What Cross-Chain Swap Minimum Output Means

A cross-chain swap’s minimum output is the least amount of the destination token a route must deliver for the trade to count as successful. It sets a floor against price movement between the quote and execution.

How is minimum output calculated?

A swap interface typically starts with an estimated output, then applies the user’s slippage tolerance to set the minimum. If the quote is 100 destination tokens and the tolerance is 1%, the floor would be 99 tokens, before any implementation-specific adjustments.

The route can change while the swap is being processed. Pool prices move as trades occur, and fees or route conditions can affect the final amount. An integrator may present several chain steps as one flow; thor swap provides more detail on that approach.

What happens if output falls below the minimum?

The minimum is an execution condition, not a promise that the quoted amount will arrive. If the route cannot meet the floor, the swap may fail instead of completing at a worse rate. For cross-chain swaps, the handling of a failed route, including any refund, depends on the protocol and its design.

Check what the displayed minimum measures: destination tokens after fees, or an amount calculated at an earlier step. Also confirm the destination token and chain; a number alone does not identify what you will receive.

How should you choose a minimum output?

A tighter tolerance raises the minimum and gives stronger protection against receiving less, but makes execution more likely to fail when prices move. A looser tolerance lowers the floor, allowing more price movement while increasing the possible shortfall.

• Compare the estimated output with the minimum before approving.
• Use a tolerance that fits the route’s expected price movement and your acceptable shortfall.
• Check whether network or protocol fees are already reflected in the displayed minimum.
• Review the route’s failure and refund terms if the swap does not complete.

For most users, the better setting is the tightest tolerance that still gives the route room to execute under ordinary price movement. The interface’s quote and minimum are estimates; the final result depends on the route and the conditions when it runs.

What should you check before the swap runs?

Confirm the minimum output, destination asset, and failure terms immediately before signing, since the quote can change. If the displayed floor no longer matches the amount you are willing to accept, refresh the quote before proceeding.