Troubleshooting ERC20 Token Transfer Failures On Ethereum Mainnet With Web3.js

July 11, 2025 by StackCamp Team 79 views

Transferring ERC20 Tokens on Ethereum Mainnet with Web3.js A Comprehensive Guide to Troubleshooting Failures

Introduction

When it comes to interacting with the Ethereum blockchain, transferring ERC20 tokens is a fundamental operation. Many developers and projects rely on this functionality to facilitate transactions, manage assets, and build decentralized applications (dApps). Web3.js, a popular JavaScript library, provides a robust interface for interacting with the Ethereum network. However, while transferring ERC20 tokens might seem straightforward, especially after successful tests on test networks like Ropsten, encountering issues on the mainnet is not uncommon. This comprehensive guide delves into the intricacies of transferring ERC20 tokens on the Ethereum mainnet using Web3.js, focusing on troubleshooting common failures and providing best practices for a smooth and secure transaction process.

Understanding ERC20 Tokens and Web3.js

Before diving into the specifics of transferring ERC20 tokens, it's crucial to understand what ERC20 tokens are and how Web3.js interacts with them. ERC20 tokens are a standard for creating tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. They define a set of functions that all tokens must implement, ensuring interoperability and ease of integration across different wallets, exchanges, and dApps. These functions include transfer, balanceOf, totalSupply, and others. Web3.js, on the other hand, is a collection of libraries that allow you to interact with a local or remote Ethereum node using HTTP, IPC, or WebSocket. It provides a set of JavaScript objects and functions that wrap the Ethereum JSON-RPC API, making it easier to send transactions, call smart contracts, and listen for events. Using Web3.js, you can connect to an Ethereum node (like Infura or a local Geth node), create transactions, and interact with smart contracts, including ERC20 token contracts.

Setting Up Your Environment

To begin, you need to set up your development environment. This involves installing Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager), creating a project directory, and installing Web3.js. You'll also need access to an Ethereum node, either through a service like Infura or by running your own node. It's essential to use a reliable and secure connection to the mainnet to avoid transaction failures or security vulnerabilities. Once you have Node.js and npm installed, you can create a new project directory and navigate into it. Then, you can initialize a new Node.js project using npm init -y and install Web3.js using npm install web3. This will add Web3.js to your project's dependencies, allowing you to import and use it in your code. Next, you need to choose an Ethereum node provider. Infura is a popular option that provides a reliable and scalable infrastructure for accessing the Ethereum network. Alternatively, you can run your own Ethereum node using Geth or Parity. If you choose to use Infura, you'll need to sign up for an account and create a new project to obtain an API key. This API key will be used to connect to the Ethereum mainnet through Infura's endpoints.

Connecting to the Ethereum Mainnet

Once you have Web3.js installed and an Ethereum node provider set up, you can connect to the Ethereum mainnet. This involves creating a Web3 instance and configuring it to connect to the appropriate endpoint. The endpoint will depend on your chosen provider (e.g., Infura's mainnet endpoint or your local Geth node's RPC endpoint). To connect to the mainnet, you need to instantiate the Web3 object and provide the HTTP provider URL. This URL will point to the Ethereum node you want to connect to. For example, if you're using Infura, the URL might look like https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/YOUR_INFURA_PROJECT_ID, where YOUR_INFURA_PROJECT_ID is your unique Infura project ID. You should store this ID securely and avoid exposing it in your code. Once you have the Web3 instance, you can use it to interact with the Ethereum blockchain, including querying balances, sending transactions, and interacting with smart contracts. It's crucial to verify that you're connected to the correct network (mainnet) to avoid sending transactions to the wrong chain. You can use the web3.eth.net.getId() method to get the network ID and compare it to the expected mainnet ID (1). If the network ID doesn't match, you should double-check your configuration and ensure you're connecting to the correct endpoint.

