BTC to ZEC

BTC to ZEC: swap Bitcoin to Zcash without KYC

Send Bitcoin, receive Zcash at the address you choose, with no account and no identity check. Wagyu builds the order around the Zcash address you paste: a shielded u1 or zs1 address by default, a transparent t1 address only if that is what your wallet gives you. The rate comes from a live orderbook, the 2% fee is shown before you send a single satoshi, and a Bitcoin deposit takes about 20 minutes to land as ZEC.

Many instant exchanges pay Zcash to a transparent address, which puts the amount and the destination on a public chain. Wagyu decodes unified addresses (ZIP 316) and pays the shielded receiver when there is one. If you paste a tex1 address the order is refused, because that address type only accepts funds from transparent sources.

There is nothing to sign up for. You get a Bitcoin deposit address and an exact amount, you send from any wallet, and the ZEC arrives at your address. Nothing stays on Wagyu.

Example rate: 1 BTC ≈ 53.334 ZEC

Historical example · 21 September 2026 · live quote unavailable. Fees and minimums below are from this dated example; check the swap widget before sending.

Fee and minimum snapshot for 0.0125 BTC on the default network. Check the widget for your selected amount and network.

Fee

Minimum

$40

Typical time

About 20 min

Where your ZEC lands

Shielded address (u1… or zs1…): private, nothing about this payout is visible on chain. Most Zcash wallets give you a u1 address. This is the default.
Transparent address (t1…): visible on chain. Use this only if your wallet or exchange gives you a t1 address.
tex1… addresses cannot receive this payout. Use your own wallet address, then send on from there.
Need a shielded address? Zodl, Ywallet, Zingo and the Ledger Zcash Shielded app all give you a u1 address.

How the BTC to ZEC swap works

1. Enter the amount and your Zcash address

The quote shows the rate, the 2% fee, the small Hyperliquid taker fee and the estimated ZEC you will receive. The minimum for a Bitcoin deposit is about $40, and the quote tells you if you are under it.

2. Send BTC to the deposit address

Wagyu creates a durable order with a Bitcoin address and an exact amount. Send from any wallet or exchange withdrawal; on-chain Bitcoin only, Lightning is not supported. Compliance screening runs before the swap, and a deposit that fails screening is refunded: the order moves to a refund state and asks you for a refund address.

3. Wait for Bitcoin confirmations

This is the slow part. The order page shows the stage it is in: confirming, routing, trading, sending.

4. Receive ZEC at your address

The Zcash transaction is sent to the address you entered, to the shielded receiver when you gave a unified address. Nothing stays on Wagyu.

Fees, minimum and time for this route

Wagyu fee: 2% for this route. The quote also shows applicable routing, trading and rounding costs. Your deposit transaction network fee is paid separately. The final output can change with the market during execution.
Minimum: about $40 on the default network. Another network or amount can change the quote.
Time: about 20 minutes from deposit detection to completion on the default network. Confirmations and large orders executed in slices can take longer. This is the typical estimate.

Times are approximate for the default network, from deposit detection to swap completion. Confirmations, order size and your selected network can change the timing.

Before you send

Have your Zcash address ready: a unified address (u1) or a Sapling address (zs1) gets a shielded payout. A tex1 address is refused.
Send on-chain Bitcoin only. No Lightning, and no wrapped BTC from another chain to this deposit address.
Send the exact amount shown in the order, in one transaction. Exchange withdrawals work, but some exchanges subtract their withdrawal fee from the amount you type: check that what arrives still matches the order.
Save the order link and its private session key. Without an account, it is how you follow the order or set a refund address.
Check the address bar. The only official domain is wagyu.xyz.

Which Zcash wallet to use

Wagyu pays ZEC to an address you control, so set up a Zcash wallet before you start. Zodl, Ywallet and Zingo are shielded wallets, and the Ledger Zcash Shielded app keeps the keys on a hardware wallet. Write down the seed phrase, then copy the wallet's unified address (it starts with u1) into the swap form: the payout goes to its shielded receiver. Keep the wallet up to date, because Zcash network upgrades need current software; the next one, NU7, is scheduled for 5 November 2026.

Three ways to get ZEC without an account

Three ways to get ZEC without an account
Way	How fast	What it costs	What you need
Instant swap (this page)	about 20 minutes from BTC	2% Wagyu fee, paid to your shielded address	a Zcash address
Peer-to-peer market	depends on the other party	set by the seller	a counterparty and an escrow
Instant exchange paying a transparent address	the swap, then a shielding transaction of your own	their fee, a second network fee, and the transparent hop stays on chain	a wallet that can shield

Large exchanges are not on this list: they list ZEC, but ask for ID before you can buy or withdraw it.

Why swap BTC to ZEC on Wagyu

Bitcoin is transparent by design: every payment you make from an exchange withdrawal can be followed on a block explorer. Zcash is the privacy coin with the widest exchange access in 2026, and the one most new holders reach for after a price move. The problem is that many instant exchanges pay Zcash out to a transparent address, so you land on a public chain and have to shield the coins yourself, paying a second fee and leaving the transparent hop on record. Wagyu pays the shielded receiver directly, so the shortest path from a Bitcoin UTXO to a shielded note is one order. Screening also runs before the swap, not after: a blocked deposit is refunded to the address you give rather than parked in a review queue. The rules are in the compliance policy.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account or KYC to swap BTC to ZEC?

No. There is no account to create and no identity check. You paste a Zcash address, send Bitcoin to the deposit address, and receive ZEC. Compliance screening runs on the deposit before the swap; a deposit that fails screening is refunded, not held.

Can Wagyu pay my Zcash to a shielded address?

Yes, and it is the default. Paste a unified u1 address or a Sapling zs1 address and the payout goes to the shielded receiver. Transparent t1 addresses work too. tex1 addresses are refused because they only accept funds from transparent sources.

What is the fee to swap Bitcoin to Zcash?

The Wagyu fee is 2% on this route. The quote shows applicable routing, trading and rounding costs before you send. Your deposit network fee is separate, and the final output can change during execution.

How long does a BTC to ZEC swap take?

Typically about 20 minutes from deposit detection on the default network. This is the typical estimate; confirmations, order size and network conditions can change the timing. The widget shows the estimate for your actual swap.

Can I send from Lightning?

No. Wagyu takes on-chain Bitcoin only. Send from a regular BTC address, including an exchange withdrawal.

Where does a refund go if something fails?

The order moves to a refund state and asks you for a refund address, and the funds go there. If screening blocks the deposit it is refunded rather than held.

Is there a minimum?

About $40 on the default network for this route. Check the quote for your selected network and amount before sending.

Can I send BTC straight from an exchange?

Yes. Withdraw to the deposit address as you would to any Bitcoin address, and check that the amount that arrives matches the order.

Is the rate fixed or floating?

Floating. The quote is an estimate and the deposit amount is exact. The ZEC you receive follows the orderbook during execution; large amounts are executed in slices to keep slippage low.

Can I swap ZEC back to Bitcoin?

Yes, and the Wagyu fee is 0% in that direction. See Zcash to Bitcoin.

Data: Wagyu public API (quotes and 30-day route medians). Page updated 21 October 2026.