Your First Swap, Step by Step

Theory's done — let's do a real swap, start to finish, with Monero arriving in your own wallet. We'll go slowly and safely. The golden rule for your first time: test small. Move a tiny amount first to learn the flow before sending anything that would hurt to lose.

Before You Start

• A Monero wallet you control, with your receiving address ready. (Create one here if needed.)
• Some crypto to swap from (e.g. a little BTC or LTC) in a wallet you control.
• Ideally, your wallet/browser connected over Tor for network privacy.

Step 1 — Pick a Service

Choose a reputable no-KYC swap or an aggregator that compares several at once (covered in Choosing a Swap Service Safely). Open it and select the pair: send = your coin (e.g. BTC), receive = XMR.

Step 2 — Enter Your Addresses

1. Receiving address: paste your Monero address. After pasting, check the first and last few characters match your wallet — clipboard-hijacking malware exists.
2. Refund address: paste an address you control for the coin you're sending. If the swap fails, this is where your coin comes back. Never skip it.

Step 3 — Choose Fixed Rate (for now)

Pick fixed rate for your first swap so you know exactly what you'll receive. Note the quote, the minimum amount, and the time window you have to send.

Step 4 — Send Your Coin

The service shows a deposit address and an exact amount (often with a QR code). In your own wallet:

• Send the exact amount requested — underpaying or overpaying can trigger a refund or a manual review.
• Use an appropriate network fee so it confirms within the rate window.
• Double-check the deposit address the same way (first/last characters).

Step 5 — Wait for Confirmations

The service waits for your incoming transaction to confirm (minutes, depending on the coin), then automatically sends the XMR. You can usually watch the status update on the swap page.

Step 6 — Receive XMR in Your Wallet

The Monero arrives at your receiving address. Open your wallet (let it sync if needed) and you'll see it as an incoming transaction. Remember it's locked for 10 blocks (~20 minutes) before you can re-spend it. You can verify the details yourself as shown in Checking Your Transactions.

If Something Goes Wrong

• Deposit arrived late / rate expired: the service refunds your coin to your refund address, or re-quotes. This is exactly why the refund address matters.
• You sent the wrong amount: most services flag it and either adjust or refund — contact their support with your swap ID.
• Nothing arrived after confirmations: keep the swap ID and transaction IDs; reputable services have support and a refund policy.

Your Safe First-Swap Checklist

• ☑ Test with a tiny amount first.
• ☑ Receiving address is yours, verified by first/last characters.
• ☑ Refund address filled in.
• ☑ Fixed rate, sent within the time window.
• ☑ Exact amount sent.

Do this once with pocket change and the mystery disappears — you'll swap confidently from then on. Next, learn how to pick services you can trust in Choosing a Swap Service Safely.