How to swap tokens on NEAR

Step by step

1. Open the swap. It starts on NEAR to USDC (native USDC on NEAR). The token picker has tabs for Rhea tokens, the launchpads and a Cross-chain list.
2. Connect your wallet. Connecting only lets the site ask. Every transaction still needs your approval in the wallet. See NEAR wallets compared for trading.
3. Pick the two tokens. Check the contract account, not just the name: anyone can call a token "USDC". The token check reads any contract for you.
4. Read the quote. The route line shows the pools and hops. Price impact turns red above 3%, and above 10% the Swap button needs a second click. Minimum received is the least you get after slippage. The fee line shows the site fee.
5. Swap and approve. The first time you receive a token, the wallet also asks for a one-time registration deposit of about 0.00125 NEAR so the token can store your balance.
6. Read the receipt. It shows what you got and links the transaction on NearBlocks.

Where your swap goes

nearswaps is not an exchange; it finds the route and builds the transaction your wallet signs. Most tokens trade on Rhea Finance pools (classic, stable and DCL pools). The router tries direct and two-hop paths and can split one trade over up to 3 separate routes in 5% steps when that pays more. Tokens on Intear DEX (TEAR and Intear launchpad tokens) are quoted by Intear's router. Launch tokens from Nearly and JustHoot trade on their own Rhea DCL pools, and Shards launches through the launch contract.

Buying an Intear DEX token with a Rhea token takes two legs (Rhea to NEAR, then Intear DEX); the wallet approves both together and the site fee is taken once.

What it costs

• Site fee: 0.5% on most trades, paid inside the same transaction and shown before you confirm (1% on a few pairs). Full list: fees and referral links.
• Pool fee: charged by the pool itself and already inside the quote.
• Gas: usually well under 0.01 NEAR (NEAR gas fees for swaps).
• Wrapping NEAR into wNEAR and back carries no site fee (what is wNEAR).

Other ways to trade the same pools

• The Terminal: chart, trades and holders next to a Buy and Sell panel that uses the same swap engine.
• Pulse: new launches with a one-tap buy.
• 1-click trading: no wallet popup per trade.
• Auto orders: stop-loss and limit orders that fire while you are away.

When a swap does not go through

• No route: no pool holds both tokens, or the pools are too thin for the amount.
• Did not fill at your minimum: the price moved more than your slippage while the swap was on its way, so the pool sent your tokens back (as wNEAR if you paid NEAR). The site fee and gas are not refunded. Try a smaller amount or a slightly higher slippage (price impact and slippage).
• Network busy: after a wallet error the page checks your balance; "Nothing was sent: your balance hasn't changed" means you can simply try again.