Swap taking longer than expected?
Short answer: most delays are waiting for confirmations on the network you sent from. Your order stays on its order page the whole time, and a slow swap is not a lost swap. Check the order page first and do not send the deposit again.
Last updated 11 October 2026
Check your swap first
- Open your order page. It shows whether your deposit was detected and what is happening now. If you lost the link, use Orders on this device.
- Do not send the deposit again. A second deposit does not speed anything up and makes the case harder to sort out.
- Check your deposit transaction in a block explorer for the coin you sent. If it is not confirmed there, the swap cannot start.
- Compare what you sent with the order: the exact amount, the exact deposit address and the network.
Why a swap can be slower: what you see and what to do
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “Awaiting deposit” for a while after you sent | Your transaction is not confirmed on its own network yet, so the swap cannot start. Bitcoin deposits need 2 network confirmations before the swap detects them, usually around 20 minutes. Bitcoin and Litecoin can take over an hour when fees are low or blocks are slow. Ethereum, Solana and Tron are usually quicker. | Watch your deposit address or transaction hash in a block explorer for the coin you sent (the order page links to it). If it is unconfirmed, wait. The order page updates by itself. |
| “Deposit detected” or “Swapping” for longer than usual | The provider has your deposit and is executing the swap. Cross-chain swaps wait for confirmations on the source chain and then for the payout to be sent. | Nothing. Keep the order page open or come back to it from Orders. |
| “Sending”, but the funds are not in your wallet yet | The payout was sent and is waiting for confirmations on the receiving chain. Your wallet may not show it until then. | Open the payout transaction shown on the order page in a block explorer. |
| Deposit below the required amount | You sent less than the quote needed, often because a wallet or exchange took a fee out of the amount. The swap cannot complete as quoted. | Do not top it up. Incomplete deposits are normally refunded to your refund address, and the refund appears on the order page when it is sent. |
| “Expired” | No deposit was seen before the deposit address and quote expired. Quotes and addresses are time-limited on purpose. | Start a new swap for a fresh address and quote. Never send to an old address. |
| Sent on the wrong network, or without a required memo or reference code | The deposit reached a chain the order was not expecting, or it could not be matched to the order. | Email us right away with the order id and transaction hash. Some of these can be recovered and some cannot, and we will tell you which. |
| “Refunded” or “Failed” | The provider could not complete the swap, for example because the rate moved, the amount was outside the limits, or the provider declined it. | A refund goes to the refund address you gave. The order page shows the refund transaction. |
If a provider pauses or declines your deposit
Swaps are executed by independent providers, and they can screen transactions, apply limits, and decline or refund a swap. We do not control those decisions. If it happens, your deposit is still tied to your order, and a swap that does not complete is refunded to your refund address when the provider allows it.
Email us the order id, the deposit transaction hash and the refund address you used. We will tell you what we can see and what the provider needs.
Related guides
How to avoid delays
- Copy the deposit address and any memo or reference code exactly, and send on the network the order names.
- Send the exact amount, and make sure your wallet or exchange does not subtract its fee from it.
- Send with a normal network fee so confirmations arrive in reasonable time.
- Give a refund address you control. It is where an incomplete or failed swap is sent back.
- For a large amount, send a small test swap first.
Contacting us
Email hello@senseswap.io and always include the order id and the deposit transaction hash. We never ask for a seed phrase or private key, and we never ask you to send funds anywhere except the deposit address on your order page.
FAQ
- Are my funds lost if my swap is taking a long time?
- Almost certainly not. A slow swap is usually waiting for confirmations on the network you sent from. Your order stays on its order page, and a swap that cannot complete is refunded to your refund address when the provider allows it. Blockchain transfers cannot be reversed, so check the order page and your transaction before doing anything else.
- Should I send my deposit again?
- No. A second deposit does not speed anything up and creates a second case to sort out. Check your order page and your transaction in a block explorer, and email us if it is still stuck.
- How long does a swap normally take?
- It depends mostly on the network you send from. Some swaps finish in a few minutes. Bitcoin and Litecoin deposits wait for block confirmations and can take much longer when fees are low. The order page shows the current step.
- How do I find my order if I closed the page?
- Open Orders on the same browser and device you used. Orders you created are remembered there. If you saved the order link, open it directly.
- What happens if I sent less than the quoted amount, or to the wrong network?
- An amount below the quote cannot complete as quoted and is normally refunded to your refund address. A deposit on the wrong network may or may not be recoverable. Email us the order id and the transaction hash and we will tell you.
- How long do refunds take?
- A refund is sent by the provider once it decides the swap cannot complete, and it then needs confirmations on the refund network. The refund transaction appears on the order page when it is sent.
- Does Sense Swap hold my funds?
- No. Sense Swap is non-custodial: funds move through independent swap providers for a single swap, and the result is paid to the address you gave. We do not hold a balance for you.