How to Swap Bitcoin for Ethereum

Swapping Bitcoin for Ethereum is one of the most common cross-chain exchanges. Zest makes it straightforward — no account required, and your funds go directly to your wallet.

What You'll Need

• A Bitcoin wallet with the amount you want to swap
• An Ethereum wallet address to receive ETH
• A few minutes

That's it. No account or sign-up needed — just choose your pair, enter your address, and swap.

Step 1: Select Your Pair

On the Zest exchange widget, set BTC as the source coin and ETH as the destination. If you hold BTC on a specific network (such as BTC via Lightning or Wrapped BTC on another chain), make sure the correct network is selected.

Step 2: Enter the Amount

Type the amount of BTC you want to send. The widget shows:

• The estimated ETH you'll receive
• The current exchange rate
• Minimum and maximum swap limits

Use the rate toggle to switch between Fixed and Float pricing. Fixed locks in the rate; Float settles at market price when your deposit confirms.

Step 3: Enter Your Ethereum Address

Paste your ETH wallet address into the recipient field. Double-check it — crypto transactions are irreversible, and sending to the wrong address means permanent loss.

If your ETH address came from a QR code, you can tap the QR icon to scan it directly.

Step 4: Review and Submit

Review the details:

• Source: BTC amount you're sending
• Destination: ETH amount you'll receive (or estimated, if floating rate)
• Recipient: your Ethereum address

Hit Exchange to generate the deposit address.

Step 5: Send Your Bitcoin

You'll see a unique Bitcoin deposit address with the exact amount to send. Send your BTC to this address from your wallet. Most swaps complete within 10–30 minutes depending on Bitcoin network congestion.

The order page tracks your swap in real time through these stages:

1. Waiting — watching for your deposit
2. Confirmation — your BTC transaction is detected on-chain
3. Exchanging — converting BTC to ETH
4. Sending — dispatching ETH to your address
5. Complete — ETH has arrived

Common Questions

What if I send too little or too much? If the amount is below the minimum, the swap can't proceed and you may need to contact support for a refund. If you send too much, the excess is typically refunded.

How long does it take? Bitcoin swaps usually complete in 10–30 minutes. The main variable is how long it takes for your BTC transaction to get confirmed on the Bitcoin network (typically 1–3 confirmations).

Is there a fee? Yes — a small exchange fee and network fee are included. You can see the exact amounts before confirming the swap.