On Astro, “Processing” means Astro is actively working on your transaction, such as a withdrawal, a swap or a gift card sale under review, while “Pending” means the transaction is waiting on something outside Astro, such as blockchain confirmations for a crypto deposit or the market reaching your limit order price. A crypto transaction pending on the blockchain usually clears on its own once the network confirms it, while a processing item is already in Astro’s hands.
This guide explains exactly which transactions show each status, what normally happens next, how long each one tends to take, what you can and can’t do while you wait, and when it makes sense to contact support.
Key points
- Processing = Astro is handling it. Used for withdrawals, swaps and gift card sales that are being worked on.
- Pending = waiting on someone or something else. Used for crypto deposits awaiting network confirmations, open limit orders, and referral rewards for friends who haven’t traded yet.
- A withdrawal that is processing can’t be cancelled, and a submitted gift card sale can’t be cancelled either.
- If a withdrawal fails, everything taken is refunded, including the withdrawal fee.
- Ghana mobile money withdrawals are checked and paid by the Astro team, so they can stay on “Processing” longer than Nigerian naira withdrawals.
Why Astro uses two different statuses
Many apps label anything unfinished as “pending”. That makes it hard to know whether the app is working on your money or whether something else has to happen first. Astro separates the two so the status tells you who is holding the next step:
| Processing | Pending | |
|---|---|---|
| What it means | Astro has your request and is working on it | The transaction is waiting on something outside Astro’s control |
| Who holds the next step | Astro (and, for payouts, the bank or mobile money network) | The blockchain, the market price, or another user |
| Typical examples | Naira or cedis withdrawals, swaps, gift card sales under review | Incoming crypto deposits, open limit orders, referral rewards |
| Can you cancel it? | No, not for withdrawals or submitted gift card sales | Depends on the item; a blockchain transfer can’t be reversed |
| What you should do | Wait for the result; contact support if it seems stuck | Check the cause (confirmations, price, friend’s trades) before contacting support |
What “Processing” means on Astro
“Processing” is used for in-progress withdrawals, swaps and gift card orders. In each case, your request has been accepted and the money or card is already moving through Astro’s system.
Withdrawals
When you withdraw naira to a Nigerian bank account, or cedis to mobile money, the withdrawal shows “Processing” until the payout is completed or fails.
- Nigeria: eligible naira payouts can arrive in as fast as 60 seconds under normal conditions. Bank delays, maintenance or network issues on the receiving bank’s side can stretch this. Payouts also run on weekends and public holidays. The least naira withdrawal is ₦300.
- Ghana: cedis withdrawals go to mobile money only for now (MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash, formerly Vodafone Cash, or AirtelTigo Money). They are checked and paid by the Astro team, so a Ghana withdrawal can show “Processing” for longer, and timing varies.
Two rules apply while a withdrawal is processing:
- It can’t be cancelled. Once a withdrawal is submitted, it runs to completion or failure.
- If it fails, you get everything back. A failed withdrawal refunds the full amount taken, including the withdrawal fee.
For more on naira payouts from crypto, see how to withdraw Bitcoin to a Nigerian bank account.
Swaps
An Instant Swap, for example BTC to USDT or USDT to naira, may show “Processing” for a short time while the trade is carried out at the quoted price. Once the swap completes, the new balance appears in the right wallet.
Gift card sales
After you submit a gift card, the sale shows “Processing” while the card is reviewed. Two rules matter here:
- A gift card sale can’t be cancelled once it is submitted.
- If the rate changed before you tapped submit, the sale goes through at the new rate.
When the review is complete, Nigerian sellers are paid in naira and Ghanaian sellers in cedis. Check today’s gift card rates before you sell.
What “Pending” means on Astro
“Pending” is reserved for things that are waiting on someone or something other than Astro. Astro can’t speed these up, because the next step isn’t in its hands.
Crypto deposits waiting for network confirmations
This is the most common reason people search for “crypto transaction pending”. When you send crypto to your Astro wallet from Binance, Trust Wallet or another app, the transfer has to be confirmed by the blockchain before it can be credited. Until enough confirmations arrive, the deposit is pending.
How long this takes depends on the coin and the network:
- Some networks, such as Tron (TRC20) and BNB Smart Chain (BEP20), usually confirm transfers quickly.
- Bitcoin and Ethereum can take longer, especially when the network is busy or the sender paid a low network fee.
- Congestion on any network can slow confirmations for everyone, whatever app is used.
You can watch the confirmations yourself on a block explorer using the transaction ID (also called the hash or TXID) from the sending app. The guide on how to track blockchain transactions shows how.
