What Does Zero Confirmations Mean on a Bitcoin Transaction?

A Bitcoin transaction typically goes through several stages before it becomes confirmed.

The confirmation process can be broken down into four steps:

1. The wallet creates and broadcasts a Bitcoin transaction.

2. The network receives the transaction, validates it, and relays it across the network.

3. The transaction waits for a block to be created by a miner that includes it.

4. Once included in a block, the transaction receives its first confirmation.

A 0-confirmation status on a Bitcoin transaction means it has been broadcast to the network but not yet included in a confirmed block.

This does not necessarily mean the transaction failed or that your Bitcoin is lost.