Docs — how to swap, routes, liquidity, and recovery.
Docs — how to swap,
routes, liquidity, and recovery.
Zefram is a trust-minimized Monero gateway. Two routes: Bitcoin → XMR and Ethereum → XMR. No custodial operator. Atomic-swap settlement underneath a simple interface.
This page covers your first swap, where liquidity comes from, what to do if something goes wrong, supported routes, swap mechanics, wallets and signers, and FAQ.
Zefram supports two trust-minimized swap routes at launch. Bitcoin → XMR: swap Bitcoin to Monero using a Bitcoin-script atomic swap. Ethereum → XMR: swap Ethereum-side assets to Monero using an EVM smart contract atomic swap. Both routes use the same interface. Both are non-custodial throughout.
Zefram is for users who want to access Monero without using a custodial swap operator or exchange account. You need to be able to sign on-chain transactions with a wallet or signer — either an EVM wallet for Ethereum routes or a Bitcoin-compatible signer for Bitcoin routes. You do not need a Monero full node to receive XMR, but you do need a valid Monero address.
Trust-minimized means the swap is settled by a cryptographic protocol, not by an operator promise. In an atomic swap, funds on both sides are locked by the protocol simultaneously — if both sides complete, both parties receive. If one side does not complete, the refund path is built into the protocol (timelock expiry). You are not trusting Zefram to "process" your swap. The protocol settles it. Zefram provides the interface.
Both routes are available at launch. Availability depends on active maker liquidity and supported chain conditions at the time of use. Additional EVM chains may be added as the product matures — trust and usability come first.
Connect a supported EVM wallet. Review the offer terms. Sign the locking transaction when prompted — this locks the supported asset in the swap contract on Ethereum. Once the counterparty locks XMR on the Monero side, sign to claim. Your XMR is released to the Monero address you provided.
The Bitcoin route uses a script-based atomic swap. Zefram guides you through the signing steps and session flow. A Bitcoin full node is not required for standard use. You will need to sign Bitcoin transactions when prompted. Stay on the swap session page during the active session and follow the step-by-step prompts.
Select Bitcoin → XMR or Ethereum → XMR. Both use the same interface. Bitcoin requires a Bitcoin-compatible signer. Ethereum requires an EVM wallet (MetaMask, WalletConnect, etc.).
Enter the amount you want to swap and your Monero receive address. You must have a valid XMR address before starting — you do not need a Monero full node, just a standard address from any Monero wallet you control.
Zefram shows the offered rate, the XMR you will receive, the protocol fee, and the timelock window before you commit. Nothing locks until you explicitly confirm. If the quote expires, you can request a fresh one.
For Ethereum: sign the locking transaction in your EVM wallet. For Bitcoin: you will receive a deposit address and sign when prompted. Stay on the session page during this step — do not close the browser tab while a session is active.
The session page shows each stage in real time: locked → confirming → counterparty locked → ready to claim → complete. Follow any prompts during the session. If action is required from you, the page makes it clear.
Once the swap completes, XMR arrives in the Monero wallet at the address you provided. Check your wallet's incoming transactions to confirm. The session page also shows the payout transaction reference.
Zefram does not hold XMR inventory. Liquidity on both rails comes from independent makers who maintain their own Monero wallets.
The Bitcoin rail coordinates with counterparties through atomic-swap protocol. XMR liquidity is provided by Zefram's own maker network and by external peer-to-peer counterparties. Availability depends on active makers at the time of your quote — if no liquidity is available, the quote will say so and you can try again.
The Ethereum rail uses approved Zefram makers — vetted participants who maintain XMR inventory in their own Monero wallets and fulfil sessions via the maker dashboard. Zefram routes your swap to an available maker. The maker sends XMR from their wallet directly to your address. Zefram does not hold or intermediate any XMR at any stage.
Quotes have a short validity window. If yours expires before you confirm, simply request a new quote. The rate may have changed. Nothing is locked until you explicitly sign — an expired quote costs you nothing.
If no maker has available XMR inventory for your amount or route at the time of request, the quote page will say so. Try again shortly, or try a smaller amount. Liquidity is dynamic and driven by active makers, not a fixed pool.
If a session stalls mid-flow, check the session page for prompts — there may be an action required from you. Do not close the browser tab during an active session. If no action is shown and the session has not progressed for an unusual amount of time, contact support on Telegram with your session ID.
Every session has a timelock. If the counterparty does not fulfil within the session window, the refund path opens automatically. The session page shows a "Claim refund" option when this is available. No manual support is needed for standard refunds — the protocol handles it. If you are at the "Ready to claim" step and the claim deadline is approaching, act immediately. Contact Telegram support with your session ID for any unusual cases.
Current launch status. Both routes share the same interface and non-custodial guarantee.
A Zefram swap session goes through these states: Session Created — you have accepted an offer and a session ID has been assigned. Waiting for Signature — sign the locking transaction in your wallet. Waiting for Confirmation — your lock transaction is confirming on-chain. Counterparty Locked — XMR is locked on the Monero side. Ready to Claim — sign to release XMR to your address. Complete — XMR is in your wallet. If the session fails or times out: Refund Available — the timelock has expired and you can claim a refund.
Zefram does not hold your funds at any point during a standard atomic swap session. The protocol locks both sides simultaneously — the smart contract or script holds the lock, not Zefram. If the swap does not complete, the refund path is built into the protocol itself. You are trusting the protocol, not a Zefram operator.
Zefram provides the interface, the session coordination, and the maker/counterparty matching. The settlement mechanism is on-chain.
Ethereum → XMR: completion time depends on chain conditions, maker response, and block confirmation speed. The signing steps themselves are fast — most of the wait is block confirmations. Most sessions complete within a reasonable window, but this is not guaranteed.
Bitcoin → XMR: budget more time than the Ethereum route. Bitcoin block times are slower and mempool conditions vary. Do not start a Bitcoin swap if you cannot remain available and attentive for the duration of the session.
Atomic swaps have a timelock — a deadline after which the refund path becomes available. If the counterparty does not lock XMR within the session window, the refund path opens and you can reclaim your funds from the session page. No manual support is needed for standard timelock-based refunds.
If the swap stalled at the "Ready to Claim" stage and the claim deadline is approaching, act immediately — do not let a claim deadline pass without claiming. If you have missed a deadline or have an unusual case, contact support on Telegram with your session ID.
To receive XMR, you need a valid Monero address. You do not need a Monero full node. A software wallet that provides a standard Monero address is sufficient. Examples: Feather wallet, Monero GUI, or any wallet that gives you a standard XMR address.
You should be able to view incoming transactions and verify the XMR arrived. View-only wallets work for receiving but will not allow you to spend the received XMR without the spend key — make sure you are using a wallet you control.
Fees include the maker spread (the counterparty's fee for locking XMR — shown in the offered rate), network fees (gas for Ethereum, Bitcoin transaction fees for Bitcoin — estimated before you sign), and a small Zefram interface fee if applicable (shown in the offer). There is no hidden markup between what you see and what you get. See Fees & limits for full details.
Minimum sizes are route-dependent — they are driven by network fee economics and maker configuration at the time of the swap. Maximum sizes depend on available maker liquidity. Very large swaps may require additional coordination. See Fees & limits for current guidance.
Zefram may be unavailable or restricted in certain jurisdictions. See the Legal page for current jurisdiction limitations, software disclaimer, and non-custodial interface disclosures.
If you want to provide liquidity as a maker, integrate Zefram routes into a wallet or product, or access the protocol programmatically, reach out on Telegram. The maker and provider framework is being built alongside the user interface. API reference and integration documentation will be published here as the product matures.