Phantom Wallet’s Cross-Chain Swapper makes it simple to convert tokens between different networks such as Solana, Ethereum, Base, and Polygon—all from within your wallet. However, cross-chain transactions can sometimes take time or encounter issues. This guide will help you understand how cross-chain swaps work and how to troubleshoot common challenges.
What is a Cross-Chain Swap?
A cross-chain swap is the process of converting tokens from one blockchain to another. Unlike standard swaps, these transactions involve bridging tokens across two separate networks. For example:
- Swapping ETH on Ethereum to USDC on Polygon.
- Swapping SOL on Solana to ETH on Ethereum.
- Swapping SOL on Solana to Base
This process is facilitated by bridging and aggregation protocols like Li.Fi, which ensure the transaction moves seamlessly across chains. However, cross-chain swaps can involve multiple steps and require confirmations on both the origin and destination networks.
How Cross-Chain Swapper Works in Phantom
-
Go to the Swap Tab (🔁):
Open Phantom Wallet and navigate to the Swap tab. -
Select the Origin Chain and Token:
Choose the network and token you’re bridging from (e.g., ETH on Ethereum). -
Select the Destination Chain and Token:
Choose the network and token you want to receive (e.g., USDC on Polygon or SOL on Solana). -
Enter the Amount:
Specify the amount to bridge. You’ll see a quote displaying the amount of tokens you’ll receive on the destination chain. -
Review and Confirm:
Click "Review Order" to check transaction details, then click Swap to submit the transaction. -
Track the Transaction:
- Monitor the status of your transaction in the Activity Tab (⚡).
- Use the Li.Fi Scanner for real-time updates on cross-chain swaps.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Why is my transaction taking so long?
Cross-chain swaps can take longer than standard swaps because they involve multiple transaction confirmations on both the origin and destination chains. Factors like network congestion, bridge processing times, and gas fees may contribute to delays.
What You Can Do:
- Be patient: Transactions can take a few minutes to an hour.
- Check real-time updates in the Activity Tab or track the transaction using the Li.Fi Scanner for detailed progress.
Why didn’t my tokens appear on the destination chain?
This can happen if there is a delay in the bridge process or if the transaction failed due to network issues.
What You Can Do:
- Verify the transaction on a blockchain explorer (e.g., Etherscan for Ethereum or Solscan for Solana).
- Check the Li.Fi Scanner for detailed updates and status.
- Ensure you have bridged tokens to a supported network (Solana, Ethereum, Base, Polygon).
I swapped to an unsupported network—what now?
If you mistakenly swapped tokens to a network that Phantom Wallet doesn’t support, you won’t see your tokens in Phantom.
What You Can Do:
- Use another wallet that supports the destination network to recover your tokens.
- Import your private key or recovery phrase into a compatible wallet to access the funds.
Why does Refuel appear during my swap?
The Refuel option is triggered when you don’t have enough native tokens on the destination chain to cover transaction fees. For example, if you’re swapping from ETH on Ethereum to USDC on Polygon, Refuel ensures you receive a small amount of MATIC (Polygon gas token) for future transactions.
How Refuel Works:
- Refuel is paid using a portion of the tokens being bridged from the origin chain.
- Example: If you’re bridging ARB to Polygon, a small amount of ARB is used to provide MATIC for gas on Polygon.
Understanding Fees in Cross-Chain Swaps
When using the Cross-Chain Swapper, fees may include:
- Phantom Fee: A 0.85% fee is applied to certain swap pairs.
- Transaction Fee: Fees are paid in the native token on both networks to process the transaction. (For example: When swapping ETH to SOL you will pay fees on both Ethereum and Solana.)
- Bridge Provider Fee: A small percentage (typically ~0.3%) charged by the bridging protocol.
Tip: Check the transaction breakdown during the swap to understand the total fees.
Supported Chains and Tokens
Chains:
- Solana
- Ethereum
- Base
- Polygon
Tokens:
- Swap any token on the origin chain for USDC on the destination chain.
- For Ethereum to Solana, swap ETH for 30+ Solana tokens like SOL, BONK, JUP, JITO, and WEN.