ShadowEX
← All articles
October 7, 2026 · 5 min read

How to Swap Monero to Bitcoin (XMR to BTC) Safely

Monero is great for privacy, but sometimes you need Bitcoin: to pay someone who only accepts BTC, to move into cold storage, or to use a Lightning wallet. With most large exchanges delisting XMR, an instant no-KYC swap is the simplest way to go from XMR to BTC.

Before you start

  • Unlocked balance. Monero received recently stays locked for 10 blocks (about 20 minutes). Make sure your wallet shows an unlocked balance that covers the swap.
  • A Bitcoin wallet you control. Sparrow, Electrum, BlueWallet or a hardware wallet are all fine.
  • Fresh address. Generate a new receive address for this swap to keep your Bitcoin history clean.

Step 1: Copy a new Bitcoin address

Modern wallets show a SegWit address starting with bc1q or a Taproot address starting with bc1p. Legacy addresses starting with 1 or 3 also work. Copy it, paste it into the form and check the first and last characters.

Step 2: Choose XMR → BTC and enter the amount

Open the XMR to BTC swap page. Enter how much Monero you want to send and check the estimated BTC amount. Remember that Monero's network fee comes out of your wallet on top of the amount you send.

Step 3: Add a Monero refund address

Add a Monero address (a subaddress is perfect) so a failed swap can be returned to you. It starts with 4 or 8.

Step 4: Send the exact XMR amount

Scan the QR code or copy the deposit address and amount into your Monero wallet. Monero transfers do not need a payment ID for ShadowEX swaps. Send before the countdown runs out.

Step 5: Wait for confirmations and the BTC payout

After the Monero deposit is confirmed, the swap runs and Bitcoin is broadcast to your address. Your wallet will usually show the incoming transaction within a minute, and it confirms with the next Bitcoin block.

Keeping your privacy after the swap

  • Don't send the new BTC straight to an exchange account tied to your identity if you want the swap to stay private.
  • Don't merge coins from this address with old, identified coins in one transaction. Use your wallet's coin control.
  • Keep your swap ID private. It is the only link between the deposit and the payout.

Fees: what you actually pay

The quote already includes the exchange spread and the Bitcoin network fee for the payout. The only extra cost is the small Monero network fee your wallet charges to send the deposit. What you see in the "You get" field is what lands in your wallet, give or take small market moves (see why swap rates change).

FAQ

How long does an XMR to BTC swap take?

Typically 20–45 minutes. Monero deposits need around 10 confirmations (about 20 minutes) before the swap runs, then BTC is sent.

Why is Monero being delisted from exchanges?

Many centralized exchanges remove XMR because of regulatory pressure on privacy coins. Instant swaps are one of the remaining easy ways to move between XMR and BTC.

Will my BTC be linked to my Monero?

The swap itself does not reveal your Monero history on the Bitcoin chain. Your Bitcoin address, however, is public, so avoid reusing it.

Ready? Swap XMR to BTC. Going the other way? Read how to swap Bitcoin to Monero.