How to swap BTC to ZEC (Zcash) — step by step

Swapping Bitcoin for Zcash is one of the most common privacy-motivated swaps — ZEC is a purpose-built privacy asset, and a non-custodial cross-chain swap gets you there without an account or deposit to an exchange. Here's exactly how it works on CryptoRoute, and what to check before you send.

Step by step

1. Open the BTC → ZEC route and enter the amount you want to swap. You'll see a live quote with the all-in 0.5% fee — what you see is what arrives.
2. Paste your Zcash address. A transparent address starts with t1; the address is validated against the Zcash network before you ever see a deposit address.
3. Add a refund address (your own BTC address) — if the swap can't complete, funds return there automatically.
4. Send BTC to the deposit address shown. One on-chain confirmation is usually enough to start settlement.
5. Track the swap on your status page. ZEC typically arrives within minutes of your BTC confirming.

Want the swap itself shielded?

A standard cross-chain swap settles through public infrastructure. If you'd rather keep amounts and settlement details out of public explorers, flip the "Private swap" toggle in the widget — settlement then runs over the NEAR Intents confidential relay. Be precise about what this does: it shields the settlement leg from public view; your BTC deposit and the ZEC payout remain normal public transactions on their chains.

Shielded vs transparent ZEC

Swaps deliver ZEC to a transparent (t1…) address. If you want your balance in Zcash's shielded pool, move it to a shielded (u…/z…) address with your own wallet after the swap — that final hop is what activates Zcash's on-chain privacy.

Before you send: the 30-second checklist

• Address is a Zcash address (starts with t1), not an exchange memo-based deposit.
• Refund address is set and is your own BTC address.
• On a first swap, test with a small amount.