Monero Atomic Swaps: Trustless BTC to XMR Exchange

Atomic swaps allow trustless exchange between Bitcoin and Monero without any centralized intermediary. Once Bitcoin enters the swap and comes out as Monero, the chain analysis trail is permanently broken.

How Atomic Swaps Work

The swap uses hash time-locked contracts (HTLCs) and adaptor signatures. Both parties lock their funds simultaneously. Either the swap completes and both receive the other's currency, or it times out and both get refunds. Neither party can steal the other's funds. No trust required.

Current Tools

COMIT xmr-btc-swap (unstoppableswap.net): the most mature implementation. Run the CLI tool over Tor, connect to makers offering XMR, specify the amount, and the swap executes automatically. Typical swap takes 20-40 minutes. GUI versions are available for less technical users.

Practical Tips

Run swaps over Tor for maximum privacy. Don't swap from a KYC-exchange-funded Bitcoin address directly — add a CoinJoin step first. Swap in multiple smaller amounts rather than one large amount. Wait for at least 10 confirmations before considering the swap final. Keep the swap CLI data directory for refund capability.