[List] Atomic swap tools and exchanges / DEX for Bitcoin

[d5000]

I'm creating a list of tools to perform atomic swaps between Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. An atomic swap is a cryptocurrency exchange using a contract between users of different blockchains. The exchange of a secret ensures that both transactions are carried out or both participants are refunded (see Bitcoin wiki).

The goal is to list not only exchanges, but also libraries and command line tools to be used in other software projects.

You can participate! If you know an atomic swap tool not included in the list, you're welcome to propose it. Only two rules: The tool or exchange must support Bitcoin and be trustless (no centralized provider, exchange participants must use their own private keys, and no centralized "exchange coin" like Binance Coin).

Important note: Use all tools on your own risk, and do NOT use them if they require you to deposit coins on a third party address - then it would not be trustless anymore. If you spot a centralized tool here, you're welcome to request the tool to be removed from the list.


(updated: 2024-02-02)

Classic Atomic Swap tools

These tools/platforms are based on Tier Nolan's original model or on similar concepts (like the COMIT protocol).

AtomicDEX

Mobile and Desktop atomic swap exchange. Main app to access it is now called Komodo Wallet. It is basically a GUI for the MarketMaker 2 script from the pre-coursor BarterDEX (see also this guide.) There are also some alternative apps, mainly FiroDEX and BitcoinZ-DEX.

Swap

Python library to perform atomic swaps and build other HTLCs. Supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, XinFin, Bytom.

UnstoppableSwap

Tool to exchange Bitcoin with Monero (and potentially other cryptocurrencies, although not officially supported) using the COMIT protocol which does not need HTLC capabilities on both chains.

Liquality (GitHub)

Originally a tool which creates an atomic swap in the browser. Now also a wallet app with "web3" features.

Decred Atomic Swaps

Is part of the Decred project but doesn't need a Decred node to work. It supports Bitcoin and several other cryptocurrencies. The swaps are initiated and carried out with a command line utility. On the Github repo there is a README/tutorial for the basic steps. (Seems to be unmantained since 2021).

ZBXCat

Experimental project to exchange BTC and ZCash on the command line, unfortunately seems to be abandoned since 2017, but should be working as it's quite "low level" and Script language has not changed.


Specialized altchains with classic atomic swap model

Blocknet

Specialized blockchain which can be used for atomic swaps, with decentralized exchange functions.


Tools with incentive-based/AMM-based mechanisms

WARNING: These systems are based on financial incentives. They don't have a single point of failure but are not 100% trustless.

Thorchain

Specialized blockchain which can be used for cryptocurrency swaps, with decentralized exchange functions (guide here). See also this tool.

Chainflip

Automated Market Maker-based cross chain swaps.

Other services under consideration / Not recommended:

- Samourai Swaps: Are interesting, but still in beta and "can fail" according to website.
- Atomicwallet.io: has been removed from the main list, as they're not open source and only use atomic swaps for very few currencies, for other currencies they use Changelly which is a completely centralized service.
- Exchangeunion: Claim to use Lightning Network, but they seem to use an auxiliary centralized blockchain.

Defunct services which were listed here

- BarterDEX (GUI for Komodo's MarketMaker script, replaced by AtomicDEX/Komodo Wallet)
- Swap.Online (semi-centralized, but probably trustless, GitHub repo) (Website dead)
- SparkSwap (semi-centralized, but probably trustless, GitHub repo) (Website dead)

[bitmover]

I'm creating a list of tools to perform atomic swaps between Bitcoin and other currencies. An atomic swap is a cryptocurrency exchange using a contract between users of different blockchains. The exchange of a secret ensures that both transactions are carried out or both participants are refunded.

All of your examples are Centralized services which exchange coins, and they do not use smartcontracts or Dapps, as atomic swaps should.

Atomic swaps should be decentralized services, and the swap should be done by a smartcontract/dapp, not by a centralized service.

Those services you mentioned, like atomic wallet or shapeshift, changelly etc are services which uses exchanges such as Binance to exchange coins in a nice interface for you. Not an atomic swap.