Common Reasons for Transaction Failures on Mainnet

Transferring ERC20 tokens on the mainnet can fail for various reasons. Understanding these common pitfalls is the first step in troubleshooting and ensuring successful transactions. Some of the most frequent causes include:

Insufficient Gas

Gas is the unit of computation required to execute a transaction on the Ethereum network. Each operation, from simple value transfers to complex smart contract interactions, consumes gas. If the gas limit you set for a transaction is too low, the transaction will run out of gas before completion, resulting in a failed transaction. Insufficient gas is one of the most common reasons for transaction failures on the Ethereum mainnet. When sending a transaction, you need to specify a gas limit, which is the maximum amount of gas you're willing to pay for the transaction to be executed. You also need to specify a gas price, which is the amount of Ether you're willing to pay per unit of gas. The total cost of the transaction is the gas limit multiplied by the gas price. If the gas limit is too low, the transaction will run out of gas before it completes, and the transaction will be reverted. The gas used up to the point of failure is still deducted from your account, so you'll lose Ether even though the transaction failed. To avoid this, it's crucial to estimate the gas required for the transaction accurately. You can use Web3.js's estimateGas method to get an estimate of the gas required for a particular transaction. This method simulates the transaction on the Ethereum network and returns an estimate of the gas that will be consumed. However, the estimate might not always be accurate, especially for complex smart contracts or transactions that depend on the state of the blockchain. It's generally a good practice to add a buffer to the estimated gas limit to account for any unexpected gas consumption. For example, you might add 20-30% to the estimated gas limit to ensure that the transaction has enough gas to complete. Another factor to consider is the gas price. The gas price determines how quickly your transaction will be processed by the Ethereum network. If the gas price is too low, miners might not prioritize your transaction, and it could take a long time to be included in a block, or it might not be included at all. You can use gas price estimators like EthGasStation or the Blocknative Gas Platform to get an idea of the current gas prices on the Ethereum network. These tools provide real-time data on gas prices and help you choose an appropriate gas price for your transaction. In general, it's better to pay a slightly higher gas price to ensure that your transaction is processed quickly, especially during times of high network congestion.

Incorrect Nonce

A nonce is a transaction counter associated with your Ethereum account. Each transaction you send from your account must have a unique nonce, starting from 0 and incrementing by 1 for each subsequent transaction. If you submit a transaction with an incorrect nonce, the transaction will be rejected by the network. An incorrect nonce can occur if you send multiple transactions in quick succession without waiting for the previous transactions to be confirmed, or if you use the same nonce for multiple transactions. The nonce is a critical component of Ethereum's transaction mechanism, as it prevents replay attacks and ensures that transactions are processed in the correct order. When you send a transaction, the nonce is included in the transaction data, and the Ethereum network uses it to verify that the transaction is valid and has not been previously processed. If you send a transaction with a nonce that is lower than the current nonce for your account, the transaction will be rejected as a replay attack. If you send a transaction with a nonce that is higher than the current nonce, the transaction will be queued by the network and will not be processed until all previous transactions with lower nonces have been confirmed. To avoid nonce-related issues, it's essential to manage your nonces carefully. You should always use the correct nonce for each transaction and avoid sending multiple transactions with the same nonce. You can use Web3.js's getTransactionCount method to get the current nonce for your account. This method returns the number of transactions that have been sent from your account, which is also the next nonce that should be used for a new transaction. When sending multiple transactions, you should increment the nonce for each transaction to ensure that they are processed in the correct order. You can also use a nonce management library or service to automate the process of managing nonces. These tools help you track your nonces and ensure that you're always using the correct nonce for each transaction. If you encounter a nonce error, you can try resending the transaction with the correct nonce. You can also use a transaction replacement feature, if available, to replace a pending transaction with a new transaction that has a higher gas price and the correct nonce.

Out of Gas Error

This error occurs when the gas limit set for the transaction is insufficient to cover the actual gas cost of the transaction. The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) will halt execution, and the transaction will fail. As mentioned earlier, out of gas errors are a common issue when transferring ERC20 tokens. This often happens when the gas limit provided is lower than the actual gas required by the transaction. When a transaction runs out of gas, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) halts execution to prevent infinite loops or other malicious behavior. The transaction is reverted, and the sender loses the gas spent up to the point of failure. ERC20 token transfers typically involve a few operations, including updating the sender's and receiver's balances, emitting transfer events, and potentially interacting with other smart contracts. Each of these operations consumes gas, and the total gas consumption can vary depending on the complexity of the contract and the current state of the blockchain. To prevent out of gas errors, it's crucial to estimate the gas required for the transaction accurately. Web3.js provides the estimateGas method, which can be used to get an estimate of the gas consumption for a particular transaction. This method simulates the transaction on the Ethereum network and returns an estimate of the gas that will be consumed. However, the estimate might not always be accurate, especially for complex smart contracts or transactions that depend on the state of the blockchain. It's generally a good practice to add a buffer to the estimated gas limit to account for any unexpected gas consumption. For example, you might add 20-30% to the estimated gas limit to ensure that the transaction has enough gas to complete. Another factor to consider is the gas price. The gas price determines how quickly your transaction will be processed by the Ethereum network. If the gas price is too low, miners might not prioritize your transaction, and it could take a long time to be included in a block, or it might not be included at all. During periods of high network congestion, gas prices can spike significantly, and transactions with lower gas prices might not be processed at all. To ensure that your transaction is processed in a timely manner, it's essential to set an appropriate gas price. You can use gas price estimators like EthGasStation or the Blocknative Gas Platform to get an idea of the current gas prices on the Ethereum network. These tools provide real-time data on gas prices and help you choose an appropriate gas price for your transaction. In general, it's better to pay a slightly higher gas price to ensure that your transaction is processed quickly, especially during times of high network congestion.

