What is blockchain confirmation time?
Blockchain confirmation time refers to the time it takes for a submitted transaction to be included in a block and reach the required number of confirmations for settlement. Blockchain transaction confirmation time depends on a given network’s block time, congestion, and the resulting network fee.
A confirmation happens each time a new block is added on top of the block that contains your transaction. For example, the average block time on Ethereum is about 12 seconds, so that’s how long it might take on the Ethereum blockchain. Many payment flows wait for more than one confirmation to reduce the chance of a chain re‑org.
How it works
- Broadcast. Your wallet signs and broadcasts a transaction to the network’s memory pool.
- Inclusion. A validator or miner includes it in the next block. The time to this step varies by network and associated fee.
- Confirmations. Each subsequent block added on top counts as one more confirmation. In proof‑of‑stake and BFT‑style systems, the network can also mark a transaction as final after a consensus checkpoint.
- Finality. Some networks expose “finalized” or “validated” states once consensus closes a ledger or checkpoint, which reduces the risk of reversal.
Popular examples
- Bitcoin. Bitcoin’s transaction confirmation time is tied to its ten‑minute target per block. One confirmation is usually ~10 minutes; businesses often wait 1-6 confirmations based on risk and ticket size.
- Ethereum blockchain average confirmation time is about 12 seconds, so one confirmation often takes seconds, and multiple confirmations arrive within minutes.
- Solana. Has a finalized state that arrives in only a few seconds under normal conditions.
- Tron. The average block interval is ~3 seconds, making it another popular choice for stablecoins.
- XRP Ledger. Consensus finalizes transactions in roughly 3–5 seconds in typical conditions.
Blockchains improve and evolve, aiming to reduce confirmation time as much as possible. Learn more about these assets and networks here:
Bitcoin • Ethereum • Solana • Tron • XRP
Why do you need confirmations?
- Reduce double‑spend risk. Extra confirmations make it less likely that a competing chain replaces the block that includes your payment, especially on proof‑of‑work networks like Bitcoin. That is why many processors wait for several confirmations on high‑value orders.
- Reach finality. Some chains provide deterministic finality. Waiting for the “finalized” or “validated” state means the transaction cannot be reversed by normal consensus.
- Operational clarity. Clear confirmation rules help finance teams reconcile payments, trigger order fulfillment, and meet audit requirements.
How CryptoProcessing helps
- Smart confirmation settings. With slow networks, we use third-party service providers, and if the transaction is approved by the service, no confirmations are required, and the deposit is credited immediately.
- Rate lock at payment. We lock the rate at invoice creation, so your team sees stable amounts while the network confirms.
- Business wallet. Manage teams, approvals, and settlements in our crypto wallet for business.
- Simple setup. Start by accepting crypto and let us worry about things like blockchain confirmation times – it’ll all be in your merchant dashboard.