How to Transfer DOT from Your Wallet to Coinbase
There has been some confusion lately because Polkadot (DOT) switched from the Relay Chain to Asset Hub. The transition changes the underlying network layer, where your DOT is recorded within the Polkadot ecosystem, but your wallet address and the process for transferring DOT to Coinbase remains virtually unchanged.
What Changed
Polkadot used to store all DOT balances directly on the Relay Chain, which is the main backbone of the Polkadot network. The Relay Chain’s job is to handle security, consensus, and communication between parachains — not necessarily user transactions.
To make the network faster and more efficient, DOT balances and other user-facing features were moved from the Relay Chain to Asset Hub, a specialized parachain built for handling digital assets and transactions. This migration improves scalability and reduces congestion on the main chain.
What Is Asset Hub?
Asset Hub is a system parachain within the Polkadot ecosystem. It’s designed specifically to manage tokens and digital assets like DOT. Think of it as the new “bank” where your DOT is stored, while the Relay Chain acts as the “central authority” that keeps everything in sync.
The migration from Relay Chain to Asset Hub doesn’t change how much DOT you have or your wallet address. It simply changes where your balance is recorded within the Polkadot network.
Why the Migration Happened
Polkadot made this move to simplify its architecture and improve performance. The Relay Chain will now focus only on securing the network and verifying blocks, while Asset Hub handles all the day-to-day asset transfers. This shift helps:
- Reduce transaction fees
- Improve speed and scalability
- Create space for more features and parachain integrations
Coinbase and the Current Confusion
Here’s where the confusion comes in: Coinbase hasn’t updated its app labels yet as of November 8th 2025. When you look inside Coinbase, it still says “Polkadot” or “Relay Chain.” But in reality, all DOT transfers now happen on the Asset Hub.
DO NOT TRANSFER FROM YOUR WALLET TO RELAY CHAIN!
So, even though the Coinbase app shows “Polkadot,” your addresses are still the same, and the DOT you send will automatically arrive as Asset Hub DOT. Coinbase simply hasn’t updated the display name yet.
Step-by-Step Example
Let’s walk through an example in simple terms:
- Open your wallet and select Send DOT.
- Go to Coinbase, copy your DOT deposit address (it may still say “Polkadot” or “Relay Chain”).
- Paste that address into your wallet’s send from.
- Enter the amount of DOT you want to send.
- Confirm the transaction is being sent from Asset Hub.
- Your DOT will arrive in Coinbase and be credited correctly — even though Coinbase still labels it as “Polkadot.”
Your address hasn’t changed, and you don’t need to switch networks manually.
Sending To Coinbase From Relay Chain
Earlier today I sent 1 DOT from my Asset Hub wallet to Coinbase address via Relay Chain and the DOT still hasn’t appeared in my account. Good luck getting anyone from Coinbase support to help you if you have already done this. Notice how they now have a phone number present. This gives me confidence that one day, Coinbase might actually offer the level of customer service that TD Ameritrade provided for decades… They should be able to help you recover, but not without a lot of waisted time, frustration, and email correspondence: https://help.coinbase.com/en/contact-us
Important Notes
- If deposits or withdrawals are temporarily paused, it’s usually because exchanges are finalizing the Asset Hub migration.
- Don’t worry if your wallet shows “zero balance” temporarily; it may just need to update to recognize the Asset Hub.
- You do not need to create a new address or move funds manually to make them compatible.
- Always double-check that deposits and withdrawals are open before sending DOT to an exchange.
In Summary
You can still transfer DOT to Coinbase just like before. The only real difference is behind the scenes: DOT now exists on the Asset Hub instead of the Relay Chain. Your address and balance remain the same. Coinbase supports this migration — it just hasn’t yet updated its user interface to display “Asset Hub.”
So, when you send DOT to Coinbase, you’re really transferring Asset Hub DOT, even though Coinbase still calls it “Polkadot.” Your funds remain safe and fully compatible.