Contract Address Mismatch

Using the wrong contract address is a common mistake, especially when switching between test networks and the mainnet. Ensure you are using the correct contract address for the ERC20 token on the mainnet. A contract address mismatch can lead to failed transactions or, worse, sending tokens to the wrong contract, which might result in a permanent loss of funds. ERC20 tokens are deployed to specific addresses on the Ethereum blockchain, and each contract address corresponds to a unique token contract. If you use the wrong contract address, you'll be interacting with a different contract, which might not be an ERC20 token contract at all, or it might be a different ERC20 token. When you create a Web3.js contract instance, you need to provide the contract address and the ABI (Application Binary Interface), which is a JSON representation of the contract's functions and events. If the contract address is incorrect, the Web3.js library will not be able to find the contract on the blockchain, and any calls to the contract's functions will fail. To avoid contract address mismatches, it's crucial to double-check the contract address before sending any transactions. You should obtain the contract address from a reliable source, such as the token's official website, the project's documentation, or a trusted blockchain explorer like Etherscan. Etherscan provides detailed information about smart contracts, including their addresses, ABIs, and transaction histories. You can use Etherscan to verify that the contract address you're using is the correct address for the ERC20 token you want to interact with. When switching between test networks and the mainnet, it's essential to update the contract address in your code. The contract address on the mainnet will be different from the contract address on the test networks. You should also ensure that you're using the correct ABI for the contract. The ABI is specific to the contract and should not be used with other contracts. If you use the wrong ABI, the Web3.js library might not be able to encode the function calls correctly, leading to transaction failures or unexpected behavior. In some cases, sending tokens to the wrong contract might result in a permanent loss of funds. If you send tokens to a contract that is not designed to receive them, the tokens might be locked in the contract forever. Therefore, it's crucial to be extremely careful when entering the contract address and to verify it before sending any transactions.

Insufficient Funds

Ensure that the sending account has sufficient Ether to cover the gas costs and sufficient ERC20 tokens to transfer the desired amount. Insufficient funds, either in Ether for gas or in ERC20 tokens, is another common reason for transaction failures. To send a transaction on the Ethereum network, you need to pay gas fees, which are denominated in Ether. These fees compensate the miners for including your transaction in a block and executing it on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). If your account doesn't have enough Ether to cover the gas costs, the transaction will fail, and you'll receive an error message indicating insufficient funds. In addition to having enough Ether for gas, you also need to have enough ERC20 tokens to transfer the desired amount. If your account doesn't have enough tokens, the transfer transaction will fail, and you'll receive an error message indicating insufficient balance. To avoid insufficient funds errors, it's essential to check your account balances before sending transactions. You can use Web3.js's getBalance method to get the Ether balance of your account and the balanceOf method of the ERC20 token contract to get the token balance of your account. Before sending a transaction, you should compare the transaction's gas costs and token transfer amount to your account balances to ensure that you have enough funds. It's also a good practice to keep some extra Ether in your account to cover unexpected gas costs or to send multiple transactions. During periods of high network congestion, gas prices can spike significantly, and you might need to pay a higher gas price to ensure that your transaction is processed in a timely manner. If you're sending a large transaction or multiple transactions, it's a good idea to monitor your account balances and gas prices to avoid running out of funds. You can use blockchain explorers like Etherscan to track your transactions and monitor gas prices on the Ethereum network. If you encounter an insufficient funds error, you'll need to top up your account with more Ether or tokens before you can send the transaction again. You can transfer Ether or tokens to your account from an exchange or another wallet.

