Ethereum and Bitcoin are separate blockchains, so you cannot simply "send ETH to a Bitcoin address". To end up with BTC, the ETH has to be exchanged. This guide walks through doing that safely, whatever service you use.
1. Get a Bitcoin address
You need a Bitcoin address that you control, where the BTC will be delivered. Any reputable Bitcoin wallet — hardware or software — can generate one. Bitcoin addresses come in a few formats:
bc1q…— native SegWit, the most common today and usually the cheapest to spend from later.bc1p…— Taproot, the newest format.3…— nested SegWit, older but still widely supported.1…— legacy, the original format.
All four are valid for receiving. An Ethereum address (0x…) is not a Bitcoin address and will be rejected.
2. Check the rate and what you actually receive
The figure that matters is the final amount of BTC after all fees, not the headline price. A good swap quote shows you, before you send anything:
- the exchange rate between ETH and BTC,
- the service fee,
- the Bitcoin network fee for delivering your BTC,
- whether the rate is fixed for a period or floating until your deposit arrives.
On our exchange the rate is fixed for a set time once you create the order, and the amount shown already includes the fees.
3. Send the exact amount of ETH
Send ETH on the Ethereum network to the deposit address you are given. If your ETH is on a layer 2 such as Arbitrum or Base, either choose the matching network option when it is offered (for example ETH on Arbitrum) or move it to Ethereum first. Sending the exact amount helps the service match your deposit instantly.
Your wallet will charge an Ethereum gas fee in ETH on top of the amount, so keep a little extra in the wallet.
4. Wait for confirmations
Ethereum produces a block roughly every 12 seconds, so your deposit is usually seen within a minute and confirmed shortly after. The BTC is then sent to your address. Bitcoin blocks arrive on average every 10 minutes, and wallets typically show the incoming payment immediately as "pending" before it is confirmed.
5. Verify on an explorer
Use Etherscan to follow your ETH deposit and a Bitcoin explorer such as mempool.space to follow the BTC payout. Searching your Bitcoin address shows the incoming transaction and its confirmations.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Pasting the wrong address: always copy and paste, then compare the first and last characters.
- Sending from an exchange with a long withdrawal delay: if the rate is fixed for a limited time, a slow withdrawal can make it expire. Send from a wallet that withdraws immediately, or allow for the delay.
- Using the wrong network: ETH on BNB Smart Chain or another chain is not the same as ETH on Ethereum.
- Sending tokens instead of ETH: if you hold USDT or USDC, choose that as the asset you send, e.g. USDT to BTC.
Fixed or floating rate?
A fixed rate protects you if the market moves while your deposit is confirming. A floating rate follows the market until the swap is executed. For a pair as volatile as ETH/BTC, a fixed rate gives you certainty about how much BTC you will get.
Going the other way
To convert back, use BTC to ETH. You can also compare the market on ETH to USDT and BTC to USDT.
How much does it cost?
The total cost of an ETH to BTC swap has three parts. First, the Ethereum gas fee your wallet charges to send the ETH; it depends on network activity at that moment. Second, the swap's service fee, built into the quoted rate. Third, the Bitcoin network fee for delivering the BTC to your address, which varies with how busy the Bitcoin network is. A transparent quote shows you the net BTC amount after all of these, so you can compare like for like.
Minimums and large amounts
Most swap services set a minimum, mainly because very small Bitcoin payouts would be eaten up by network fees. For large amounts, consider splitting the swap into a few orders or sending a small test first. It costs an extra network fee but confirms that your address and the whole process work before you move the bulk of your funds.
Keep a record
Save the order ID, the Ethereum transaction hash of your deposit and the Bitcoin transaction ID of the payout. Together they document the whole swap, which is useful for support and, in many countries, for tax reporting — converting ETH to BTC is often treated as a disposal of ETH.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to convert ETH to BTC?
Usually 5 to 30 minutes, depending on Ethereum confirmation and Bitcoin network congestion.
Can I send ETH directly to a Bitcoin wallet?
No. They are different blockchains. The ETH must be swapped into BTC first.
Which Bitcoin address type should I use?
Any of them works. Native SegWit (bc1q…) is the most common choice and is usually cheaper to spend from later.
Do I need an account?
Not on our exchange: you enter your Bitcoin address, send the ETH and follow the order with its ID.