One warning: a deposit sent on the wrong network, or sent as a different coin, will not turn up no matter how long you wait, because crypto sent that way can’t be recovered. If you think that has happened, read what to do if you sent USDT on the wrong network.
Open limit orders
Limit Orders on Astro are crypto-to-crypto orders, for example swapping USDT to BTC when BTC reaches a price you choose. Until the market reaches that price, the order is pending. If the price never gets there, the order simply stays open.
If you set a price 10% or more away from the current price, the app shows a warning, because an order that far from the market may take a long time to fill or may never fill. Limit Orders are available to users in Nigeria and Ghana. They are not a way to set a target cash-out rate for naira or cedis.
Referral rewards
When you invite a friend to Astro, the referral reward is added automatically once your friend’s trades reach the required level. Until then, that referral is pending. The reward is paid once per friend, and the amount and threshold are set by Astro and shown in the app, so check there rather than relying on figures you see elsewhere.
What you can and can’t do while you wait
If your transaction is Processing
- You can’t cancel a processing withdrawal or a submitted gift card sale.
- You don’t need to submit it again. Repeating a withdrawal while the first one is processing won’t make it faster.
- If it fails, the full amount comes back to your wallet, including the withdrawal fee, and you can try again.
If your transaction is Pending
- For a crypto deposit, check the transaction on a block explorer. If it shows as confirmed on the blockchain but hasn’t appeared after a reasonable time, contact support with the transaction ID.
- For a limit order, compare your target price with the current price. If it is far away, the order may wait a long time.
- For a referral reward, the next step is your friend’s trading activity.
When to contact Astro support
Most pending and processing items resolve on their own. Contact support in the app or at [email protected] if:
- A naira withdrawal has been processing for much longer than usual and there is no known bank issue.
- A crypto deposit is fully confirmed on the block explorer but hasn’t been credited.
- A gift card sale has been processing for an unusually long time.
- You see a status or balance you don’t recognise.
Have these ready to speed things up: the transaction type, the amount, the date and time, and, for crypto, the transaction ID and the network used. Ghana withdrawals are processed by hand, so allow more time before raising a query.
Be careful with anyone who contacts you first claiming to be Astro support. Real support won’t ask for your password, transaction PIN or gift card PIN, and won’t ask you to send crypto to “release” a transaction. The guide to crypto scams in Nigeria and how to protect yourself covers the common tricks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between “Processing” and “Pending” on Astro?
“Processing” means Astro is working on the transaction, such as a withdrawal, swap or gift card sale. “Pending” means the transaction is waiting on something outside Astro, such as blockchain confirmations, the market price for a limit order, or a referred friend’s trades.
Why is my crypto transaction pending?
An incoming crypto deposit stays pending until the blockchain confirms it. Busy networks or low network fees can slow this down. You can track it on a block explorer using the transaction ID from the sending app.
Why is my withdrawal still processing?
In Nigeria, eligible naira payouts can arrive in as fast as 60 seconds under normal conditions, but bank delays or maintenance can affect timing. In Ghana, mobile money withdrawals are checked and paid by the Astro team, so they can take longer.
Can I cancel a pending or processing withdrawal?
No. A withdrawal can’t be cancelled once it is submitted. If it fails, the full amount is refunded, including the withdrawal fee.
What happens if my withdrawal fails?
Everything taken for the withdrawal is returned to your Astro wallet, including the withdrawal fee. You can then check your details and try again.
Can I cancel a gift card sale that is processing?
No. A gift card sale can’t be cancelled once it is submitted, and it goes through at the rate shown when you submitted it.
Why is my limit order pending?
A limit order waits until the market reaches the price you set. Astro’s Limit Orders are crypto-to-crypto only. If your price is 10% or more away from the current price, the app warns you that it may take a long time to fill.
My crypto deposit shows as confirmed on the explorer but not on Astro. What should I do?
First, check that you sent the right coin on a network Astro supports for that coin. If everything matches, contact support with the transaction ID, amount, coin and network.
Why is my referral reward pending?
The reward is added automatically once your friend’s trades reach the required level. Until then, it shows as pending. Check the app for the current reward and threshold.
Does “Pending” mean my money is lost?
No. Pending simply means the transaction is waiting on an outside step. The exception is crypto sent on the wrong network or as a different coin, which can’t be recovered, so always match the coin and network before you send.
Knowing the difference between “Processing” and “Pending” tells you whether to wait for Astro or for the network, the market or a friend. To see every status in one place and track your trades as they move, download the Astro app.