Network Congestion

The Ethereum mainnet can experience periods of high congestion, leading to increased gas prices and transaction delays. If the gas price you set is too low, your transaction might get stuck or revert. Network congestion is a significant factor that can impact the success of your ERC20 token transfers on the Ethereum mainnet. The Ethereum network has a limited capacity for processing transactions, and during periods of high demand, the network can become congested, leading to increased gas prices and longer transaction confirmation times. When the network is congested, miners prioritize transactions with higher gas prices, as they earn more Ether for including these transactions in a block. If you set a low gas price for your transaction, it might take a long time to be included in a block, or it might not be included at all. In some cases, a transaction might even revert due to the gas price being too low. To avoid issues related to network congestion, it's essential to monitor gas prices and set an appropriate gas price for your transaction. You can use gas price estimators like EthGasStation or the Blocknative Gas Platform to get an idea of the current gas prices on the Ethereum network. These tools provide real-time data on gas prices and help you choose a gas price that is likely to result in your transaction being processed in a timely manner. During periods of high network congestion, gas prices can spike significantly, and you might need to pay a much higher gas price than usual to ensure that your transaction is processed quickly. It's also a good practice to add a buffer to the gas limit to account for any unexpected gas consumption due to network congestion. If you're sending a time-sensitive transaction, it's crucial to monitor gas prices and adjust the gas price accordingly. You can use a transaction replacement feature, if available, to replace a pending transaction with a new transaction that has a higher gas price. This allows you to speed up the transaction confirmation time if the gas price has increased since you sent the original transaction. In some cases, it might be better to wait for network congestion to subside before sending a transaction, especially if the transaction is not time-sensitive. You can monitor the Ethereum network's status using blockchain explorers like Etherscan, which provide information on transaction volumes, gas prices, and other network metrics.

Troubleshooting Steps

When a transaction fails on the mainnet, it's crucial to follow a systematic approach to identify and resolve the issue. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Check the Transaction Hash on a Block Explorer

Use a block explorer like Etherscan to check the transaction status. If the transaction failed, the explorer will usually provide a reason for the failure, such as "Out of Gas" or "Reverted." Checking the transaction hash on a block explorer is the first and most important step in troubleshooting a failed transaction. Block explorers like Etherscan provide detailed information about transactions on the Ethereum blockchain, including their status, gas usage, and any error messages. When a transaction fails, the block explorer will typically display an error message indicating the reason for the failure. This message can provide valuable clues about the cause of the problem and help you identify the steps needed to resolve it. To check the transaction status, you'll need the transaction hash, which is a unique identifier for the transaction. The transaction hash is generated when you send the transaction and is returned by the Web3.js library. You can copy the transaction hash from your code or from the transaction receipt. Once you have the transaction hash, you can paste it into the search box on a block explorer like Etherscan. The block explorer will display detailed information about the transaction, including its status (success or failure), the gas limit, the gas used, the gas price, and any error messages. If the transaction failed, the block explorer will typically display an error message such as "Out of Gas," "Reverted," or "Bad Instruction." The "Out of Gas" error indicates that the transaction ran out of gas before it could complete, which means that the gas limit was too low. The "Reverted" error indicates that the transaction was reverted by the smart contract, which means that the contract encountered an error during execution. The "Bad Instruction" error indicates that the transaction contained an invalid opcode, which is a low-level instruction that the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) cannot execute. In addition to the error message, the block explorer also provides information about the gas used by the transaction. This information can be helpful in determining whether the gas limit was sufficient. If the gas used is close to the gas limit, it's likely that the transaction failed due to insufficient gas. By examining the transaction details on a block explorer, you can gain valuable insights into the cause of the failure and take steps to prevent it from happening again. For example, if the transaction failed due to insufficient gas, you can increase the gas limit for future transactions. If the transaction was reverted by the smart contract, you can examine the contract code to identify the cause of the error.

