Swap timing explained: what happens while you wait
A typical swap wraps up in 5 to 30 minutes. Here is what goes on at each step, and the most common reasons a swap runs long.
Waiting is easier when you know what is going on. Every swap moves through four steps.
- Waiting. We are watching the network for your deposit to show up.
- Confirming. Your deposit has appeared, and the swap is collecting enough confirmations to be safe.
- Exchanging. Your coins get swapped.
- Sending. The new coins are on their way to your wallet.
The swap page updates each step live, so you can always see exactly where things stand.
The coin you send sets the speed
Nothing matters more than which coin you deposit. Quick chains such as Tron, Solana, Litecoin and TON confirm within seconds or a few minutes. Bitcoin produces a block roughly every ten minutes on average, and a swap typically needs at least one confirmation. If the Bitcoin mempool is packed and your fee was low, your deposit may sit for a long time before it even makes it into a block.
Other common slowdowns
- Sending an amount that does not match what the swap expected.
- Leaving out the memo or tag on a coin that requires one.
- A compliance check on your deposit. Read why a swap can be held for details.
- Heavy traffic on the chain that receives your coins.
How to keep it quick
Use a normal network fee when you send, and send exactly the amount displayed. In a rush? Depositing a fast coin will often beat depositing Bitcoin. Follow along on your swap page, or check in any time with swap tracking.
Quick answers
My swap has been on confirming for ages. Is there a problem?
Most likely not. The swap is simply waiting for the network to confirm your deposit, and when fees are high and blocks are slow, Bitcoin can take an hour or longer.
At what point should I contact support?
If your deposit is confirmed on the explorer and the swap still has not moved for well over an hour, open a ticket with your swap ID and we will check it.
Ready to swap? See the live rate. No account needed.
