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SubWallet Extension’s built-in swap feature lets you exchange tokens without leaving your wallet. Access multiple swap providers, compare rates, and execute trades across different blockchain networks.

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How Swaps Work

Swapping in SubWallet is straightforward and secure.
1

Select tokens

Choose the token you want to swap from and the token you want to receive.
2

Enter amount

Input how much you want to swap. SubWallet shows the estimated amount you’ll receive.
3

Review quotes

Compare quotes from multiple swap providers. SubWallet automatically selects the best rate.
4

Confirm and swap

Review the transaction details including fees and slippage, then confirm the swap.

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Swap Providers

SubWallet aggregates quotes from multiple swap providers to get you the best rates.

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Supported Providers

Chainflip

Cross-chain swaps without bridges. Swap between different blockchains (e.g., BTC to ETH) natively.

HydraDX

Substrate-native DEX on Polkadot. Efficient swaps with deep liquidity for DOT ecosystem tokens.

Asset Hub

Native swaps on Polkadot and Kusama Asset Hubs. Low fees and direct on-chain execution.

Uniswap

Leading Ethereum DEX. Access deep liquidity for ERC-20 tokens across multiple EVM chains.

Kyber

Multi-chain DEX aggregator. Finds optimal swap routes across multiple liquidity sources.

SimpleSwap

Cross-chain exchange service. Swap between different blockchain ecosystems easily.
SubWallet automatically queries multiple providers and selects the one offering the best rate for your trade. You can also manually choose a preferred provider.

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Quote Comparison

SubWallet shows you multiple quotes so you can make informed decisions.

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What You See

For each quote:
  • Provider Name: Which service is offering the quote
  • Exchange Rate: Price per token
  • Amount Received: Estimated tokens you’ll get after the swap
  • Fees: Network fees and provider fees
  • Route: Trading path taken (for complex swaps)

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Optimal Quote Selection

By default, SubWallet selects the quote that gives you the most tokens after all fees. Quotes are sorted by:
  1. Best Rate: Highest amount received
  2. Trusted Providers: Priority for established providers like Chainflip and Uniswap when rates are equal
  3. Available Liquidity: Ensures the swap can actually be executed
While SubWallet selects the optimal quote automatically, you can manually choose a different provider if you prefer - for example, to use a specific protocol you trust.

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Swap Types

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Same-Chain Swaps

Exchange tokens on the same blockchain:
  • EVM Swaps: ETH to USDC, DOT to USDT on Moonbeam, etc.
  • Substrate Swaps: DOT to USDT on Asset Hub, HDX to DOT on HydraDX
  • Fast Execution: Usually complete in one transaction
  • Lower Fees: No cross-chain complexity

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Cross-Chain Swaps

Swap tokens across different blockchains:
  • Native Cross-Chain: BTC to ETH, DOT to USDC (via Chainflip)
  • Bridged Swaps: Tokens move across chains then swap
  • Multi-Step Process: May require multiple transactions
  • Longer Duration: Can take 1-60 minutes depending on the route
Cross-chain swaps take longer than same-chain swaps and may involve additional risks. Always verify the destination address and be patient during processing.

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Fees and Costs

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Network Fees

Gas fees for executing the swap transaction:
  • EVM Chains: Gas paid in ETH, MATIC, BNB, etc.
  • Substrate Chains: Transaction fees in DOT, KSM, or native token
  • Variable Costs: Fees change based on network congestion
Network fees are shown before you confirm the swap.

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Provider Fees

Swap service fees (typically 0.1% - 0.3%):
  • Protocol Fees: Fee taken by the swap provider
  • Liquidity Provider Fees: Rewards for liquidity providers
  • Included in Quote: The amount you receive is already net of these fees

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Slippage

Price movement between quote and execution:
  • Default Slippage: Usually 0.5% - 1%
  • Slippage Tolerance: Maximum price difference you’ll accept
  • Adjustable: Increase for faster execution or volatile markets
For large swaps or volatile tokens, consider increasing slippage tolerance to avoid failed transactions. For stablecoins, 0.1% slippage is often sufficient.

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Swap Process Details

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Multi-Step Swaps

Some swaps require multiple steps:
1

Token Approval

First transaction approves the swap contract to spend your tokens (EVM chains only).
2

Cross-Chain Transfer

If swapping across chains, tokens are bridged to the destination network.
3

Execute Swap

The actual token exchange happens on the swap provider’s platform.
4

Receive Tokens

New tokens arrive in your wallet on the destination chain.

