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SubWallet Extension includes an integrated swap feature that finds the best exchange rates across multiple decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and swap providers, allowing you to trade tokens without leaving your wallet.

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How SubWallet Swap Works

SubWallet’s swap feature:
  • Aggregates quotes from multiple DEXs and swap providers
  • Finds the best rate for your trade
  • Supports single-chain and cross-chain swaps
  • Handles complex routes automatically for optimal pricing

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Performing a Token Swap

1

Access the swap interface

From the SubWallet home screen, click the Swap button or navigate to Swap from the menu.
2

Select the token to swap from

Click on the From token selector and choose the token you want to swap. You’ll see:
  • Token name and symbol
  • Your available balance
  • The token’s blockchain network
SubWallet shows tokens sorted by balance, with your largest holdings first. Use the search bar to quickly find specific tokens.
3

Select the token to receive

Click on the To token selector and choose what token you want to receive.
SubWallet only shows tokens that have available swap routes from your selected source token.
4

Choose your account

If you have multiple accounts, select which account will execute the swap. Ensure this account has:
  • The tokens you want to swap
  • Native tokens for gas fees
5

Enter the swap amount

Type the amount you want to swap in the From field. SubWallet will automatically:
  • Fetch quotes from multiple providers
  • Calculate the amount you’ll receive
  • Display the exchange rate and price impact
You can also enter an amount in the To field, and SubWallet will calculate how much you need to swap.
6

Review the quote details

SubWallet displays important swap information:
  • Exchange rate: How many tokens you’ll receive per token swapped
  • Price impact: How much your trade affects the market price
  • Minimum received: Minimum amount guaranteed (accounting for slippage)
  • Swap route: The path your swap will take (may involve multiple hops)
  • Provider: The DEX or aggregator providing the best rate
  • Estimated fee: Total transaction costs
High price impact (typically >5%) means your trade will significantly affect the token price. Consider splitting large trades into smaller swaps.
7

Adjust slippage (optional)

Click on the settings icon to adjust slippage tolerance:
  • Low slippage (0.5-1%): Safer but may fail during high volatility
  • Medium slippage (1-3%): Balanced option
  • High slippage (3-5%+): More likely to succeed but higher risk of price deviation
For stablecoins or low-volatility tokens, use 0.5-1% slippage. For volatile tokens, 2-3% is more appropriate.
8

Review alternative quotes (optional)

Click on the quote provider name to see all available quotes from different providers. SubWallet automatically selects the best rate, but you can manually choose another provider if preferred.
9

Accept terms of service

On your first swap, you’ll need to accept the swap terms of service. Review and accept to continue.
This is a one-time requirement. You won’t need to accept again for future swaps.
10

Submit the swap

Click the Swap button to proceed.
11

Approve token spending (if required)

For EVM chains, you may need to approve the swap contract to spend your tokens:
  1. A token approval transaction will appear first
  2. Sign the approval transaction
  3. Wait for it to confirm
  4. Then the actual swap transaction will execute
Token approvals are required once per token per swap provider. Future swaps of the same token won’t need approval again.
12

Confirm the swap transaction

Review the final transaction details and enter your password to sign and execute the swap.
13

Wait for confirmation

The swap transaction will process. Once confirmed:
  • The swapped tokens will be deducted from your balance
  • The received tokens will appear in your wallet
  • You can view the transaction details in your History

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Swap Features

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Quote Comparison

SubWallet aggregates quotes from multiple sources including:
  • Kyber Network
  • Chainflip
  • And other DEX aggregators
The interface automatically selects the best rate, but you can click the provider name to compare all quotes.

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Swap Routes

For optimal pricing, SubWallet may route your swap through multiple pools:
  • Direct swap: Token A → Token B
  • Multi-hop: Token A → Token X → Token B
The route is displayed in the quote details. Multi-hop swaps may have higher fees but better overall rates.

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Cross-Chain Swaps

SubWallet supports swapping tokens across different blockchains:
1

Select tokens on different chains

Choose a source token on one chain (e.g., DOT on Polkadot) and a destination token on another chain (e.g., USDT on Moonbeam).
2

Review cross-chain route

SubWallet will show the cross-chain bridge or protocol being used for the swap.
3

Understand fees and time

Cross-chain swaps:
  • Have higher fees (source chain fee + destination chain fee + bridge fee)
  • Take longer to complete (minutes to hours)
  • May have different slippage characteristics
4

Execute the swap

The process is the same as single-chain swaps, but you’ll see multiple transaction steps in your history.

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Quote Refresh

Swap quotes are time-sensitive and refresh automatically:
  • Quotes expire after a set period (typically 30 seconds to 2 minutes)
  • A countdown timer shows when the quote will refresh
  • If idle for too long, you’ll be prompted to refresh before swapping
If you see an idle warning, click Refresh Quote to get the latest rates before proceeding with your swap.

