For most people in the US, buying Bitcoin and sending it are two separate experiences on two separate platforms. You buy on an exchange, wait for it to settle, withdraw to a wallet you control, and then initiate the send. Each step adds time, and if the person on the other end needs the funds quickly, that delay is not a minor inconvenience. It is the point where the whole process breaks down.

Sending Bitcoin to another wallet is one of the most common things Bitcoin holders do, and one of the most misunderstood. The mechanics are straightforward once you know them, but the first time can feel uncertain. Which address do you use? How long will it take? What does the fee cover? And what happens if something goes wrong?

It is one of the most common questions people ask when they first hold Bitcoin: Can I just send it to my bank account? The intuition makes sense. You send money between bank accounts all the time. Bitcoin is money. Shouldn't the process work the same way?