Blockchain transactions are irreversible, and once you send your crypto to the wrong network, it is really difficult to recover your assets. After the transaction is confirmed, there is no way you can reverse it. Trust Wallet is a self-custody wallet that provides users full control over their private keys and funds. So, if you are using Trust Wallet and by mistake sent the crypto to the wrong network, then it would be highly difficult to trace it and recover it. The only way you can get back your funds is to know the receiving address, reach out to the owner of the receiving address, and request them to get the funds. If you sent the amount to an unknown address and network, then you won't be able to reverse it.
If you used Trust Wallet for the transaction and control the destination wallet, and the blockchain where the funds are received supports manual recovery steps, then there is still some hope. You have to identify the receiving network, add or switch to that network in your wallet, and access the funds or transfer them back using a compatible wallet. You can recover tokens sent to the wrong network using BIP39 - Mnemonic Code (Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39) if you control the private key.
Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39 defines how human-readable 12, 18, or 24-word seed phrases (mnemonics) are converted into cryptographic keys. It is an amazing tool that converts a mnemonic phrase into a seed, derives private/public keys and wallet addresses for many blockchains, and allows you to inspect different derivation paths. With the help of BIP39 - Mnemonic Code, you can recover your crypto that is transferred to the wrong network.
But before you use this tool, you must ensure that you never enter your original wallet seed phrase on any website, specifically when you are connected to the internet. Make sure you download it from GitHub and run it offline on a secure and isolated device that has no internet, no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth, and no USB drives that connect to the internet.
Here is the detailed guide to help you recover crypto sent to the wrong network:
Download the BIP39 Mnemonic tool from GitHub official website https://github.com/iancoleman/bip39.
Download the HTML file and open it offline in a browser.
Open and launch the bip39-standalone.html file on your offline computer.
Enter your Recovery Phrase in the "BIP39 Mnemonic" field, type your 12/18/24-word seed phrase. The tool will automatically generate a seed, master key, and derived addresses. Your recovery phrase gives you access to all wallets derived from it, across multiple blockchains. By using the BIP39 tool, you can extract private keys for the wrong network address where the tokens landed, and then recover them.
Now, set the correct coin and derivation path. Choose the coin you accidentally sent (e.g., Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, VeChain). Adjust the derivation path as needed. Trust Wallet is commonly used:
m/44'/60'/0'/0 for Ethereum (ETH, BSC, etc.)
m/44'/818'/0'/0 for VeChain (VET)
Important Note: if you sent a token to your Ethereum wallet address by mistake, then you must select "ETH - Ethereum" in the coin/token such as VET, dropdown within the BIP39 tool. This way, you are trying to derive the private key for that exact ETH. The coin you choose in the dropdown determines the derivation path (which controls how addresses are generated from your recovery phrase).
For Example:
Sent VET from one wallet to your ETH address in Trust Wallet.
Funds won’t show up in the ETH wallet, because VET is on a different blockchain (VeChain, not Ethereum).
But, both ETH and VET use similar address formats (starting with 0x), so your ETH address on VeChain exists—you just need the private key for it.
By selecting ETH - Ethereum in the tool, you derive the same address and its private key.
You can then import that private key into a wallet that supports VeChain and access your VET.
Find your public address and private key, and use this private key to import the wallet into another wallet app on the correct network.
If the coin/token you sent isn't in the dropdown list (e.g., VET, CLO, etc.), then scroll down in the BIP39 tool to the Derivation Path section. Manually enter the correct derivation path for the network you sent funds to (like VeChain, Callisto, etc.). For example, Ethereum/BNB: m/44'/60'/0'/0/0 and VeChain: m/44'/818'/0'/0/0.
In the BIP39 tool, after entering your recovery phrase, scroll down to the Derived Addresses section. The first address listed should match the address you sent your tokens to. Copy the private key from the rightmost column of that row.
Open Trust Wallet.
Tap “Add Wallet” → “I already have a wallet”.
Choose the correct blockchain (not Ethereum, but the one you mistakenly sent to, like VeChain).
Select “Import with Private Key”.
Paste the private key you copied from the BIP39 tool.
This will load the wallet on the correct blockchain, where your tokens are sitting.
For Example:
You sent VET (VeChain token) to your Ethereum address.
You follow the steps: Use BIP39 to get the private key for your ETH address.
In Trust Wallet, import that same private key under the VeChain network.
Your VET tokens should now appear.
Important Notice:
When you are doing all this, make sure you do all the process offline using a safe copy of the BIP39 tool on a secure and isolated device that is not connected to any network or internet. Most importantly, never share your recovery phrase or private key with anyone.