Which Sei address format should I use?

Whichever the receiving platform shows: modern exchange flows use 0x addresses; Cosmos-style tooling uses sei1…. Both reach the same account. If a sei1 deposit screen displays a memo, include it — it's mandatory there.

Can MetaMask hold SEI?

Since the v2 EVM, yes — add the Sei network and your 0x address works for SEI and EVM tokens there. Native sei1-side assets may need a Sei-native wallet. Keep the network selector honest on withdrawals either way.

Is USDC on Sei real Circle USDC?

Yes — natively issued by Circle since late 2024 with standard redemption rights. It settles only on Sei: match the network on both sides when moving it.

What is SEI used for?

SEI pays gas, secures the network through validator staking, and serves as collateral and base pair across Sei's trading-centric DeFi. Fees run fractions of a cent, so a small balance lasts.

Does SEI have a maximum supply?

SEI launched with a 10 billion token supply allocated across staking rewards, ecosystem funds, and contributors on published schedules. Circulating supply grows along those unlocks rather than open-ended inflation.

Can I buy SEI with a debit card?

Yes — Anytime Capital sells SEI for debit cards from all major US banks, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit cards, wires, and cash in person, delivered to your Sei address in minutes on verified orders.

Is Sei an Ethereum Layer 2?

No — Sei is an independent Layer 1 that happens to run an EVM since v2. It settles with its own validators; 0x compatibility is about developer and wallet convenience, not Ethereum security inheritance.

Crypto network guide

The Sei Network, Explained

Q: How long does a Sei transfer take?

About 400 milliseconds to finality — effectively instant. Deposits credit within minutes depending on the receiving platform's process.

Quick answer

Sei is a Proof of Stake Layer 1 launched in August 2023 and engineered for trading: roughly 400-millisecond finality and exchange-grade infrastructure at the protocol level. Its 2024 v2 upgrade added a parallelized EVM, so Sei speaks Ethereum's 0x format alongside its native sei1 addresses.

Buy SEI now SEI calculator

Updated August 2026 · Reviewed by the Anytime Capital trading desk

Sei at a glance

Launched: 2023
Consensus: Proof of Stake (Twin-Turbo consensus, ~400ms finality)
Block time: ~0.4 seconds
Typical transfer time: Under 1 minute
Typical network fee: Under a cent – cents
Token standard: EVM-compatible since the 2024 v2 upgrade
Native asset: Sei (SEI)

Network fee: Typically under $0.01–$0.05 per transaction in 2025–2026, paid in SEI. Third-party network figures, not Anytime Capital pricing — our pricing is on the fees & limits page.

How long does a Sei transfer take?

Sei finalizes transactions in roughly 400 milliseconds — it was engineered specifically for trading workloads — so transfers are effectively instant. Exchange crediting adds the only meaningful wait.

Compare every chain on one page: how long crypto transfers take on every major network.

A chain built like an exchange

Sei's founding thesis: if most blockchain activity is trading, build the chain for trading. That meant sub-second finality (Twin-Turbo consensus at ~400ms), frequent-batch mechanics to blunt front-running, and — with 2024's v2 — a parallelized EVM that runs Ethereum contracts at Sei speeds. The result competes with Solana and Sui in raw latency.

Two address formats, one account

Sei began as a Cosmos-SDK chain (sei1… bech32 addresses) and added EVM addressing (0x…) in v2 — both formats map to the same underlying account. In practice: exchanges mostly use the 0x flow now, older Cosmos-style tooling uses sei1, and deposits via sei1 flows may require a memo. Follow whichever format the receiving platform displays, exactly.

What actually lives on Sei

Trading venues, perps, and a growing DeFi stack, with native USDC (Circle, late 2024) as the dollar leg. For a consumer, SEI the asset is the way most people touch the chain; for transfers, its speed profile matches the fastest L1s. As with all younger networks: confirm the receiving side lists the Sei network before choosing it as a rail.

Stablecoins on Sei

Stablecoins on the Sei network
Stablecoin	Standard	Status	Notes
USDCUSD Coin	Native (Circle-issued)	Supported	Circle brought native USDC to Sei in late 2024

Sei deposits need a memo

Deposits to exchanges that use Sei's native (sei1…) addresses may require a memo, Cosmos-style, to credit your account. EVM (0x) deposit flows don't use memos. Check the deposit screen: if a memo is shown, it's mandatory.

What does a Sei address look like?

Sei address formats
Format	Looks like	Notes
EVM address	0x + 40 hex characters	The standard format since Sei v2 — what most exchanges use
Native address	Starts with sei1 (bech32)	The original Cosmos-style format; both map to the same account

Buy SEI or stablecoins on Sei — the #1 place to buy crypto with a debit card, wire, Apple Pay & more

Anytime Capital is a US-based money services business with thousands of customers. Debit and credit cards from every major US bank work here, verification takes minutes, and delivery goes straight to the Sei address you choose.