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DocumentationDesktop ApplicationSwap

Swap

The desktop application has a built-in swap aggregator for cross-chain trades. You can trade between any supported assets — Bitcoin to Ethereum, ATOM to RUNE, USDC to SOL — without going to an exchange, creating an account, or doing KYC. Everything is routed on-chain through decentralized protocols.

1. Choose what to swap

Start by selecting the asset you want to trade from and the asset you want to trade to, then enter an amount.

Swap input

The aggregator queries several swap providers (THORChain, Mayachain, various EVM DEXs) and picks the best route based on price and fees.

2. Review the quote

Before you commit, the desktop application shows you the full quote:

Swap review

You’ll see:

  • Exchange rate — how much you’ll receive per unit you send
  • Slippage — how much the price can move before the swap fails
  • Network fees — gas or protocol fees on both sides of the swap
  • Provider fees — any fees the swap protocol charges
  • Estimated time — how long the swap will take to complete (cross-chain swaps can take minutes)
  • Route — which protocol will actually execute the trade

Read everything. Bad swaps are usually the result of not reading the review screen.

3. Confirm on the device

Click Swap, and the device takes over. It shows you the transaction to sign — for cross-chain swaps, this is usually a deposit to a swap contract or a THORChain MsgDeposit.

Confirming the swap on device

Read the address and amount on the device screen. Make sure:

  • The amount being sent matches what you reviewed
  • The destination is the expected swap contract
  • The network is the one you expect to send from

If it looks right, approve on the device.

4. Wait for completion

After you sign, the desktop application broadcasts the transaction and shows the swap status.

Swap submitted

Cross-chain swaps involve multiple transactions across different networks. You might see:

  1. Your outbound transaction confirming on the source network
  2. The swap protocol processing the trade
  3. The inbound transaction confirming on the destination network

Total time varies from a few seconds (same-chain EVM swaps) to a few minutes (Bitcoin → Ethereum through THORChain).

Slippage and failed swaps

If the market moves beyond your slippage tolerance between quote and execution, the swap will fail. Your funds come back to your address (minus network fees for the failed attempt). This is normal — try again with a fresh quote.

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