Chainflip lets you swap native crypto across chains

Chainflip lets you swap supported crypto assets across blockchains and receive the destination asset natively, without first wrapping the coin or using a centralized exchange. That can save you a conversion step, but your final amount still depends on the route, liquidity and fees. The protocol’s mechanics are laid out in chainflip, and the key distinction for users is that the trade is coordinated across chains rather than performed by moving a wrapped token between them. You choose the source asset, destination asset and receiving address before sending funds.

How does chainflip swap crypto between blockchains?

Chainflip uses a validator network, vaults and liquidity pools to turn a deposit on one chain into a payout on another. First, the swap request records the destination asset, chain and address; then the network watches for the deposit and registers it after the source chain’s required confirmations. The trade runs through the protocol’s pools, and the destination asset is sent to the address specified in the request.

For example, a BTC-to-ETH route takes in bitcoin and pays out ether; the user does not receive a token representing bitcoin on Ethereum. Some routes may pass through more than one pool before the payout, so the exchange rate and available liquidity affect how much arrives. The process is automatic after the deposit is made, though confirmation and payout times depend on the chains involved.

What does a Chainflip swap cost?

There is no single fee that covers every part of a swap. You pay the source chain’s network fee when you send the deposit, liquidity providers charge a fee for each pool used, and the protocol deducts an estimated destination-chain fee from the payout. Those network costs vary by chain and current conditions.

Chainflip’s documentation lists pool fees of 0.10% to 0.15%, and a protocol network fee of 0.10% with a $0.50 minimum; internal stablecoin swaps have a lower stated protocol fee. A route using multiple pools can incur a liquidity fee at each step. Before sending, compare the quoted output and fee breakdown with the amount you expect to receive, especially for a small swap where fixed network costs take a larger share.

What should you check before sending crypto?

Start with the supported asset and network shown for both sides of the trade, then confirm the destination address belongs to a wallet that can receive that asset on that chain. The interface provides a deposit channel for a swap; use the current channel created for that request, since deposit channels remain open for 24 hours and late deposits may not be recognized. Send only the specified asset to that address.

• Check the source asset and network before copying the deposit details.
• Verify the destination asset, chain and address character by character.
• Review the estimated output, pool fees and network costs before confirming.
• Allow for source-chain confirmation time as well as the final payout.

Chainflip is most useful when you want a direct route between supported native assets and are comfortable paying the costs of transactions on both chains. Its practical limit is that it can only execute the routes, assets and liquidity available at the time of the quote. Treat the displayed output as the number to judge the swap by, and make sure the destination wallet is ready before you send.