How long to wait before treating a swap as failed

05 September 2026

You should wait at least 60 minutes before treating a swap as failed. If the network is congested or the exchange is processing many orders, wait 90 minutes.

The reason is simple: crypto transactions are not instant. Even after the network confirms a transaction, the exchange must detect it, match it to your order, and update your balance or forward swapped funds. That internal processing can take longer than the blockchain transfer itself.

What determines wait time

Three factors control how fast an exchange credits a deposit:

Network confirmation requirements. Most exchanges wait for a certain number of confirmations before they accept a deposit as final. Bitcoin typically requires 2 - 3 confirmations (20 - 30 minutes). Ethereum-based tokens often need 12 - 30 confirmations (3 - 15 minutes). Solana confirms in seconds, but some exchanges still impose artificial waiting periods.

Exchange processing speed. The exchange's automated systems scan the blockchain for incoming transactions. When volume is high, their queues fill. A deposit that arrives during a spike might sit unprocessed for 30 - 40 minutes even after the network has confirmed it.

The specific token or network. Some tokens have smart contract checks or blacklist scans that add delay. Others route through multiple internal systems. If you swapped a less common token, expect longer processing times.

When to start counting

Your wait begins when the blockchain shows the transaction as confirmed, not when you sent it. If the network is congested and your transaction takes 40 minutes to confirm, that time does not count toward your 60-minute window.

Check the transaction on a block explorer using the transaction ID. Once it shows at least one confirmation, start your timer.

What counts as failed

A swap has failed when:

• 90 minutes have passed since the first confirmation, and the exchange shows no record of the deposit.
• The exchange's interface displays an error message about the transaction.
• The deposit address was clearly wrong (mismatched network, wrong token type).
• You receive a refund or cancellation notice from the exchange.

If you see any of these signs before 60 minutes, the swap has failed early. Do not resend funds until you confirm the status.

What to check before assuming failure

Before declaring the swap dead, verify:

• That you sent to the correct address and network. A deposit sent to a Bitcoin address on the Ethereum network will never arrive.
• That the exchange received the transaction. Some exchanges show pending deposits in a separate section of the account page.
• That you used the correct memo or tag if required. Exchanges that accept multiple customers on one address need this identifier to route funds.

Next steps

If you have waited the full time and the swap has not completed, read "What to do if a crypto swap is stuck as pending" for the specific recovery steps. That page covers contacting support, checking refund policies, and when to accept a loss.

If the issue is that you cannot confirm whether the address was correct, the sibling page "How to verify a swap deposit address before sending funds" explains what to check before any future transaction.

For a full overview of safe swapping procedures, including how to handle this situation from the start, see the hub page "Swapping crypto safely". It connects all these topics into a single workflow.

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