Why crypto swaps sometimes get held and what happens next
A held swap is stressful. Here is why deposits get paused, what is usually asked and how to get it moving.
Most swaps finish without anyone looking at them. Now and then one is paused. It feels alarming, but the reasons are almost always routine, and almost every held swap ends with either the swap completing or a refund.
Why deposits get held
Every incoming deposit is screened with blockchain analytics tools that score where the coins came from. A deposit gets paused when that score crosses a line. The usual triggers are these.
- Coins that passed recently through a service flagged for theft, scams or sanctions.
- Coins from a mixer or a known high risk exchange.
- An unusually large amount compared with normal traffic.
Often the person sending did nothing wrong. Coins move between many hands, and a payment received from someone else can carry history you never saw.
What they ask for
Typically the question is where the coins came from. That might be a short explanation, a screenshot of the withdrawal from an exchange, or in some cases identity documents.
What we do
If a swap is held, open the contact page or write to our Telegram bot with your swap ID. We handle it with you and follow up until there is an answer. One contact, start to finish.
How to avoid it
Send from a wallet you control with coins you know the history of. For large amounts, message our private desk before you send and one person stays with you until the coins arrive. Read more in our AML and large swaps page.
Quick answers
Will I lose my coins if a swap is held?
Usually not. A held deposit is either released after the check, or refunded to your refund address. The exception is funds linked to theft or sanctions, which may legally have to be frozen.
How do I get a held swap moving?
Open a ticket with your swap ID. A person at SwapPrivate handles it with you and tells you exactly what is needed.
Ready to swap? See the live rate. No account needed.
