Swapping Bitcoin for Zcash: what you need to know
To switch from Bitcoin to Zcash you don’t need to sell for dollars first and then buy again. ROVEN exchange does it in one step: one order, one rate, one payout.
Bitcoin (BTC) is the first and largest cryptocurrency, with a capped supply of 21 million coins. Zcash (ZEC) is a cryptocurrency with optional privacy based on zero-knowledge proofs.
Why swap BTC for ZEC
Coins serve different purposes, and sometimes holding ZEC makes more sense — for faster transfers, staking or the Zcash ecosystem. Zcash supports private transfers, but swaps use transparent addresses.
Networks and addresses
| You send BTC | You receive ZEC | |
|---|---|---|
| Network | Bitcoin | Zcash |
| Address | “bc1…”, “1…” or “3…” | “t1…” or “t3…” |
| Network speed | a block comes roughly every 10 minutes | a block comes roughly every 75 seconds |
| Memo / tag | Not needed | Not needed |
What to watch out for
- When sending BTC, set a normal network fee: with a low fee the transfer can get stuck for hours.
- You need a transparent “t1…” or “t3…” address; “zs…” and “u1…” addresses won’t work.
- Send the exact amount from the order and do it within 30 minutes, while the locked rate is valid.
How long the swap takes
Swap speed depends on both networks. On Bitcoin, a block comes roughly every 10 minutes; on Zcash, a block comes roughly every 75 seconds. The whole BTC to ZEC swap usually takes 5 to 30 minutes once your transfer is confirmed.
The current rate is 1 BTC = 65.253708 ZEC and the minimum amount is 0.000625 BTC. Create an order in the form above, and ROVEN exchange will send swap updates by email or Telegram.
