CoinTracking Missing Transactions: Find & Fix

CoinTracking shows hundreds of entries under "Missing Transactions"? This doesn't mean transactions are missing from the database. It means: For deposits and withdrawals, the counterpart is missing from the data. CoinTracking doesn't know where an asset came from or where it went. These unpaired bookings cause follow-up errors in the tax report. In this article, you'll learn what this means and how to systematically resolve the causes.

01 The Problem: Missing Transactions in CoinTracking

"Missing Transactions" in CoinTracking are not missing database entries. It means: For a deposit or withdrawal, the counterpart is missing from the data. Example: You transfer ETH from Binance to your wallet. In CoinTracking, the withdrawal appears – but the deposit to the wallet is missing because it's not connected. For CoinTracking to recognize the transfer, both sides must be present in the data. Such unpaired bookings cause follow-up errors in the tax report.

The diagnosis in CoinTracking always follows the same path: Analysis → Checks → Missing Transactions. This check shows you at a glance all deposits and withdrawals that don't have a transfer counterpart.

Source: CoinTracking Help Center

02 Why Are Transactions Missing?

The causes of unpaired deposits and withdrawals are diverse. The most common cause in CoinTracking are scam and spam tokens, followed by incomplete API imports and bridges and cross-chain swaps.

• Scam & Spam Tokens/NFTs – Unwanted airdrops and scam tokens create deposits without counterparts. CoinTracking cannot assign these and lists them as "missing transactions". This is the most common cause in CoinTracking.
• Incomplete API Imports – Exchange APIs don't export everything. Internal transfers, staking rewards, or older transactions are often missing. CSV supplements are necessary so deposits and withdrawals can be fully paired.
• Bridges & Cross-Chain Swaps – In cross-chain swaps, asset A goes out and asset B comes in – CoinTracking doesn't recognize the connection because different assets are involved. With bridges, the destination chain is often missing from the import (e.g., only Ethereum imported, but not Base after a bridge).
• Manual Transfers Not Assigned – OTC deals, P2P transfers, or crypto payments. The transaction exists in CoinTracking, but the type is incorrectly classified – e.g., "Deposit" instead of "Payment" or "Trade".
• Missing Chain Imports for Wallets – You've imported your Ethereum wallet, but not the same address on Polygon, Arbitrum, or Base. Each chain must be recorded separately so transfers can be paired.

In practice, almost always a combination of these causes applies. Anyone who has been active for several years and used various platforms must proceed systematically to find all gaps. Missing transactions cause follow-up errors in the tax report – such as incorrect holding periods or faulty profit calculations – because CoinTracking cannot correctly track the origin or whereabouts of assets.

03 Find Missing Transactions Systematically

The good news: CoinTracking offers its own check to specifically find missing transactions. The path is always the same: Analysis → Checks → Missing Transactions.

Step 1: Open Check "Missing Transactions"

Navigate to Analysis → Checks → Missing Transactions. This check shows you a list of all deposits and withdrawals that don't have a matching transfer counterpart. The list can be sorted by asset, date, EUR value, or exchange – so you can quickly recognize patterns and process the most relevant entries first.

Step 2: Research TX-ID

For each entry in the list, you should check the TX-ID (TX hash). Search the hash in a blockchain explorer like Etherscan or in analysis tools like Arkham. There you'll see where the transaction came from or where it went and can understand why CoinTracking classifies it as "missing".

Step 3: Understand the Cause

There are several typical reasons why a transaction is shown as "missing":

• Wrong TX Type: A deposit is actually a reward or airdrop – so there is no transfer counterpart because it's not a transfer.
• Withdrawal is not a Transfer: It's a payment, loan repayment, or other expense that doesn't need an incoming counterpart.
• Missing Source: The destination wallet or source exchange simply wasn't imported – the counterpart doesn't exist in the data.

Step 4: Perform Correction

Depending on the cause, there are two solution paths: Either you adjust the transaction type (e.g., from "Deposit" to "Airdrop" or from "Withdrawal" to "Payment") – or you import the missing source (wallet or exchange) so the transfer counterpart is present in the data and CoinTracking can make the assignment.

Path: Analysis → Checks → Missing Transactions

04 Add Missing Transactions

Once you've identified the missing sources, it's about getting the data correctly into CoinTracking. Depending on the source, there are different ways.

CSV Import from Exchanges

The CSV import is often the most reliable way – especially for older data that's no longer available via API. Log into the respective exchange, download the complete trade export, and import it via the CoinTracking import page. Make sure to select the correct CSV parser – CoinTracking offers predefined formats for most exchanges.