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Swap Status Tracking

Monitor your swap progress:
  • Pending: Transaction submitted to the network
  • Processing: Swap provider is executing the trade
  • Bridging: For cross-chain swaps, tokens are moving between networks
  • Completed: Tokens received in your wallet
  • Failed: Swap unsuccessful (tokens returned or refunded)

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Token Approvals

For ERC-20 and similar tokens, you need to approve spending before swapping.

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How Approvals Work

Before your first swap of a token, approve the swap contract to access your tokens. This is a separate transaction with its own gas fee.
You can approve unlimited spending or a specific amount. Unlimited saves gas on future swaps but has security implications.
After approving, future swaps of the same token don’t require approval again (unless you revoked it or need to increase the amount).
Unlimited token approvals can be risky. If a smart contract is exploited, attackers could drain approved tokens. Consider approving specific amounts for large holdings.

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Supported Token Pairs

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Common Pairs

Popular trading pairs with deep liquidity:
  • Stablecoins: USDT, USDC, DAI
  • Major Tokens: ETH, BTC, DOT, KSM
  • Wrapped Assets: WBTC, WETH, wDOT
  • DeFi Tokens: AAVE, UNI, LIDO, COMP

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Finding Available Pairs

SubWallet shows which tokens can be swapped:
  1. Select your source token
  2. Browse available destination tokens
  3. Only tokens with active swap routes are shown
  4. Search by token name or symbol
If a swap pair isn’t available, it means no supported provider offers a route between those tokens. Try swapping to an intermediary token first.

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Advanced Swap Features

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Routing Optimization

For complex swaps, providers use multi-hop routes:
  • Direct Route: Token A → Token B
  • Single Hop: Token A → Intermediary → Token B
  • Multi-Hop: Token A → Token B → Token C → Token D
SubWallet’s providers automatically find the most efficient route.

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Slippage Control

Adjust how much price movement you’ll tolerate:
  • Low Slippage (0.1% - 0.5%): For stablecoins and low volatility pairs
  • Medium Slippage (0.5% - 1%): Default for most swaps
  • High Slippage (1% - 5%): For volatile tokens or low liquidity pairs
Very high slippage settings can result in receiving significantly fewer tokens than expected. Only increase slippage when necessary.

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Deadline Settings

Set how long quotes remain valid:
  • Prevents execution at stale prices
  • Protects against significant price movements
  • Default is usually 20 minutes

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Swap Security

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Verifying Swaps

Before confirming:
1

Check token addresses

Verify you’re swapping the correct tokens, not fake versions with similar names.
2

Review amounts

Confirm the amount you’re sending and the estimated amount you’ll receive.
3

Verify destination

Ensure tokens are going to the correct address and network.
4

Check fees

Review all fees to ensure they’re reasonable for the swap size.

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Common Scams

Beware of:
  • Fake tokens with names similar to popular tokens
  • Suspiciously good exchange rates (likely fake tokens)
  • Requests to approve unusual contracts
  • Swap providers not listed in SubWallet’s supported providers

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Transaction History

View all your swap history:
  • Swap Pairs: Tokens exchanged
  • Amounts: Input and output quantities
  • Rates: Exchange rate at execution time
  • Provider: Which service executed the swap
  • Status: Success or failure
  • Timestamps: When swaps occurred
  • Block Explorer Links: Full transaction details

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Swap Limits

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Minimum Amounts

Each provider has minimum swap amounts:
  • Usually 10−10 - 50 equivalent
  • Prevents economically unviable swaps where fees exceed value
  • SubWallet shows minimums when you select tokens

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Maximum Amounts

Large swaps may be limited by:
  • Liquidity: Available tokens in liquidity pools
  • Slippage: Large swaps move prices significantly
  • Provider Limits: Maximum transaction size restrictions
For very large swaps, consider breaking them into smaller transactions to reduce price impact and slippage.

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Best Practices

Test new swap routes or providers with small amounts first to ensure everything works as expected.
While SubWallet selects the best rate, review all available quotes to understand the market and verify the optimal choice.
Factor in all fees (network + provider) when evaluating if a swap makes sense, especially for smaller amounts.
Don’t set slippage too high - you could receive much less than expected. Only increase it if transactions fail due to price movement.
Always confirm you’re swapping real tokens, not fakes. Check contract addresses on block explorers.
Cross-chain swaps can take time. Don’t panic if tokens don’t arrive immediately - check the transaction status.
Regularly review which contracts can spend your tokens and revoke approvals you no longer need.
Swap during low network congestion to save on gas fees. For Ethereum, early mornings or weekends are often cheaper.

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