Tunnel in 3 steps
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Choose how much BTC to send and paste the Tether address that should receive funds on ERC-20 on Ethereum.
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Open the order to freeze the quote and reveal a one-time deposit destination.
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Broadcast BTC to that destination. Once confirmations clear, USDT is pushed to your payout wallet.
Before you broadcast
- One on-chain confirmation is usually enough before your payout leg starts.
- BTC confirmation time depends on mempool congestion and the fee you paid.
- SegWit deposit addresses keep fees lower. If your wallet cannot send to SegWit, contact support before sending.
- Still waiting on USDT? Give the wallet a few minutes to sync, then share your Exchange ID with support if the order already lists a payout hash.
Bitcoin — the original digital asset
Since 2009, Bitcoin has been the benchmark cryptocurrency — deep liquidity, wide recognition, and the default on-ramp for cross-chain swaps.
Before you send BTC
- Confirm your wallet can send to SegWit (bc1…) addresses.
- Leave enough for a network fee — low fees mean slower confirmation.
- Send only BTC on Bitcoin mainnet to the address on your order page.
How long until Bitcoin confirms?
Block times vary with network load and your chosen fee.
- Use mempool.space or similar tools to check whether your fee is competitive.
- Explorers show queue position — compare against pending transaction volume.
- Average block interval is ~10 minutes, but longer gaps happen.
Why traders move BTC to other chains
Bitcoin offers deep liquidity and wide recognition — many swaps start with BTC as the funding asset.
Moving into Ethereum, stablecoins, or alt L1s lets you access DeFi, payments, or portfolio diversification without a custodial account.
Tether — dollar-pegged stablecoin
USDT on Ethereum (ERC-20) is widely used in DeFi — send only on Ethereum mainnet.
Receiving ERC-20 USDT
Your wallet must be on Ethereum mainnet with the USDT token visible.
Before you swap
Avoid wrong-network deposits and address format mistakes — read these guides first.
Coin swap hubs
More no-KYC swap pairs and guides for each asset.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need KYC to swap BTC for USDT on TunnelSwap?
No. TunnelSwap is an anonymous no-KYC, privacy-first exchange. There is no account, no ID upload, and no standing balance for Bitcoin → Tether swaps.
How fast is a BTC → USDT swap?
Most routes settle within minutes. Final timing follows Bitcoin mainnet deposit confirmations and ERC-20 on Ethereum payout speed.
Does TunnelSwap hold my BTC or USDT?
No. You fund the deposit from your wallet and USDT is sent straight to the address you paste — non-custodial, wallet to wallet.
What if I use the wrong network for BTC?
Only send on the network shown for the order (Bitcoin mainnet). Wrong-chain deposits can be unrecoverable — review the safety guides before you broadcast.