An atomic swap is a process of using smart contracts to automatically swap cryptocurrencies from different blockchain networks in a peer-to-peer, decentralized manner. It is one of the most effective peer-to-peer methods to trade crypto assets without intermediaries such as exchanges.
Atomic swaps, also known as atomic cross-chain trading, allow users to trade digital assets across multiple blockchains. On the other hand, token swaps only enable users to exchange tokens existing within a single blockchain network.
An atomic swąp ensures that both parties fulfill all pre-set conditions before completing the trade between the assets. It uses Hashed Timelock Contract (HTLC) technology, which uses a hash function with a time constraint to reverse transactions if either party does not meet the previously agreed upon conditions.
Atomic swaps are one of the most efficient and decentralized ways to move cryptocurrencies between different blockchains. They can be of two kinds: on-chain swaps between two separate digital assets on two different blockchains or off-chain swaps between crypto assets on a Layer-1 blockchain and its second-layer channel.