Why Did I Receive Less Crypto Than the Swap Quote? 6 Reasons and How to Check (2026)
Why did I receive less crypto than the swap quote?
Usually for one of six reasons: a float rate moved before your deposit confirmed, a fixed rate was re-quoted because the deposit arrived late or did not match, your exchange took a withdrawal fee from the amount you sent, the payout network fee was deducted, you are comparing a dollar value instead of a coin amount, or you are looking at the wrong or a still-pending transaction. Each leaves a trace you can check in a few minutes with your order ID and two transaction IDs. This guide walks through the six in order, with an illustrative calculation and the questions to ask support if the numbers still do not add up.
Educational content, not financial advice. The rate, fees and limits shown in the app when you confirm are the ones that apply.
First, collect three things
- The order details: order ID, rate type (fixed or float), the amount you were asked to send and the estimated amount to receive.
- Your deposit TXID: the transaction that sent coins to the deposit address, with the exact amount that arrived.
- The payout TXID: the transaction that sent coins to your receiving address.
Compare the amount that arrived at the deposit address with the amount the order asked for, then compare the payout with the estimate. Our guide to tracking a crypto swap by TXID on a block explorer shows where to read both.
The six reasons at a glance
| # | Reason | How to spot it | Avoid it next time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Float rate moved | Order type is float; market moved before your deposit confirmed | Use a fixed rate when the exact amount matters |
| 2 | Fixed rate re-quoted | Deposit late, amount different, or market moved more than 1.2% | Send the exact amount within 10 minutes |
| 3 | Withdrawal fee taken from the deposit | Deposit arrived smaller than the amount you entered on the exchange | Send from your own wallet, or add the fee on top |
| 4 | Payout network fee | Difference roughly equals one network fee on the receiving chain | Expect it; it is part of every quote |
| 5 | Comparing dollar values | Coin amount matches; its dollar value changed | Judge a swap by coin amounts |
| 6 | Wrong or pending transaction | Wallet shows a different TXID or an unconfirmed payout | Match the payout TXID from the order |
1. A float rate moved before your deposit confirmed
With a float rate, the rate is not locked when you create the order. FixedFloat’s exchange guide explains that it is set only after your deposit receives the required network confirmations, so the estimate you saw is exactly that, an estimate. If the market moved against you while your transaction waited for confirmations, you receive less. In exchange, the float fee is lower: FixedFloat lists 0.5% plus the network fee, against 1% for a fixed rate. Our guide to fixed versus float rates covers when each one makes sense.
2. A fixed rate was re-quoted
A fixed rate pays the exact amount shown only if three conditions are met. FixedFloat’s terms of service list them: your transaction reached the network’s mempool or a block within 10 minutes of creating the order; you sent the exact amount shown, which does not include network or withdrawal fees; and the market rate did not move by more than 1.2% before your transaction appeared. If any condition fails, the order page offers a choice: continue at the new market rate, or take a refund minus the network fee. Choosing “continue” is the usual reason a fixed swap pays less than first quoted.
3. Your exchange took its withdrawal fee from the amount you sent
Many exchanges deduct their withdrawal fee from the amount you type, so the deposit that arrives is smaller than the order expected. On a float order that simply means a smaller swap. On a fixed order it breaks the exact-amount condition above. Check the deposit TXID: if it shows less than the order amount, this is the cause. Sending from an exchange has other drawbacks too, explained in our guide to the risks of sending a swap deposit straight from an exchange.
4. The payout network fee was deducted
Sending you the swapped coins costs a network fee on the receiving chain. FixedFloat quotes its service fee “plus network fee”, so the estimate already allows for it, but on small swaps or busy networks it can be a noticeable share. If the gap between the estimate and the payout is roughly one network fee and the rate was float, there may be nothing wrong at all.
An illustrative calculation
Round numbers, not a real quote. Say a float order estimates 100 units of coin B for your deposit.
- The estimate already includes the 0.5% float fee and the payout network fee.
- While your deposit waits for confirmations, coin B rises 1% against your coin, so the same deposit now buys about 1% less.
- You receive about 99 units instead of 100. Nothing was taken unfairly; the rate was set later, as float orders are.
Now the same order as fixed: if you send the exact amount within 10 minutes and the market moves less than 1.2%, you receive the 100 units shown, at the higher 1% fee.
5. You are comparing dollar values, not coin amounts
Wallets often show a dollar or euro value next to each balance. If the coin you received fell in price after the swap, its value drops even though the coin amount matches the order. Judge a swap by the coin amount on the payout TXID, not by what your wallet shows in fiat an hour later.
6. You are looking at the wrong or a pending transaction
A wallet that receives several transfers, or a payout still waiting for confirmations, can make the numbers look wrong. Match the payout TXID from the order page with the one in your wallet. If the order shows a payout TXID but your wallet does not, check the network and the token; our guide to expired orders, wrong amounts and refunds covers the cases where the deposit itself went wrong.
What to send support if it still does not add up
- The order ID and rate type.
- The deposit TXID and the amount that arrived.
- The payout TXID and the amount received.
- A screenshot of the estimate shown before you confirmed.
Never send your recovery phrase or private key; no support agent needs it.
How Swappr shows the numbers
Swappr is a free Android app by GSPTeck (our app) for simple multi-coin swaps processed by FixedFloat. Before you tap “Swap now” it shows the estimated amount you receive and the pair’s minimum and maximum, and lets you choose Fixed Rate or Float Rate. Honest limits: it is Android-only, it contains ads, and it cannot change FixedFloat’s rates or terms. Get it from the Swappr homepage with the Google Play link.
FAQ
Is it normal to receive slightly less than the swap estimate?
On a float rate, yes: the rate is set after your deposit confirms, so the final amount can be a little higher or lower than the estimate.
Does a fixed rate guarantee the amount?
Only if you send the exact amount within 10 minutes and the market moves less than 1.2% before your transaction appears, per FixedFloat’s terms.
Why did my deposit arrive smaller than I sent?
Most often an exchange deducted its withdrawal fee from the amount you entered. The deposit TXID shows what actually arrived.
Can I get the difference refunded?
If the swap ran as the rate type allows, there is no difference to refund. If something went wrong with the deposit, the order page offers a refund minus the network fee.
Sources
- FixedFloat terms of service: fixed-rate conditions and expired orders (checked 2026-10-22)
- FixedFloat: how an exchange works, order timers and when a float rate is set (checked 2026-10-22)
- FixedFloat FAQ: fees and expired orders (checked 2026-10-22)
- Swappr on Google Play (checked 2026-10-22)