Edit: I think maybe bartdex /liquidex may be an atomic swap , but I am not sure.
Edit2: atomic wallet uses changelly (look at partners https://atomicwallet.io/)

[d5000]

Those services you mentioned, like atomic wallet or shapeshift, changelly etc are services which uses exchanges such as Binance to exchange coins in a nice interface for you. Not an atomic swap.

Edit: I think maybe bartdex /liquidex may be an atomic swap , but I am not sure.

This list is still work-in-progress. I am sure that Barterdex, ZBXcat and Decred atomic swaps are completely decentralized and are using TierNolan's contract or a variation of it.

I have to check Atomicwallet and Swap.Online which may include centralized elements. If yes, then I'll remove them from the list. Changelly and similar services are not included, for the same reason you mentioned.

Edit: I'm really not sure about Atomicwallet. They claim to use a combination of atomic swaps (for a few currencies) and Changelly, but are not completely open source, and there seems to be even a scam accusation out there. I'll better remove them until they go really open source so the code can be revised. Swap.online, however, seems a legit swap platform until now, I'll research a bit further however. There are two other services under consideration: Sparkswap and Exchangeunion.

[bitmover]

Edit: I'm really not sure about Atomicwallet. They claim to use a combination of atomic swaps (for a few currencies) and Changelly, but are not completely open source, and there seems to be even a scam accusation out there. I'll better remove them until they go really open source so the code can be revised. Swap.online, however, seems a legit swap platform until now, I'll research a bit further however. There are two other services under consideration: Sparkswap and Exchangeunion.

I used atomic wallet few weeks after they launched it

I was going to recover some bcd there and exchange it using changelly, which is integrated in the wallet just like coinomi.

However, the wallet was bugged and my bcd disappeared (the wallet just didn't recognized the address with funds anymore). It was clearly a bug, and I talked with the support for many days. It was a great support, and I could prove that it was a bug and they refunded me in BTC (it was a small value, but I liked the attitude).

I don't think anyway that it is a scam. It is a multicurrency wallet with changelly integrated just like coinomi. Not atomic swaps, unless they made a great change since last year.

[Financisto]

Nice list and good initiative!

Keep updating this good piece of work!

[Acura3600]

Can you add AtomicDex?

AtomicSwaps on your Smartphone www.atomicdex.io

‪-AtomicSwaps‬
‪-no middlemen‬
‪-no proxytokens‬
‪-no withdrawlimits‬
‪-no kyc‬
‪-no country restrictions‬
‪-no centralized matcher‬
‪-no centralized gateways‬

‪https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.komodoplatform.atomicdex&hl=en‬

‪https://testflight.apple.com/join/c2mOLEoC‬

[d5000]

Can you add AtomicDex?

Added. I checked the documentation and it seems to meet the requirements. However, I must say that I don't really like their mobile-only approach where there is absolutely no GUI for users not using Android/iOS.

Edit: Thanks for clarification. That would make it one of the top tools for the moment. I wasn't aware of that because the original announcement only covered the mobile app.

[Acura3600]

Can you add AtomicDex?

Added. I checked the documentation and it seems to meet the requirements. However, I must say that I don't really like their mobile-only approach where there is absolutely no GUI for users not using Android/iOS.

Thanks for adding
Atomicdex will also soon available via WebBrowser native App & upcoming Desktop Apps.
All will use the same orderbook & liquiditypool

https://cointelegraph.com/news/komodos-atomicdex-exchange-runs-a-p2p-full-node-in-your-web-browser

[9kek]

Thank you for this useful thread.
Do you plan to update it?
Do anybody know other "real" atomic swap services?
I'll try testing how atomicDex works in the next days.

[d5000]

Do you plan to update it?

Sorry for the (very) late answer: Yes, as soon as I find more fitting services, I'll add them. Until now I however have no news about more tools. So if anybody knows about a new one, please post!

I'll try testing how atomicDex works in the next days.

If you're still reading: were you able to test it? How was your experience?

it must be further researched for problem solution. have great interest. all defi do not solve problem at all.

