Swap guide
How to swap ETH to BTC without an account
Ethereum and Bitcoin are separate blockchains, so moving ETH to BTC is a cross-chain swap. Here is how it works, what to expect on fees and timing, and how to avoid losing funds.
Reviewed by Gurusha Chauhan, Operations lead
Ethereum and Bitcoin are two completely separate blockchains. ETH lives on Ethereum; BTC lives on Bitcoin. There is no single network that holds both, so you can’t simply "send" ETH and have BTC appear. Moving between them is a cross-chain swap: you hand over ETH and receive native BTC at a Bitcoin address you control.
HorseRouter compares partner exchanges to route that swap and shows you an estimated amount. A partner executes and settles it, and HorseRouter never holds your funds. You don’t need an account or a wallet connection.
Native BTC vs wrapped BTC
Some tokens on Ethereum track the price of Bitcoin, such as WBTC. Those are ERC-20 tokens that stay on Ethereum. This guide is about native BTC on the Bitcoin network, delivered to a Bitcoin address (one that starts with bc1, 1 or 3).
Decide which you actually want before you swap. If you need Bitcoin in a Bitcoin wallet or on an exchange’s BTC network, you want native BTC, which is what the steps below produce.
How to swap ETH to BTC on HorseRouter
- Set the "Pay" side to ETH on Ethereum and the "Receive" side to BTC on Bitcoin.
- Enter the amount. You will see an estimated BTC amount out, the estimated time, and the fee before you commit.
- Paste your Bitcoin receiving address (it starts with bc1, 1 or 3). Check it carefully; transfers can’t be reversed.
- Review the quote and start the swap. You will be given a deposit address for your ETH.
- Send your ETH to that deposit address from any wallet or exchange. No wallet connection is needed.
- Wait for the partner to settle the swap. Your BTC arrives at the Bitcoin address you provided.
Fees and timing
Two costs apply: the Ethereum network fee to send your ETH to the deposit address (set by the network, not by HorseRouter), and the swap fee, which is shown in the quote before you confirm.
Quotes are estimates and can move within your slippage setting between the quote and settlement. Bitcoin adds a block roughly every ten minutes, and the receiving side often waits for one or more confirmations, so an ETH-to-BTC swap can take longer to finalise than a swap between faster chains. Network congestion or partner compliance checks can add more time.
Avoiding the common mistakes
- Send BTC to a Bitcoin address, not an Ethereum (0x) address. They are not interchangeable.
- If you want coins inside a Bitcoin wallet, choose native BTC, not a wrapped token that stays on Ethereum.
- Keep enough ETH in the sending wallet to cover the Ethereum network fee, or the send will fail.
- Check the receiving address character by character before you send. Blockchain transfers can’t be undone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account or to connect a wallet to swap ETH to BTC?
No. You provide a Bitcoin receiving address and send your ETH to the deposit address shown. There is no account and no wallet connection.
Is this native Bitcoin or wrapped BTC?
The swap delivers native BTC to a Bitcoin address. Wrapped tokens like WBTC are ERC-20 tokens that stay on Ethereum and are a different thing.
How long does an ETH to BTC swap take?
It varies. Bitcoin adds a block about every ten minutes and the receiving side usually waits for confirmations, so it can take longer than swaps between faster chains. Congestion or compliance checks by the partner can add time.
What does it cost?
You pay the Ethereum network fee to send your ETH plus the swap fee shown in the quote. The amount you receive is an estimate and can change within your slippage setting.
Can I swap BTC back to ETH the same way?
Yes. Set Bitcoin as the "Pay" side and ETH on Ethereum as the "Receive" side, provide an Ethereum receiving address, and follow the same steps.