> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.houdini.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Private Swap

> Privacy-first, non-custodial cross-chain swaps designed to eliminate on-chain traceability.

## **What is a Private Swap?**

Private Swaps are Houdini's flagship route, built for users who want the highest level of transactional privacy.

On a normal swap, anyone can follow the funds from your wallet to the receiving wallet. A Private Swap breaks that link by routing the transaction through two separate non-custodial exchanges, with a temporary Layer 1 token as an intermediary in between.

Over **\$1.5 billion** in private swap volume has been processed to date, making it one of the most-used compliant privacy tools in crypto.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Key Characteristics**
>
> * **Maximum Privacy:** The sender and receiver addresses are not linked on-chain.
> * **Non-Custodial:** Houdini never takes possession of your funds. The process is fully automated through exchange partners.
> * **Same-Chain:** Send and receive the same token on the same chain (e.g. USDC-ETH to USDC-ETH).
> * **Cross-Chain:** Any token on any chain to any token on any chain (e.g. USDT-TRC20 to BTC).
> * **Battle Tested:** Over \$1.5 billion in Private Swap volume since inception.

## **How it Works**

A Private Swap routes each transaction through two unrelated exchange partners:

1. **Leg 1 (Source Chain):** You send **Token A** from your wallet. It is routed to a non-custodial exchange and swapped into a temporary Layer 1 intermediary token.
2. **The Intermediary Step:** This temporary asset acts as a buffer, breaking the trail of the original transaction.
3. **Leg 2 (Destination Chain):** The intermediary asset is routed to a second non-custodial exchange, swapped into your desired **Token B**, and delivered to the receiving wallet.

By the time the funds arrive, the on-chain trail connecting the sender to the receiver is completely severed.

Connect your wallet to fund the swap in a few clicks, or send manually to a one-time deposit address from any wallet or exchange. Either way, the privacy is the same.

![Houdini Private Swap Graph](https://mintcdn.com/houdini/W95e_eFiOqL28m0b/images/HoudiniSwapPrivateSwapGraphdarklight-2.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=W95e_eFiOqL28m0b\&q=85\&s=fc3b012df89eadf06552801995186113)

## **What Makes it Private?**

Houdini is the leader in transactional privacy, with over \$1.5 billion processed through private routing.

* **No Direct Link:** The sender and receiver never appear in the same transaction or transaction trail.
* **No Transaction Markers:** There are no deterministic markers showing that a transaction is a Houdini swap. Each leg appears to end on its own, so observers cannot prove that Leg 1 and Leg 2 belong to the same swap. To an outside observer, each leg looks like a standard, unrelated transaction.
* **Infinite Anonymity Set:** Even if an observer suspected a Houdini swap, Leg 2 could be on any chain, in any token. With 120+ chains and thousands of tokens supported, the anonymity set is effectively all of web3.
* **Battle Tested:** Houdini has run multiple "Trace a Transaction" competitions with bounties over \$100,000. No transaction has been traced by the public.

## **Privacy Options**

**Use Monero**\
By default, Private Swaps use Houdini's privacy tunnel and pick the best intermediary route automatically. In Advanced Settings, you can turn on **Use Monero** to route solely through Monero instead. This may affect speed and cost.

**Built into every product**\
The same private routing powers Send, Split and Request, so you can transfer, pay out to multiple wallets, or get paid without linking wallets.

## **Who it's For**

### Ideal for

* **Business Operations:** Organizations using crypto for payroll, treasury management, or sensitive vendor payments.
* **Influential Traders:** Whales or public figures who want to move funds without signaling their intent to the market.
* **Privacy-Conscious Users:** Anyone who wants to move funds without exposing their wallet balance or history.

### Not recommended for

* **Micro-Transactions:** Small, everyday swaps where the cost and time of privacy routing may outweigh the benefits. Use a Standard Swap instead.
* **Time-Sensitive Trades:** Arbitrage or plays where speed matters more than privacy. Private Swaps run two separate exchange legs, so timing can range from 5 to 50 minutes.

## **Summary at a Glance**

* **Privacy Level:** Maximum (Decoupled on-chain trail).
* **Speed:** 5 to 50 minutes.
* **Partners:** 2 exchange partners per swap, selected from 20.
* **Best For:** High-value transfers and sensitive wallet management.
* **Custody:** 100% Non-custodial.


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