Start SwappingQuick Start Guide
3 min read · Last updated March 12, 2026
Get Trading in 5 Minutes
Setting up Swaptain is fast. You'll create a wallet, deposit some crypto, and be ready to trade — all inside Telegram.
Open the Bot
Search for @SwaptainBot on Telegram, or tap the link from our website. Press Start to begin.
Create Your Wallet
Swaptain will guide you through wallet creation:
- Choose Create New Wallet (or Import Wallet if you have an existing mnemonic)
- Set a secure password — this encrypts your wallet with AES-256-GCM encryption
- Save your recovery phrase — Swaptain will display your 12-word mnemonic. Write it down and store it somewhere safe
Your recovery phrase is the only way to restore your wallet. Swaptain does not store your password and cannot recover your funds without it. Write it down offline and never share it with anyone.
Deposit Funds
Use the /deposit command or tap Deposit from the main menu:
- Select the blockchain you want to deposit on (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum)
- Swaptain displays your unique deposit address for that chain
- Send crypto from your external wallet to this address
Always make sure you're sending on the correct network. Sending tokens on the wrong chain (e.g., sending ERC-20 tokens to a Bitcoin address) can result in permanent loss of funds.
Make Your First Trade
Once your deposit confirms, use /buy to purchase tokens:
- Search for the token you want by ticker (e.g., ETH, USDC) or paste a contract address
- Select your source asset (what you're paying with)
- Enter the amount
- Review the quote — you'll see the expected output, fees, and estimated time
- Confirm the swap
That's it! Swaptain handles the cross-chain routing automatically.
What Happens Behind the Scenes
When you confirm a swap, Swaptain:
- Fetches the best available quote via SwapKit
- Handles any required token approvals (on EVM chains)
- Submits the transaction to the source chain
- Routes the swap through THORChain's liquidity pools
- Delivers the output tokens to your Swaptain wallet
- Sends you a Telegram notification when complete
Navigating the Bot
After setup, the /menu command is your home base. From there you can:
- View your total portfolio value and token balances
- Access Buy, Sell, Deposit, and Withdraw flows
- Open Wallet settings, Token Charts, and more
You can also use slash commands directly: /buy, /sell, /deposit, /withdraw, /wallet, and /help. See the full Command Reference.
Next Steps
- Browse the full Command Reference
- See all Supported Chains
- Understand Fees & Limits
- Learn about Wallet Management
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