To pass a Satoshi Test, copy the one-time address and the exact micro-amount from your verification request, then send that precise amount from the wallet you are verifying — through Ledger Live for a Ledger device, or directly from MetaMask or Trust Wallet. Never send it from an exchange account. The transfer confirms on-chain within 1-3 blocks, and in the CryptoPass flow the micro-amount is refundable.
Being asked to run one is routine, not an accusation. Since 30 December 2024, Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 requires EU crypto-asset service providers to check whether a self-hosted wallet really belongs to their customer for transfers above EUR 1,000 — part of the framework explained in our FATF Travel Rule guide. The Satoshi Test is the chain-agnostic way to prove control: only the person holding the keys can send a specific amount from that wallet.
How the Satoshi Test Works, Step by Step
The flow is identical whichever wallet you use:
- Start the verification and note two things: the one-time destination address and the exact amount. The amount has several “random” decimals — that randomness is the fingerprint that identifies your transfer.
- Open the wallet being verified. Not another wallet you also own, and never an exchange account.
- Paste the one-time address and enter the amount exactly as shown. Do not round it, do not tap “Max”, and do not let the wallet deduct the network fee from it.
- Send and wait. The test confirms on-chain, typically within 1-3 blocks.
- Get the micro-amount back. It is refundable in the CryptoPass flow, so the real cost is one ordinary network fee.
That is the whole test. Failures come from the details, which differ per wallet.
Ledger: Send the Test Through Ledger Live
A Ledger never sends anything by itself — you send through Ledger Live and physically approve on the device.
- Open Ledger Live and pick the account that holds the wallet being verified. If you keep several Bitcoin or Ethereum accounts, double-check: a test from a different account is a test from a different wallet.
- Click Send, paste the one-time address, and type the exact amount. In a standard Ledger Live send the fee is charged on top of the amount, so the destination receives what you typed — just make sure the balance covers amount plus fee.
- Choose a fee level. On Bitcoin, a very low fee can leave the transaction sitting unconfirmed; a standard or fast fee gets it into the next few blocks.
- Approve on the device. Verify the recipient address and amount on the Ledger screen before confirming — the device screen, not the computer screen, is the one you trust.
MetaMask: Check the Network Before Anything Else
The classic MetaMask failure is a network mix-up, because the same address format works on Ethereum and every EVM chain.
- Select the network first. If the request is for Ethereum, the network selector must say Ethereum Mainnet — not an L2 or another chain that shares the address format.
- Type the exact amount manually. Do not use “Max”: gas comes from the same ETH balance, and a max-style send will not match the requested amount.
- Keep enough ETH for gas. Gas is paid separately from the amount you send, so the recipient receives exactly what the amount field says — but nothing moves without ETH for the fee. For USDT as an ERC-20 token, the token amount must be exact and gas still comes out of your ETH.
One shortcut: on Ethereum and compatible chains, CryptoPass can also prove ownership via WalletConnect — instant, no transaction needed, works with MetaMask and other WalletConnect apps. The Satoshi Test covers the chains WalletConnect cannot, such as Bitcoin.
Trust Wallet: Pick the Right Asset and the Right Network
Trust Wallet is multi-chain — convenient day to day, a trap during verification, because one token can live on several networks.
- Match both the asset and the network to the request. USDT alone exists on multiple chains, including Ethereum and TRON. If the request says USDT on TRON, sending USDT on Ethereum fails even though the token name matches. Check the network label before sending.
- Leave the memo field alone unless told otherwise. On chains like TON, Trust Wallet shows a memo or comment field. Memos exist for services that pool many users behind one shared address; a one-time verification address is yours alone, so you normally do not need one. Do not type stray text there.
- Enter the exact amount and check you hold enough of the chain’s native coin for the fee — TRX for TRON transfers, GRAM for TON transfers.
The Mistakes That Actually Fail the Test
In practice, failed Satoshi Tests come down to a short list:
- Sending from an exchange account. The most fundamental failure. An exchange withdrawal comes from the exchange’s own infrastructure, so the on-chain sender is not you and the test cannot prove ownership — your wallet never sent anything.
- Rounding the amount. 0.001 is not 0.0010047. The odd decimals are the identifier; a rounded figure is a different transaction that matches nothing.
- Wrong network or chain. Same token, wrong chain still fails — and misdirected funds can be a recovery headache.
- Letting the fee eat the amount. Some wallets offer a “subtract fee from amount” option or a send-max shortcut. Both make the destination receive less than requested, so the amounts no longer match.
A Note on UTXO vs Account-Based Chains
Fees behave differently depending on the chain’s accounting model:
- Bitcoin is UTXO-based. Your wallet builds the transaction from previous outputs and takes the miner fee out of your change, so the recipient normally gets exactly what you typed (Ledger’s UTXO explainer covers the mechanics) — unless a “subtract fee from amount” option is on. Leave it off.
- ETH, SOL, TRX and TON are account-based. The amount field is literal and the fee is charged separately in the native coin. When sending tokens such as USDT, you need a small native-coin balance on top, or the transaction never leaves your wallet.
What Happens After the Test Confirms
Once the transaction confirms, CryptoPass has on-chain proof that you control the wallet, and that proof feeds the KYW (Know Your Wallet) certificate: a detailed PDF with a blockchain-verified hash and a KYW score from 0 to 100, based on transaction history, counterparty risk, sanctions exposure and the ownership verification you just completed. You can share it via QR code or link when a compliance team asks about your wallet — it helps document your position, though how any institution weighs it is always that institution’s own decision. An independent legal opinion (July 2023) by Dr. Stephan Ochsner, former CEO of the Liechtenstein Financial Market Authority, found the CryptoPass process aligns with state-of-the-art requirements for proving wallet ownership under FATF, EU and Liechtenstein standards.
The basic wallet check is free — no card, no KYC. A full KYW certificate starts at EUR 10 per wallet, no subscription; see pricing or get the app to run the test from your phone.
FAQ
Do I get the Satoshi Test amount back?
Yes. In the CryptoPass flow the micro-amount is refundable, so it is proof, not a payment. You still pay the ordinary network fee to send the transaction, exactly as you would for any other on-chain transfer of the same size.
Can I send the test amount from my exchange account?
No. An exchange withdrawal comes from the exchange’s wallet, not yours, so the on-chain sender does not match the wallet being verified. This is one of the most common reasons a Satoshi Test fails. Always send from the non-custodial wallet you are proving control of.
Which wallets and coins does the Satoshi Test support?
Any non-custodial wallet that can send a transaction works, including hardware wallets like Ledger and apps like MetaMask and Trust Wallet. CryptoPass supports BTC, ETH, SOL, TRX, GRAM and USDT, and the Satoshi Test works on all supported chains; WalletConnect is an instant alternative on Ethereum-compatible chains.
Does the test expose my wallet or keys?
You never share a private key or seed phrase. The Satoshi Test only asks for one outbound micro-transaction — something only you can authorize anyway. The one-time address is used for your verification alone, and the micro-amount comes back to you in the CryptoPass flow.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