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Advanced Settings

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Slippage Tolerance

Slippage is the difference between the expected price and the actual execution price.
1

Open slippage settings

Click the settings icon in the swap interface.
2

Choose slippage tolerance

Select from preset options or enter a custom percentage:
  • 0.1-0.5%: Very low slippage (may fail frequently)
  • 0.5-1%: Low slippage (good for stablecoins)
  • 1-3%: Medium slippage (balanced)
  • 3-5%+: High slippage (for volatile tokens or low liquidity)
3

Save settings

Your slippage preference is saved for future swaps.

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Fee Token Selection

On some networks, you can choose which token to pay fees with:
1

Click the fee token selector

If available, you’ll see a fee token dropdown in the swap interface.
2

Select an alternative fee token

Choose from available tokens that can be used to pay transaction fees.
3

Verify sufficient balance

Ensure you have enough of the selected token to cover fees.

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Understanding Swap Costs

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Transaction Fees

Swap costs include:
  1. Network gas fees: Cost to execute the transaction on the blockchain
  2. Swap protocol fees: Fees charged by the DEX or swap provider (typically 0.1-0.3%)
  3. Price impact: Market price movement due to your trade size
  4. Slippage: Potential difference between expected and actual price
The total estimated fee is displayed before you confirm the swap.

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Price Impact

Price impact shows how much your trade will move the market:
  • Less than 1%: Minimal impact
  • 1-3%: Moderate impact
  • 3-5%: High impact
  • Greater than 5%: Very high impact (consider smaller trades)
Large trades in low-liquidity pools can have significant price impact.

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Troubleshooting

If SubWallet can’t find swap routes:
  • The token pair may not have liquidity
  • One or both tokens may not be supported on available DEXs
  • Try swapping to a more common token first (like ETH, DOT, or USDT)
Solution: Check if both tokens are tradable on DEXs, or use an intermediate token.
You need:
  • Enough tokens to swap
  • Extra native tokens for gas fees
  • Tokens for approval transaction (on first swap)
Solution: Reduce the swap amount to reserve tokens for fees.
Swap quotes have limited validity. If you wait too long:
  • The quote expires
  • You need to refresh to get new rates
Solution: Click Refresh Quote or re-enter the amount to fetch a new quote.
If the price moved beyond your slippage tolerance:
  • The transaction reverts to protect you from bad rates
  • You still pay gas fees for the failed transaction
Solution: Increase slippage tolerance or try again when the market is less volatile.
Small differences are normal due to:
  • Price impact
  • Slippage
  • Protocol fees
Large differences may indicate:
  • High price impact
  • Market volatility during execution
  • Front-running (rare)
Solution: Use lower amounts per swap, or increase slippage for volatile tokens.
On EVM chains, you must approve token spending before swapping:
  1. First transaction: Approve token spending
  2. Second transaction: Execute the swap
This is a one-time requirement per token per provider.Solution: Complete the approval transaction, then proceed with the swap.

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Swap Providers

SubWallet integrates with multiple swap providers:

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Kyber Network

  • Aggregates liquidity from multiple DEXs
  • Supports Ethereum and EVM chains
  • Typically offers competitive rates

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Chainflip

  • Cross-chain swaps without wrapped tokens
  • Supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polkadot ecosystem
  • Fixed slippage model

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Other Providers

  • SubWallet continues to add more providers for better rates and coverage

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Best Practices

  • Compare quotes before swapping (click the provider name)
  • For large swaps, split into smaller transactions to reduce price impact
  • Use appropriate slippage based on token volatility
  • Refresh quotes if you wait more than 30 seconds
  • Keep extra native tokens for gas fees
  • Test with small amounts first when swapping new token pairs
  • Monitor price impact - over 5% means you should use smaller amounts

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Security Considerations

Swap Risks:
  • Smart contract risk: DEXs and aggregators involve smart contract interactions
  • Price volatility: Token prices can change rapidly during execution
  • Slippage: You may receive less than expected in volatile markets
  • Front-running: Large swaps can be front-run by MEV bots (rare)
  • Scam tokens: Verify you’re swapping legitimate tokens
Safety Tips:
  • Only swap well-known, verified tokens
  • Be cautious of tokens with very high APYs or suspicious names
  • Verify token contract addresses if unsure
  • Use reasonable slippage settings (don’t set it too high)
  • Start with small test swaps for unfamiliar tokens

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FAQs

  • Swap: Exchange one token for another (e.g., ETH → USDT)
  • Send: Transfer tokens to another address (no exchange)
Use swap when you want to convert between different tokens.
No, blockchain transactions are irreversible once submitted. Double-check all details before confirming.
On EVM chains, approval grants the swap contract permission to spend your tokens. This is a security feature to prevent unauthorized token transfers.
  • Same-chain swaps: Seconds to minutes (depends on network)
  • Cross-chain swaps: Minutes to hours (depends on bridge)

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