I agree that most "DeFi" services are only working inside the ecosystem of a single coin/blockchain, i.e. Ethereum - and thus only serve to "exchange one type of transaction for another one". If you're interested in cross-chain DeFi based on atomic swaps, you may be interested in aliashraf's option protocol - it's however still unreviewed. However, the tools I listed here should work, they have their shortcomings but the middleman has been removed already.

[9kek]

Any update on this topic?

And I have a more specific question: is there some real atomic swap software that can do atomic swap beetween BTC and USDT (and vice-versa)? Or is it technically infeasible because the two coins use differente algorithms? If if's not possible, is there some stablecoin that can be swapped with BTC ?

[Acura3600]

Any update on this topic?

And I have a more specific question: is there some real atomic swap software that can do atomic swap beetween BTC and USDT (and vice-versa)? Or is it technically infeasible because the two coins use differente algorithms? If if's not possible, is there some stablecoin that can be swapped with BTC ?

I would say with AtomicDex it is possible via AtomicSwap to swap BTC and USDT

[dkbit98]

And I have a more specific question: is there some real atomic swap software that can do atomic swap beetween BTC and USDT (and vice-versa)? Or is it technically infeasible because the two coins use differente algorithms? If if's not possible, is there some stablecoin that can be swapped with BTC ?

I don't like Tether and I wouldn't use it for holding any funds because it can be frozen by central authority, and regulators are probably going to ban it sooner or later.
Liquality extension supports this atomic swap, but volume is low and you would probably pay extremly high fees for ethereum network transaction.
AtomicDex is offering atomic swaps but currently there is volume only for USDT on binance chain if you want to swap with BTC, but you need to have some BNB coin for this transaction.

[d5000]

As I've recently found the Swap python library which seems to be an interesting project, I take the opportunity to update and bump the thread.

SparkSwap and Swap.Online seem to be dead, and BarterDEX has been replaced completely be AtomicDEX already some years ago and now its main app was completely rebranded to Komodo Wallet. There seem to be alternative apps though. AtomicDEX has a separate thread started about a year ago, where also some alternative apps (FiroDEX, BitcoinZ-DEX) have been presented.

The Python library is extremely interesting for me because it could in the future allow me to test aliashrafs Atomic Options.

If somebody knows other newer projects, even if they're just command line applications, post them

[honglu69]

Actually  Blocknet DX tech is sound, it is pure atomic swap as atomicdex is.  The downside is that indeed, blocknet  needs to run all the time (like electrum server) helping atomic swap.     Also traders like bitcoin has to run full node too, which is not as great as atomicdex.

Technically, I am not sure why atomic swap tools vs atomic swap dex.  The dex is tool already.  If  we just talk about dex, atomicdex and blockdx, and DCRDEX are three top atomic swap dex today.

[HostFat]

Thorchain is non-custodial and without kyc.

To get the best rate, you have to:
1) Install Metamask
2) Connect to https://app.shapeshift.com
3) Install the Multichain Snap into Metamask
4) "My Wallet" on Shapeshift -> Deposit Bitcoin
5) Trade/Bridge
6) Use "Thorchain - Streaming" offer
7) If you want, disable "ShapeShift Donation".

If you want to exctract the Bitcoin private key:
1) Download "bip39-standalone.html" from https://github.com/iancoleman/bip39/releases .
2) Put the Metamask passphrase on "BIP39 Mnemonic"
3) On "Derivation Path" select "BIP44".

Or
Import your Metamask passphrase into a BIP44/HDWallet compatible Bitcoin wallet.

[d5000]

Thorchain is non-custodial and without kyc.

Thank you. I think it qualifies, and according to descriptions like this one it works a bit similar to Blocknet, with a cross-chain swap on a dedicated blockchain which uses the Cosmos/Tendermint PoS consensus. I've linked your short guide, but what I don't like that much is that you connect to centralized services like Shapeshift and Metamask. If you know a guide where it's explained how to use it without these platforms, it's welcome here

Technically, I am not sure why atomic swap tools vs atomic swap dex.  The dex is tool already.

