How to acquire additional transaction capacity for your digital wallet
On most blockchains you simply pay a fee for each transaction. TRON works differently: every address has a transaction capacity made of two resources, bandwidth and energy. When the capacity runs out, the network starts burning your TRX.
Here is how that capacity works and four ways to add more of it to your wallet.
What transaction capacity means on TRON
Bandwidth is capacity for the size of a transaction. Every address receives 600 free bandwidth per day, enough for a couple of simple transfers. Energy is capacity for smart contract work. USDT, USDC and most tokens are smart contracts, so sending them needs energy, about 65,000 for a standard USDT transfer.
Your wallet's capacity is the energy and bandwidth available on your address at a given moment. You can see both in TronLink or on Tronscan.
Way 1: use the free daily bandwidth
The 600 free bandwidth refills every 24 hours. It covers plain TRX transfers and the bandwidth part of a token transfer, but it gives no energy. For USDT it helps only partly.
Way 2: stake TRX for your own capacity
Freezing TRX under Stake 2.0 gives your address energy or bandwidth that refills every 24 hours. It is the right choice if you hold a large TRX balance and send transfers daily. Keep in mind that unstaking takes 14 days and that thousands of TRX are needed to cover even one USDT transfer per day.
Way 3: rent capacity when you need it
Renting adds energy to your address for a fixed time without locking your own funds. On tron-energy.com you choose up to 50 transfers and a period from 5 minutes to 30 days, pay once in TRX, and the energy is usually on your address within a minute. It is the fastest way to add capacity before a payment.
Way 4: let the network burn TRX
If you add nothing, the network still lets the transaction through by burning TRX from your balance. That works as a fallback, but it is the most expensive way to pay for capacity.
How much capacity to add
| Transaction | Energy | Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|
| TRX transfer | 0 | about 270 |
| USDT to an address that holds USDT | about 65,000 | about 345 |
| USDT to a new address | about 130,000 | about 345 |
Tips for keeping capacity healthy
- Check your energy before a large batch of transfers.
- Keep a small TRX balance so bandwidth is never the bottleneck.
- Remember that used energy refills gradually over 24 hours, so a 7-day rental can cover daily transfers.
- Never share your seed phrase to "unlock capacity": capacity is added to your address, not to your keys.
FAQ
Can I increase wallet capacity without buying TRX?
You need some TRX to pay for rented energy, but far less than you would burn or stake for the same capacity.
Does added capacity stay forever?
Staked capacity stays while TRX is staked. Rented capacity lasts for the period you choose, then returns to the pool.
Does it work for Trust Wallet?
Yes. Energy is attached to the address, so it works with any wallet that holds that address.
Ready for your next USDT transfer?
Add transaction capacity in about a minute: open tron-energy.com, connect your wallet and see your current energy and bandwidth, then rent exactly what you need.
Calculate the rental