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Withdraw USDT via Kava (Gonka → Ethereum)

Use case: spendable IBC USDT is already available in a Gonka wallet balance, and the target route is Gonka → Kava Cosmos → Kava EVM → Ethereum.

The guide describes the full path to Ethereum. The route can stop after any completed leg: IBC USDT can remain on Kava in Keplr, move to Kava EVM in MetaMask, or continue to Ethereum.

Disclaimer: This guide is not financial advice. Route parameters, supported assets, fees, and wallet / bridge UIs can change. Always verify the current route, addresses, and amounts before sending funds.

Important: this guide is for IBC USDT

This guide covers IBC USDT on Gonka / Kava Cosmos.

Do not confuse it with:

  • native ERC-20 USDT on Ethereum
  • exchange USDT balances
  • USDT on other networks

Before sending funds, always check:

  • asset denom
  • source network
  • destination network
  • destination address

Route overview

The route has three steps:

  1. Gonka → Kava (Cosmos) in Keplr
  2. Kava → Kava EVM in app.kava.io
  3. Kava EVM → Ethereum in Stargate

Before starting

Requirements:

  • Spendable USDT on Gonka in the wallet balance
  • Some GNK for Gonka transaction fees
  • Some KAVA for Kava / Kava EVM fees
  • Some ETH for Ethereum fees
  • Keplr and MetaMask installed
  • A small test transfer first

Useful official pages:

Important: use the right address at each step

  • In Step 1, send to the Kava Cosmos address in Keplr: kava1...
  • In Step 2, connect both wallets inside app.kava.io
  • In Step 3, receive on the Ethereum address in MetaMask: 0x...

Step 1 — Send USDT from Gonka to Kava (Cosmos)

This step sends funds from Gonka to a Kava Cosmos address in Keplr.

1. Turn on manual IBC in Keplr

In Keplr:

Settings → Advanced → Manual IBC Transfer → ON

If labels differ slightly by version, use Keplr’s own docs: help.keplr.app.

2. Configure the transfer on Gonka

  • Open Advanced IBC Transfer for the USDT / USDt asset

If Keplr shows Add IBC channel or New IBC channel, set:

  • Destination chain: Kava
  • Source Channel Id: channel-5

Then save the channel.

3. Copy the Kava address

  • Make sure Kava is visible in Keplr
  • Switch to Kava
  • Copy the full kava1... address

4. Send a small test amount

On Advanced IBC Transfer, choose Kava (channel-5) from the destination dropdown.

Then:

  • Paste the kava1... address
  • Enter a small test amount
  • Leave memo empty unless the destination is an exchange deposit address requiring a memo/tag
  • Review the fee in ngonka
  • Approve the transaction

USDT should appear on Kava in Keplr.

Step 2 — Move USDT from Kava IBC to Kava EVM

This step moves funds from Kava Cosmos to Kava EVM.

Start with a small test amount.

1. Open the Kava transfer tool

Open the Transfer page: app.kava.io/transfer.

2. Connect both wallets

  • Connect Keplr for the Kava IBC side
  • Connect MetaMask for the Kava EVM side

3. Set the route

Choose:

  • Asset: USDT
  • Sending chain: Kava IBC
  • Receiving chain: Kava EVM
  • Click Transfer

USDT should appear on Kava EVM in MetaMask.

Kava’s help article on moving USDT across Kava surfaces, with the relevant direction here being Cosmos → Kava EVM: How to transfer USDt to Cosmos chains with a single click.

If USDT does not appear in MetaMask

MetaMask may not show the token automatically. Manual token import may be required.

Kava help documentation has listed the following USDT contract on Kava EVM:

0x919C1c267BC06a7039e03fcc2eF738525769109c

Before using the contract for a real transfer, verify the contract again in:

If MetaMask asks for decimals, use 6.

Step 3 — Bridge USDT from Kava EVM to Ethereum

This step bridges funds from Kava EVM to Ethereum mainnet.

1. Open Stargate

Open: stargate.finance/transfer.

Background from Kava on this bridge pattern: How to Bridge USDt with Stargate.

2. Make sure MetaMask is on Kava EVM

Before starting, MetaMask should be connected to Kava EVM.

The source network is Kava EVM, not Ethereum.

3. Set the bridge route

In Stargate, choose:

  • From / Source: Kava EVM
  • To / Destination: Ethereum
  • Asset: USDT

In some UIs, the source may be shown simply as Kava. The important condition is matching the network where USDT sits after Step 2.

4. Review fees and send a small test

Before confirming:

  • Check the bridge fee
  • Check the estimated received amount
  • Send a small test first

Then approve the transaction in MetaMask.

USDT should appear on Ethereum Mainnet in MetaMask.

If Stargate does not offer this route

Stop there.

Do not guess an alternative bridge.

If USDT from Kava EVM to Ethereum is not shown, the route may be paused, changed, or temporarily unavailable.

Step 4 — Confirm the funds on Ethereum

  • Switch MetaMask to Ethereum Mainnet
  • Check the USDT balance for the receiving address
  • If needed, import the token manually

A commonly used Ethereum mainnet USDT contract is:

0xdAC17F958D2ee523a2206206994597C13D831ec7

Before importing, verify the current contract in a trusted source such as:

  • Tether
  • Etherscan
  • the wallet’s verified token list

After the test amount arrives, repeat the same flow for the remaining balance.

Optional — Move KAVA between Kava Cosmos and Kava EVM

If KAVA is needed on the other side for gas, use: app.kava.io/evm/wkava.

Step-by-step guide from Kava: Send KAVA to and from Kava Cosmos and Kava EVM.

Advanced note — verify the Gonka IBC channel before large transfers

For most users, channel verification is not required for a small test transfer.

To verify the current Gonka outbound channel before sending a larger amount, check the channel with:

curl -sS "https://node1.gonka.ai:8443/chain-api/ibc/core/channel/v1/channels" | jq '.channels[] | select(.port_id=="transfer") | {gonka_channel_id:.channel_id, kava_counterparty:.counterparty.channel_id}'

At the time of guide preparation, the Gonka → Kava transfer used:

  • Gonka side: channel-5
  • Kava side: channel-161

When sending from Gonka, use the Gonka-side channel, which is channel-5.

Final safety reminder

Before sending the full amount, make sure:

  • Step 1 ended with USDT visible on Kava in Keplr
  • Step 2 ended with USDT visible on Kava EVM in MetaMask
  • Step 3 offers USDT from Kava EVM to Ethereum in Stargate
  • The test transfer completed successfully

If any check fails, stop and review before moving the full balance.

Always double-check the route, addresses, assets, and amounts, and start with a small test transfer.