Ethereum, Base, Polygon or BNB Chain

One escrow contract works on four networks, and its address is the same everywhere: 0x6462DDDc0a3D893A7C17f94410e2d27162a390aD. Why - in the article on CREATE2. But the networks are not equal: they differ in fees, tokens and level of security. The choice of network is the first decision when creating a deal, and it must be agreed with the counterparty.

The four networks in brief

Ethereum

Pros: maximum security and decentralisation, the greatest liquidity and the widest choice of tokens. The foundation of the whole ecosystem.

Cons: fees. A simple action at busy hours can cost several dollars, and the several actions in a deal (create, accept, confirm) multiply this.

Suits: large amounts, when a fee of tens of dollars is a small share of the sum and maximum reliability matters.

Base

Pros: low fees and speed. It is a Layer 2 on top of Ethereum, and its security rests on the main network. Popular, with plenty of USDC.

Cons: dependence on the network operator (the sequencer); withdrawal to Ethereum takes up to a week through the standard bridge.

Suits: most small and mid-sized deals.

Polygon

Pros: very cheap transactions, has run for a long time, supported by many wallets and services.

Cons: security rests on its own validator set, not directly on Ethereum. Fees are paid in POL, which you must have on the balance.

Suits: small deals, especially between people already working on this network.

BNB Chain

Pros: low fees, many users from the Binance ecosystem, easy top-up from the exchange.

Cons: the network is relatively centralised: the validator set is limited. Fees are in BNB. An important technical feature: many tokens have a different number of decimals here (for example USDT has 18 decimals, whereas on Ethereum it has 6). The interface accounts for this, but manual operations are error-prone (more on decimals).

Suits: deals between Binance users and small amounts.

How to choose: three questions

1. What amount? The larger the deal, the less the fee matters and the more security matters. A rough rule: the network fee should not exceed a few tenths of a percent of the amount.
2. Where do the parties have money and gas? There is no point choosing a network in which the counterparty has neither the token nor the coin for gas. Moving funds means a bridge with its risks.
3. Which token is needed? Not every token exists on every network. Check that the stablecoin you need is available on the chosen network (about stablecoins).

An example of choosing

A freelancer and a client agree on a 400 USDC project. The client has USDC on an exchange that withdraws to Base with a minimal fee. The contractor has a MetaMask wallet without ETH. A sensible choice is Base: the deal will cost a few cents, and the contractor needs only a tiny ETH balance to confirm.

Another example: buying a car for 25,000 USDT with a guarantor. Here a 20-dollar fee on Ethereum is under 0.1% of the amount. The parties choose the main network for maximum reliability.

Typical mistakes

• Sent the token on the wrong network. The money went to an address on Polygon while the counterparty expects it on Base. Check the network before every operation.
• No coin for gas. The tokens are there, but there is no ETH, POL or BNB on the needed network - a transaction is impossible.
• Mixed up tokens. USDC on one network and USDC on another are different contracts (why).
• Did not agree on the network. The deal was created on one network while the other side looks for it on another.

What to read next

Find out what a fee is made of: fees by example. Or study safe wallet handling: the checklist.