How the LINK Exchange Works
LINK Exchange provides crypto-to-crypto routes for sending Chainlink to another supported asset or receiving LINK from selected cryptocurrencies. The process is based on an order-specific quote, a deposit and a payout to the destination wallet supplied for that transaction.
This page explains how to exchange Chainlink, how a crypto swap differs from a trading order, and which checks matter before funds are sent.
1Choose the Exchange Direction
Start by selecting the cryptocurrency you are sending and the asset you want to receive. A direction such as LINK → BTC is a different order from BTC → LINK, even though the same two assets are involved.
Each route has its own deposit side and payout side. The source determines what you must send; the destination determines which wallet details you need to provide.
2Enter the Amount and Review the Quote
Enter the source amount in the exchange form. The form calculates the expected receive amount using the conditions available for that transaction.
Reference charts and converters on pair pages are useful for comparing market value, but they are not a substitute for the executable order quote. Before creating the exchange, review the source amount, estimated payout and any displayed route conditions together.
3Provide the Destination Wallet
The destination address tells the service where to send the resulting cryptocurrency. It must support the exact asset and network specified for the payout.
A valid-looking address is not enough if the network is wrong. Check the complete address and, when relevant, any additional destination field required by the receiving wallet or service.
4Create the Order
Once the direction, amount and destination are confirmed, create the exchange. The order then generates the deposit information required for that specific transaction.
Treat the active order as the source of truth. Do not assume a deposit address, amount or network from an earlier transaction can be reused.
5Send the Deposit
Send the requested source asset using the network shown in the order. The deposit needs to reach the generated address and satisfy the required blockchain confirmations before the exchange can progress.
Sending a different asset, using another network or changing the amount without checking the active quote can delay processing or create a recovery problem.
6Wait for Confirmations and Processing
Blockchain transactions are not complete the moment they are broadcast. The exchange waits for the required deposit confirmations and then processes the conversion through the available route.
Across the commercial pair pages, the published typical processing window is 4–15 minutes after required confirmations. Actual time can vary with network activity, confirmation speed and route conditions.
7Receive the Payout
After the order is processed, the destination asset is sent to the wallet address entered for the transaction. The payout transaction may then need its own blockchain confirmations before the receiving wallet shows it as fully settled.
Check the order status and the destination network rather than estimating completion only from elapsed time.
What Is a Crypto Swap?
A crypto swap is a conversion from one cryptocurrency into another. In a simple swap flow, the user selects the source asset, destination asset and amount, then receives the resulting crypto at a specified wallet.
The word "exchange" can describe the same type of conversion, but it can also refer more broadly to trading platforms and order books. On LINK Exchange, the focus is a defined crypto-to-crypto route rather than manual market-order placement.
Is Swap the Same as Exchange?
For the pair pages on this site, the two terms are used in the practical sense of converting one crypto asset into another. "LINK swap" may therefore describe the same user goal as "LINK exchange."
What matters operationally is not the label but the transaction structure: which asset is deposited, which asset is received, what network is used and what quote applies to the current order.
Reference Rate vs Exchange Quote
A market chart answers a pricing question: how are two assets valued relative to each other right now or over a selected period? An exchange quote answers a transaction question: what amount is currently estimated for this specific order?
Those values can differ because an order can reflect route liquidity, service fees and amount-specific conditions. Use reference data to compare the pair and the active form to decide whether to create the exchange.
Main Risks in a Crypto Swap
The most common operational risks come from incorrect transaction details rather than from the exchange button itself.
- Wrong network: the source or destination network does not match the order.
- Wrong address: the payout address belongs to another asset or was copied incorrectly.
- Expired or changed quote: the user relies on older information rather than the current order.
- Reused deposit details: information from a previous order is sent again without verification.
- Market movement: the reference value can change while crypto markets move.
- Third-party wallet issues: the receiving wallet or service may have its own availability, memo/tag or crediting requirements.
Checking the order before sending reduces avoidable errors, but blockchain transactions can be irreversible once broadcast.
Exchange Conditions Used Across Pair Pages
LINK Exchange publishes one common service-fact set across its commercial routes: 4–15 minute typical processing after required confirmations, an estimated 0.35–0.85% service fee, a starting value of about $10 equivalent, and no hidden service fee added after order creation.
The same numeric conditions keep the service consistent; the pair pages change only the route-specific explanation, wallet checks and market context.
Before You Send Crypto
Use this short checklist before funding an order:
- Recheck the exchange direction.
- Confirm the source asset and deposit network.
- Match the amount to the active order.
- Verify the destination asset and network.
- Compare the complete wallet address character by character.
- Save the order information until the payout is complete.
For LINK receiving details, see Chainlink wallets and LINK addresses. For the available directions, return to the LINK exchange hub.
FAQ
What is a crypto swap?
A crypto swap converts one cryptocurrency into another without requiring the user to manually place an order on a trading book. The exact flow still depends on the source asset, destination asset, network and current quote.
Is swap the same as exchange?
The terms often overlap in crypto-to-crypto conversion. On this site, both refer to moving from one defined source asset to one defined destination asset through an exchange order.
How do I exchange Chainlink?
Choose a LINK outbound route, enter the amount, provide the destination wallet, create the order and send the LINK deposit using the displayed network. The payout is sent after the required confirmations and route processing are complete.
How do I receive LINK from another crypto?
Use an inbound pair such as BTC → LINK, USDT → LINK, ETH → LINK or USDC → LINK. Enter a compatible LINK destination wallet and follow the source-asset deposit instructions generated by the order.
What are the main risks of swap exchanges?
Network mismatch, incorrect wallet details, outdated deposit information and market movement are common risks. Following the active order and verifying both sides of the transaction reduces avoidable mistakes.
Can an exchange require additional checks?
Yes. A crypto exchange can apply transaction, compliance or risk controls even when the normal order flow does not begin with a conventional trading-account signup. See the AML Policy for the site's compliance framework.