When you initiate a crypto swap on Coinastr, you choose between two rate types: floating rate and fixed rate. Understanding the difference matters — especially for Monero (XMR) swaps, where confirmation time is longer than most coins.
What Is a Floating Rate Swap?
A floating rate swap uses the live market price at the moment your deposit is detected and confirmed on the blockchain. When you create the swap, you see an estimated receive amount. The final amount is locked in only when your funds arrive.
Example: You initiate a BTC to XMR swap. The estimate shows 1.52 XMR. While your Bitcoin confirms (10 to 60 minutes), XMR moves up 2%. When your BTC confirms, you receive approximately 1.49 XMR instead.
Floating Rate Pros
- Lower fee spread — typically tighter than fixed
- You benefit if XMR price drops while your deposit confirms
- Better for smaller swaps where rate certainty is less critical
Floating Rate Cons
- Final XMR amount is not guaranteed until deposit confirms
- Price can move against you during long Bitcoin confirmation times
What Is a Fixed Rate Swap?
A fixed rate swap locks the exchange rate for a set window — on Coinastr, up to 10 minutes. The XMR amount shown at the time you create the swap is exactly what you receive, as long as you send your deposit within the validity window.
Example: You initiate a BTC to XMR fixed rate swap quoting exactly 1.50 XMR. Even if XMR moves 5% during confirmation time, you still receive exactly 1.50 XMR.
Fixed Rate Pros
- Certainty — you know exactly how much XMR you will receive before you send
- Protects you if markets move against you during confirmation
- Better for large swaps where rate variance has meaningful financial impact
Fixed Rate Cons
- Slightly wider spread to cover rate lock risk
- You must send your deposit within the validity window
- If markets move in your favour, you do not benefit
Which Is Better for Monero (XMR) Swaps?
| Scenario | Recommended Rate | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small swap under $200 | Floating | Lower fee; rate variance impact is small |
| Large swap over $1,000 | Fixed | Rate certainty worth the small extra spread |
| Volatile market | Fixed | Protection against sudden moves during confirmation |
| Swapping from BTC (slow confirmations) | Fixed | Long confirmation window increases rate risk |
| Swapping from ETH or USDT (fast confirmations) | Floating | Fast confirmation means minimal rate exposure |