0xCoast
If you’ve ever tried to send tokens on PulseChain, you’ve likely clicked the “Max” button to send your full balance, only to find that the transaction doesn’t go through. Frustrating, right?
This issue is more common than you might think, and it’s not a problem with the network itself. It’s all about decimals.
Most blockchain websites, including those built for PulseChain, simplify the way they display balances by cutting off decimals. However, the wallets that actually execute the transactions? They have to account for every decimal, leading to a mismatch and causing errors when you try to execute a “Max” transaction.
Let’s break this down, specifically for PulseChain users, so you can understand why this happens and how to avoid it in the future.
Before we continue – consider following Richard Heart for real-time updates on the PulseChain ecosystem youtube.com/c/RichardHeart and @RichardheartWin.
When using a wallet on PulseChain to send or interact with tokens, the blockchain deals with asset precision—meaning tokens and coins can be broken down into very small units, sometimes to the 18th decimal place or more.
But here’s where it gets tricky: Most DApps and blockchain interfaces, including those built for PulseChain, truncate decimals for simplicity. They show you rounded numbers like “2.00 PLS” or “500 $WAIT,” but in reality, those balances are more precise.
For example, you might have 1.23456789 PLS in your wallet, but the interface only shows 1.23 PLS. The moment you hit the “Max” button, your wallet tries to send the full amount, 1.23456789 PLS, but since the blockchain interface only saw 1.23 PLS, this leads to a decimal mismatch. So, when the wallet tries to send the amount with the extra decimals, the transaction fails.
Because blockchains like PulseChain (and others, such as Ethereum or Binance Smart Chain) often divide their native tokens into very small units. These are called subunits, and they can go down to 18 decimals or even more. For example, on PulseChain, the smallest unit of PLS is PULS, and 1 PLS = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 PULS.
So when websites or DApps round off decimals or show you a truncated version of your balance, the transaction amount you see on the screen isn’t always the full value that needs to be sent to the blockchain. This discrepancy can easily cause errors when you try to use the “Max” button.
It’s simple: user experience. A long string of decimals isn’t helpful for most users, so DApps and blockchain websites round it off for convenience. On PulseChain, for example, it’s easier for users to see something like “2.00 PLS” than “2.000000000000000000 PLS,” especially when they just want to quickly check their balance.
The issue, however, is that these decimal truncations don’t always reflect the exact balance in your wallet, which is necessary for successful transactions.
Here’s what happens when you click the “Max” button on a PulseChain DApp or any other blockchain platform:
What you see is a rounded version of your balance, which might be missing some decimals. What the wallet tries to send is the full number, including those extra decimals that you don’t see on the screen.
The mismatch causes the error when the transaction is processed.
For example, let’s say you have 1.23456789 PLS in your wallet. The DApp shows 1.23 PLS on the screen. When you hit “Max,” your wallet tries to send 1.23456789 PLS, which doesn’t match the truncated number the DApp expected. This results in the transaction failing.
To avoid encountering errors with the “Max” button on PulseChain, you can follow these steps:
Ethereum Gas Fee Issue (May 2022):
Ethereum users faced failed transactions due to decimal mismatches between the ETH amount and gas fees (paid in gwei). During a May 2022 airdrop, users who clicked “Max” encountered errors because gas fees weren’t properly accounted for in the wallet’s rounded ETH balances, causing the transactions to fail.
Binance Smart Chain (BSC) Transfer Problem (October 2021):
In October 2021, BSC users reported failed token transfers when using the “Max” button. The wallet truncated decimals, but the blockchain required precise values. Users attempting to swap tokens like CAKE and BNB found that their transactions failed due to this mismatch.
PulseChain Decimal Mismatch (January 2024):
PulseChain users experienced similar issues when trying to send PLS or other tokens with decimals. In January 2024, several users reported failed transactions after clicking “Max,” as their wallets attempted to send more than what was available after factoring in decimals. Developers acknowledged this issue in February 2024 and suggested users manually enter amounts to avoid errors.
If you’re running into issues with the “Max” button on PulseChain (or any blockchain, for that matter), chances are it’s a decimal error. While websites and DApps often simplify balances for ease of use, wallets still need to account for the full decimal precision of the assets you’re working with.
Next time you face this issue, you’ll know exactly why it happens—and how to avoid it. Whether you’re using PulseChain or another blockchain like Ethereum or BSC, understanding the role of decimals will save you time and frustration.
Coast is a Self-custodial fiat on-ramp providing seamless on-ramping to and off-ramping from PulseChian via the fiat-backed $CST Stablecoin.
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