2. Increase Gas Limit and Gas Price

If the transaction failed due to insufficient gas, try increasing the gas limit. You can also increase the gas price to incentivize miners to include your transaction in a block more quickly. Increasing the gas limit is a common solution for transactions that fail due to insufficient gas. As mentioned earlier, the gas limit is the maximum amount of gas you're willing to pay for a transaction to be executed. If the gas limit is too low, the transaction will run out of gas before it completes, and the transaction will be reverted. To increase the gas limit, you can modify the gas property in the transaction object when sending the transaction. You can use Web3.js's estimateGas method to get an estimate of the gas required for the transaction and then add a buffer to ensure that the transaction has enough gas to complete. For example, if the estimateGas method returns an estimate of 21000 gas, you might set the gas limit to 25000 or 30000 gas. In addition to increasing the gas limit, you can also increase the gas price to incentivize miners to include your transaction in a block more quickly. The gas price is the amount of Ether you're willing to pay per unit of gas. Miners prioritize transactions with higher gas prices, as they earn more Ether for including these transactions in a block. If the gas price is too low, your transaction might take a long time to be confirmed, or it might not be confirmed at all. To increase the gas price, you can modify the gasPrice property in the transaction object when sending the transaction. The gas price is typically specified in gwei (1 gwei = 10^-9 Ether). You can use gas price estimators like EthGasStation or the Blocknative Gas Platform to get an idea of the current gas prices on the Ethereum network and set an appropriate gas price for your transaction. It's essential to strike a balance between the gas limit and the gas price. If you set a very high gas limit, you'll pay more for the transaction, even if it doesn't use all of the gas. If you set a very high gas price, you'll incentivize miners to include your transaction in a block quickly, but you'll also pay more for the transaction. A good approach is to estimate the gas required for the transaction and set a gas limit that is slightly higher than the estimate. You can then set a gas price that is competitive with the current network conditions. If you're sending a time-sensitive transaction, you might need to pay a higher gas price to ensure that it's processed quickly. However, if the transaction is not time-sensitive, you can set a lower gas price and wait for the network conditions to improve.

3. Verify Contract Address and ABI

Double-check that you are using the correct contract address and ABI for the ERC20 token on the mainnet. A mismatch can lead to transaction failures or unexpected behavior. As previously discussed, verifying the contract address and ABI is crucial to ensure that you're interacting with the correct smart contract and that your transactions are executed as expected. A contract address mismatch can lead to failed transactions or, worse, sending tokens to the wrong contract, which might result in a permanent loss of funds. To verify the contract address, you should obtain it from a reliable source, such as the token's official website, the project's documentation, or a trusted blockchain explorer like Etherscan. You can then compare the contract address you're using in your code to the contract address on the blockchain explorer to ensure that they match. If you're switching between test networks and the mainnet, it's essential to update the contract address in your code to the correct address for the mainnet. The ABI (Application Binary Interface) is a JSON representation of the contract's functions and events. It tells the Web3.js library how to encode function calls and decode the responses from the contract. If you use the wrong ABI, the Web3.js library might not be able to encode the function calls correctly, leading to transaction failures or unexpected behavior. To verify the ABI, you should obtain it from the same reliable source as the contract address. The ABI is typically provided as a JSON file or a JSON string. You can compare the ABI you're using in your code to the ABI on the blockchain explorer to ensure that they match. If you're using a library or framework that provides a contract abstraction, such as Truffle or OpenZeppelin, the ABI might be included in the contract artifact. In this case, you should ensure that you're using the correct artifact for the contract you want to interact with. It's also important to note that the ABI can change if the contract is updated or redeployed. Therefore, you should always use the ABI that corresponds to the current version of the contract. If you're unsure about the contract address or the ABI, it's best to err on the side of caution and double-check them before sending any transactions. Sending a transaction to the wrong contract or with the wrong ABI can result in a loss of funds or other unintended consequences.