Add Wallet Addresses

Thoroughness is crucial here: Each chain must be imported separately. If you have an Ethereum address that was also active on Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base, you must perform the import for each of these chains. A single missing chain import can swallow dozens of transactions.

Manual Entries

For transactions that cannot be imported automatically – OTC deals, P2P transfers, airdrops from unsupported protocols – you must create manual entries. Use the CoinTracking input mask for this and pay attention to correct timestamps, quantities, and transaction types.

Closed Exchanges: GDPR Data Request

For closed exchanges like FTX, there's an option many don't know: the GDPR data request. According to Art. 15 GDPR, you have the right to a copy of your personal data. For exchanges in insolvency, you direct this request to the insolvency administrator. Alternatively, on-chain transactions can be reconstructed via blockchain explorers like Etherscan or Solscan.

API vs. CSV: Which Way When?

As a rule of thumb: API for ongoing, current data – it synchronizes automatically and keeps the account up to date. CSV for historical data and one-time imports – especially when the API no longer delivers older transactions. In many cases, a combination of both makes sense: CSV for the past, API for ongoing synchronization.

05 CoinTracking-Specific Tips

A few hints that save a lot of time in practice and avoid typical mistakes.

Treat Scam Tokens Correctly

Scam tokens appear in almost every wallet: Tokens you never bought and that suddenly appear in your CoinTracking. They distort the balance and can create incorrect holdings. The solution in CoinTracking: Mark the contract as scam OR change the ticker so it's not confused with a real asset. This way the transaction remains documented without falsifying the calculation.

Diagnostic Path Always the Same

When you're looking for missing transactions, the starting point is always the same: Analysis → Checks → Missing Transactions. Make it a habit to check this after every import. This way you immediately recognize whether the import was successful or whether new unpaired deposits/withdrawals have arisen.

After Import: Compare Balances

After every import, you should compare the CoinTracking balances with the actual balances on your wallets and exchanges. Only this way do you ensure that no transactions are missing and no duplicates have been created. This is especially important after a CSV import, as overlaps with existing API data occur more easily here.

Don't Use "Import All Wallets"

CoinTracking offers a function that suggests you can import all wallets at once. This is not recommended. Better: Specifically import individual wallet addresses per chain and after each import check via Analysis → Checks → Missing Transactions whether new unpaired entries have arisen.

For a comprehensive overview of the most common CoinTracking problems and their solutions: All CoinTracking Errors Overview.

06 The Logic Chain: Why Missing Transactions Affect Everything

Missing transactions are not an isolated problem. They affect the entire chain – from crypto documentation through tax calculation to compliance.

Missing transactions lead to incorrect balances. Incorrect balances lead to incorrect acquisition costs. Incorrect acquisition costs lead to incorrect tax calculation. And an incorrect tax calculation becomes a problem at the latest when the tax office compares the data with the DAC8 reports from exchanges.

07 What Missing Transactions Mean for Your Tax Return

Missing transactions are not just a technical problem in CoinTracking – they have direct tax consequences. Every gap in the transaction history can lead to profits, holding periods, or acquisition costs being calculated incorrectly.

The holding period problem is particularly critical (relevant for Germany): If CoinTracking cannot establish the connection between purchase and sale, the holding period is calculated incorrectly. A gain that would be tax-free after more than one year (§ 23 EStG) is then reported as taxable. In Austria, capital gains tax applies since 2022 without holding period exemption. With the introduction of DAC8, exchanges will report transaction data directly to tax authorities from 2026 – incomplete documentation will be noticed faster than ever before.

08 When TX-Partner Can Help

Many missing transactions can be found and added yourself using the procedure described here. But there are situations where the effort exceeds the scope of a self-project.

• With dozens of missing sources – If you've used many exchanges and wallets over the years and the gaps run through the entire transaction history, processing becomes complex. TX-Partner systematically works through all sources and brings the crypto documentation into a consistent state.
• With closed exchanges – Reconstructing data from closed exchanges requires GDPR requests, on-chain research, and manual entries. TX-Partner has experience with the most common cases and knows the processes.
• With complex DeFi portfolios with multi-chain activities – Anyone active on Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Solana, Avalanche, and other chains and using DeFi protocols has a transaction history that CoinTracking alone cannot fully map. TX-Partner takes over the complete recording and assignment of all chains and protocols.

More about CoinTracking-specific services can be found on the landing page for missing transactions.