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How long does a transaction take?

Quick answer

A new block comes about every 10 minutes on average, so a payment usually gets its first confirmation within 10 to 30 minutes. Lightning payments take seconds.

Go deeper

Blocks are random, so some take 1 minute and some take an hour. Each new block on top adds a confirmation. Many people treat 1 confirmation as fine for small amounts and wait for 6 (about an hour) for large ones. A low fee during busy times can mean a longer wait.

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