I'm not sure if I understand right but I think you mean there should be no difference in the OP between "DEXes" and "tools"?

In this case I disagree. For me, an atomic swap "tool" can be simply a software where you can create the HTLCs necessary for an atomic exchange, and maybe you can exchange the data with your trade partner on another platform (Bitcointalk or another forum, IRC, XMPP, Nostr, etc.). A "DEX" in general also cares about the communication part and typically has more functionality like order matching for which a separate P2P network may be necessary (or it's done on a centralized web server). It's thus a more complete tool. I think it makes sense to categorize them in different groups, but anyway my list has no strict categorization.

I've however added Blocknet to the main list, I think there's nothing really against it, even if I'm not 100% convinced of the "special blockchain" model.

(Edit: Ah, I think I know what you mean - my remark in the original OP that Blocknet isn't really a "Bitcoin tool". I think when I started the thread in 2019 I was a bit reacious first to add "specialized blockchains" due to this thread focusing on Bitcoin, and the danger that it could be moved into the altcoin forum where it would be much less visible. As I have now a good number of native Bitcoin tools listed I think this danger isn't present anymore.)

[HostFat]

Metamask is not custodial, you own the private keys, and you can choose the server/node that you prefer to connect to know the status of the network.
Many not-custodial Bitcoin wallets work the same way.

Shapeshift doesn't touth any transactions if you pass through Thorchain and metamask.

Anyway, this can be another interface for Thorchain, but as far I know it doesn't support the last feature of Thorchain "Streaming Swap", witch make the swaps very cheap, better then cex sometimes: https://github.com/thorchain/asgardex-electron

Also edge wallet now supports thorchain and streaming swap feature, but I think that they also had a fee for themself:
https://edge.app/

[honglu69]

I think thorchain is not like blocknet.   First,  blockDX of blocknet is atomic swap based DEX.  Blocknet service node is helping on swap, but it is still a pure atomic swap.
Blocknet service node charges a fee for its service, and serve also like electrum server on its light wallet called xlite.

Thorchain is not on atomic swap technology.  It is more like a decentralized multi-sig wallet, it is on better technology indeed.  For pure bitcoin swap trading on DEX, I think Thorchain is on another level of game and has huge liquidity on its pools like uniswap. Thorchain appears to be the winner here against atomic swap based tech.

I think atomic swap dex like AtomicDEX or BlockDX still has its niche, mainly on low gas fees smaller coins. But for main coins like BTC or ETH,  thorchain DEX is standing out to be the likely winner here.

[d5000]

I think thorchain is not like blocknet.

Thank you for your explanation. I have now read a bit about how Thorchain works. If I'm not wrong it's not 100% trustless but "trust-minimizing based on incentives", i.e. the "atomicity" of the swap is not ensured by an HTLC or similar contract but by incentives to the liquidity providers to play by the rules.

I think atomic swap dex like AtomicDEX or BlockDX still has its niche, mainly on low gas fees smaller coins. But for main coins like BTC or ETH,  thorchain DEX is standing out to be the likely winner here.

It all depends what your criteria are. I think Atomic swap is still more secure, but yes, the optionality (that one trading partner can withdraw in the middle of the trade) and the waiting times are definitely drawbacks. The advantage of Thorchain seems to be that you need only one BTC transaction per swap and that it thus is faster and cheaper on network fees.

Metamask is not custodial, you own the private keys, and you can choose the server/node that you prefer to connect to know the status of the network.

Non-custodial is true, but 1-2 years ago I read about problems for some users which were related to their centralized management (I think I remember that they rejected connections from certain countries). Unfortunately I don't find the reports of this issue anymore (Edit: I think it was this problem related to Infura blockchain service. It's not really a Metamask issue, but anyway I consider it not really a decentralized app.)

Anyway, this can be another interface for Thorchain, but as far I know it doesn't support the last feature of Thorchain "Streaming Swap", witch make the swaps very cheap, better then cex sometimes: https://github.com/thorchain/asgardex-electron

Thank you, have added it.