Coinbase will automatically migrate eligible INJ balances from Ethereum’s ERC-20 token standard to the native Injective network between July 20 and July 22, 2026. During the transition, the platform will temporarily suspend deposits and withdrawals.
Coinbase has confirmed that it will migrate Injective’s INJ token from the Ethereum ERC-20 version to the native Injective EVM network. This migration will occur during a scheduled maintenance window running from July 20 through July 22, 2026. According to the exchange, users should avoid depositing or transferring INJ during the migration period because send and receive services will be unavailable. In addition, the exchange said eligible customer balances will be converted automatically at a 1:1 ratio with no migration fee.
Why Coinbase Is Moving INJ to the Native Network
The migration replaces Coinbase’s support for the Ethereum ERC-20 representation of INJ with the token’s native version on Injective’s blockchain.
According to Coinbase’s support documentation, deposits and withdrawals will be disabled during the maintenance window. Once the migration is complete, Coinbase will no longer accept ERC-20 INJ deposits or withdrawals on Ethereum. As a result, users who continue sending tokens to legacy Ethereum deposit addresses after the migration risk losing access to those funds.
Coinbase also advised customers who prefer to manage the migration themselves to use a compatible self-custody wallet together with the Injective Bridge. This approach is recommended rather than relying on Coinbase’s automatic conversion.
What Changes for INJ Holders
For most Coinbase customers, no manual action is required if their INJ remains on the exchange before the migration begins.
However, users should avoid initiating deposits or withdrawals during the maintenance period because transfers may fail or experience delays. Coinbase’s official status page states that services are scheduled to resume after the migration concludes, assuming no operational issues arise.
The exchange also emphasized that the migration affects network support rather than customers’ token balances. Eligible holdings will be converted on a one-to-one basis without additional fees.
Industry Context: Native Assets Continue Replacing ERC-20 Versions
The move reflects a broader trend among blockchain projects. Many originally issued ERC-20 tokens before transitioning to their own Layer-1 infrastructure.
Injective has been expanding support for its MultiVM architecture, which is designed to allow assets to function across multiple execution environments while maintaining unified liquidity. Additionally, independent reporting notes that native network support removes the need for users to bridge between Ethereum and Injective for standard exchange deposits and withdrawals.
Coinbase’s migration also follows earlier token migration programs handled by the exchange for projects including MATIC-to-POL, MKR-to-SKY, and SEI’s EVM migration. This is according to Coinbase’s token migration documentation.
Why the Migration Matters
Supporting native INJ instead of the ERC-20 version simplifies asset transfers between Coinbase and the Injective ecosystem. It also reduces dependence on Ethereum for exchange deposits and withdrawals.
For developers and ecosystem participants, broader exchange support for native assets can improve interoperability with applications built directly on Injective. However, the migration itself should not be interpreted as evidence of increased token demand or future price appreciation.
No verified evidence currently demonstrates that the migration alone has affected INJ’s market price. Therefore, any short-term market movements should not be attributed to the announcement without supporting data.
Risks and Remaining Questions
The primary operational risk involves users sending ERC-20 INJ to legacy Coinbase Ethereum deposit addresses after support ends. Coinbase warns such deposits may not be recoverable.
Another consideration is temporary service disruption. Deposits and withdrawals will remain unavailable during the scheduled maintenance window. Consequently, traders planning to move assets should complete transfers before July 20 or wait until Coinbase confirms the migration has finished.
What Happens Next
Coinbase plans to begin the migration on July 20, 2026, with completion expected by July 22, 2026. This is subject to the scheduled maintenance timeline.
Following completion, Coinbase customers will transact using the native Injective network rather than Ethereum’s ERC-20 implementation. The exchange has advised users to monitor official status updates before resuming INJ deposits or withdrawals.
