How to Swap and Bridge Tokens on Core Wallet

 Most people install Core to do two things sooner or later: trade one token for another, and move assets onto Avalanche from another chain. Knowing how to swap and bridge tokens on Core Wallet saves you from juggling separate websites, because Core puts both tools inside the wallet you already use.

This walkthrough covers the exact clicks for swapping and bridging in the Core wallet extension and how it works on the phone app. It also covers what fees and wait times to expect, and the mistakes that actually cost people money. One heads up: Core changed parts of both features in 2026, so we'll point out where your screen might look a little different.

Swap, Bridge or Cross Chain Transfer: Which One Do You Need?

These three get mixed up all the time, and picking the wrong one is a common source of confusion. Here's the quick version:

• Swap: trade one token for a different token on the same network, like AVAX for USDC on the Avalanche C Chain.
• Bridge: move a token from one blockchain to another, like ETH on Ethereum to WETH.e on Avalanche.
• Cross chain AVAX transfer: move AVAX between Avalanche's own X, P and C Chains, mostly for staking.

A good rule: if the token changes, it's a swap. If the network changes, it's a bridge. On March 30, 2026, Core introduced unified swaps, which handle swapping and bridging from a single screen across the Core apps. So depending on your version, you may find both under one Swap button rather than two separate menus.

How Swaps Work Inside Core

When you swap in Core, the wallet fetches a price for your trade from third party liquidity sources. It then shows you what you'll pay and what you'll get. You don't need to visit a separate exchange site or connect your wallet to anything new, because you approve the trade in the same pop up you use for every other transaction.

Two settings matter more than anything else. The first is slippage, which is the gap between the price you see and the price you actually get when the trade goes through. A higher tolerance makes your swap more likely to succeed when prices move fast, but it also means you could get a worse rate. For big, popular tokens, a low setting is usually fine; for small, thinly traded tokens, you may need more room.

The second is token approval. Some tokens need two transactions the first time you swap them: one that gives permission to spend the token, and a second for the swap itself. That's normal. On the C Chain, eligible transactions also show Core's free gas option, so you can toggle the network fee to zero when it's offered.

How to Swap Tokens on Core Wallet Extension

Open Chrome and make sure your Core extension is logged in before you start.

1. Click the Core icon in your toolbar and select Swap.
2. Choose the token you want to swap from. Core shows your balance next to it.
3. Choose the token you want to receive. Type an amount, or tap 25%, 50% or Max.
4. Look over the rate and the amount you'll receive. If the numbers look off, stop here.
5. Set your slippage tolerance, or turn on Auto Slippage, then click Next.
6. Click Swap and review the transaction details. Toggle on free gas if Core shows that it's available.
7. Approve the transaction. If Core asks for two approvals, the first sets the spending limit and the second completes the swap.

Your new tokens should show up in your Portfolio once the transaction confirms. If you've turned on quick swaps in Core, the approval window is skipped and the trade runs right away. Only use that once you're comfortable with the process.

You can also swap on core.app through Core web. The flow is almost the same: pick your tokens, click Review Order, then Approve in your wallet.

How to Bridge Tokens to Avalanche With Core

Core uses the Avalanche Bridge to move ETH and tokens that were created on Ethereum over to the Avalanche C Chain, and back again. Here's how to do it in the extension.

1. Open Core and click Bridge. If your version has unified swaps, start from Swap and choose a different network for the token you'll receive.
2. Pick the account you want to bridge from.
3. In the From field, select the starting network (Ethereum or Avalanche), then the token and the amount.
4. In the To field, select the destination network and the token you'll receive.
5. Click Bridge, check the fee and the amount you'll receive, then approve the transaction.
6. Click the spinning arrows icon at the top right to follow your transfer while it's in progress.

When the transfer lands, you'll notice most Ethereum tokens carry a ".e" at the end, like WETH.e. That's just Avalanche's label for a bridged token. USDC is the exception and arrives as regular USDC.

Bridge fees and how long transfers take

Bridge fees are taken from the token you're moving, not charged separately in AVAX or ETH. The bridge screen shows the expected fee before you confirm, and it rejects transfers that are smaller than the fee. Moving tokens back to Ethereum generally costs more than moving them to Avalanche, because the fee is largely based on Ethereum's gas costs.

Timing differs a lot by direction. Going from Ethereum to Avalanche takes roughly 20 minutes, since the bridge waits for 96 Ethereum confirmations. Going from Avalanche back to Ethereum usually takes a few seconds. One nice touch: if you bridge $75 or more to the C Chain, you receive a small amount of AVAX to cover your first transaction fees on Avalanche.

What about bridging Bitcoin to BTC.b?

This part changed recently. Ava Labs sold BTC.b, the wrapped Bitcoin used on Avalanche, to Lombard in late 2025. Since January 28, 2026, the Avalanche help center says Lombard handles the BTC bridge, and Ava Labs warns people not to send BTC to the old bridge addresses.

If you want to bridge Bitcoin, use only the flow that appears inside your up to date Core app. Check Lombard's documentation for the current fees and wait times. Don't follow old tutorials or copy a deposit address from a video or forum post.

Moving AVAX Between the X, P and C Chains

Avalanche has three main chains, and AVAX sometimes needs to move between them. Usually that's because staking happens on the P Chain while most apps live on the C Chain. In Core, you do this from the Swap screen.

1. Open Swap from your Portfolio.
2. Select AVAX and choose the chain you're moving it from (X, P or C).
3. Enter an amount or pick 25%, 50% or Max.
4. Select AVAX again and choose the chain you're moving it to.
5. Check the "You pay" and "You receive" amounts, then select Swap.
6. Approve the Export transaction, then approve the Import transaction when it appears.

Both approvals are needed. If an earlier import never finished, Core adds that stuck amount to your next transfer, so don't panic if the number looks bigger than expected.

Swapping and Bridging on Core Mobile

The Core app on Android and iPhone has its own Swap and Bridge options, and they work much like the extension. The main difference is that you approve everything inside the app with your PIN or Face ID instead of a browser pop up. Here's the bridge flow on mobile:

1. Open Core mobile and go to your Portfolio page.
2. Tap Bridge.
3. Select the network and the token you want to bridge.
4. Enter the amount and tap Next.
5. Review the details, including the fee, and tap Approve.

For swaps on mobile, tap Swap, pick both tokens, enter the amount, review the rate and approve. Keep the app updated, since the unified swap screen may combine these steps in newer versions.

Safety Checks Before You Swap or Bridge

Swaps and bridges are where small slip ups turn into real losses, because blockchain transactions can't be reversed. A few habits go a long way:

• Use only the Core interface. Bridge from the extension, the app or core.app. Never send tokens straight to a bridge contract address, because those funds are lost for good.
• Don't bridge from a smart contract wallet. The Avalanche help center warns that smart contract wallets aren't compatible with the bridge and can lead to permanent loss.
• Check the token contract. Scam tokens often copy popular names. Compare the contract address with the project's official site before swapping into anything new.
• Start small. Your first bridge or swap with a new token should be a test amount.
• Keep some gas. Free gas covers many C Chain transactions, but not all. Bridging from Ethereum also needs ETH for gas on the Ethereum side.
• Read every approval. Reject any request you didn't start yourself.

Core is a non custodial wallet, which means you sign every swap and bridge yourself with keys that you control. That's good for ownership, but it also means there's no support desk that can undo a mistake. The swap prices come from third party services, and bridges carry their own technical risk. Only move amounts you're comfortable with, and never share your recovery phrase with anyone who offers to help.

Source: Core-wallet.org