4. Check Account Balance

Ensure that the sending account has sufficient Ether to cover the gas costs and sufficient ERC20 tokens to transfer the desired amount. Checking your account balance before sending a transaction is a fundamental step in preventing transaction failures due to insufficient funds. As mentioned earlier, you need to have enough Ether to cover the gas costs and enough ERC20 tokens to transfer the desired amount. If you don't have enough Ether, the transaction will fail, and you'll receive an error message indicating insufficient funds. If you don't have enough tokens, the transfer transaction will fail, and you'll receive an error message indicating insufficient balance. To check your account balance, you can use Web3.js's getBalance method to get the Ether balance of your account and the balanceOf method of the ERC20 token contract to get the token balance of your account. The getBalance method takes an Ethereum address as input and returns the Ether balance in wei (1 Ether = 10^18 wei). The balanceOf method takes an Ethereum address as input and returns the token balance in the smallest unit of the token (e.g., wei for Ether, or the smallest unit defined by the token contract). Before sending a transaction, you should compare the transaction's gas costs and token transfer amount to your account balances to ensure that you have enough funds. You can estimate the gas costs by multiplying the gas limit by the gas price. It's also a good practice to keep some extra Ether in your account to cover unexpected gas costs or to send multiple transactions. If you're sending a large transaction or multiple transactions, it's a good idea to monitor your account balances and gas prices to avoid running out of funds. You can use blockchain explorers like Etherscan to track your transactions and monitor gas prices on the Ethereum network. If you encounter an insufficient funds error, you'll need to top up your account with more Ether or tokens before you can send the transaction again. You can transfer Ether or tokens to your account from an exchange or another wallet. In some cases, the insufficient funds error might be due to a race condition, where your account balance changes between the time you check the balance and the time you send the transaction. This can happen if you're sending multiple transactions in quick succession or if another transaction is being processed at the same time. To avoid race conditions, you can use a nonce management strategy to ensure that your transactions are processed in the correct order.

5. Handle Nonce Issues

If you suspect a nonce issue, ensure that you are using the correct nonce for the transaction. You can use Web3.js's getTransactionCount method to get the current nonce for your account. As discussed earlier, handling nonce issues is crucial to ensure that your transactions are processed in the correct order and to prevent replay attacks. The nonce is a transaction counter associated with your Ethereum account. Each transaction you send from your account must have a unique nonce, starting from 0 and incrementing by 1 for each subsequent transaction. If you submit a transaction with an incorrect nonce, the transaction will be rejected by the network. A common cause of nonce issues is sending multiple transactions in quick succession without waiting for the previous transactions to be confirmed. In this case, the later transactions might have nonces that are lower than the current nonce for your account, which will cause them to be rejected. Another cause of nonce issues is using the same nonce for multiple transactions. This can happen if you're sending transactions from multiple devices or applications without proper nonce management. To handle nonce issues, you need to ensure that you're using the correct nonce for each transaction. You can use Web3.js's getTransactionCount method to get the current nonce for your account. This method returns the number of transactions that have been sent from your account, which is also the next nonce that should be used for a new transaction. When sending a transaction, you should increment the nonce for each transaction to ensure that they are processed in the correct order. You can also use a nonce management library or service to automate the process of managing nonces. These tools help you track your nonces and ensure that you're always using the correct nonce for each transaction. If you encounter a nonce error, you can try resending the transaction with the correct nonce. You can also use a transaction replacement feature, if available, to replace a pending transaction with a new transaction that has a higher gas price and the correct nonce. It's also important to note that nonce management can be more complex when using multiple accounts or when interacting with smart contracts that send transactions on your behalf. In these cases, you might need to use a more sophisticated nonce management strategy to avoid nonce collisions. Some wallets and libraries provide advanced nonce management features, such as automatic nonce tracking and gap filling. These features can help you simplify the process of managing nonces and prevent nonce-related issues.

Best Practices for Transferring ERC20 Tokens on Mainnet

To ensure successful and secure ERC20 token transfers on the mainnet, consider these best practices:

Use a Reliable Ethereum Node Provider: Opt for a reputable provider like Infura or run your own node to ensure a stable connection to the Ethereum network.
Estimate Gas Accurately: Use web3.eth.estimateGas to estimate the gas required and add a buffer to account for potential fluctuations.
Monitor Gas Prices: Use gas price estimators to set an appropriate gas price based on current network conditions.
Implement Error Handling: Include robust error handling in your code to catch and handle transaction failures gracefully.
Use a Secure Wallet: Store your private keys securely and use a reputable wallet to sign transactions.
Double-Check Addresses: Always double-check the recipient address and the contract address before sending a transaction.

Conclusion

Transferring ERC20 tokens on the Ethereum mainnet with Web3.js can be challenging, but by understanding the common causes of transaction failures and following best practices, you can significantly improve your success rate. Remember to troubleshoot systematically, verify your configuration, and prioritize security to ensure smooth and secure transactions. By diligently addressing issues such as insufficient gas, incorrect nonces, contract address mismatches, and network congestion, you can confidently navigate the complexities of the Ethereum mainnet and build robust decentralized applications that effectively manage ERC20 tokens.