What details to screenshot before confirming a swap

05 September 2026

You need a screenshot of every visible detail on the exchange's order page before you confirm the swap. This includes the exact amounts, addresses, network, and any timer or rate lock displayed. The reason is simple: if something goes wrong, the screenshot is your only independent record of what the exchange promised to deliver.

Why screenshots matter

Swaps are executed by software. The exchange's interface shows you terms, then you send funds. After that, the software processes the transaction. If the result differs from what you saw - wrong amount, different token, failed entirely - the exchange's support team will ask for proof of the original terms. Their logs may not match what you saw, or they may claim a rate changed. A screenshot settles that dispute.

The exchange's own interface is the only place where both sides of the swap appear together: what you send and what you receive. A block explorer shows only the on-chain part. It cannot show the exchange's promised output. So the screenshot is the link between the two.

What exactly to capture

The full order page. Do not crop. Include the browser's address bar, any page title, and the exchange's branding. This proves the page belongs to the swap service, not a phishing site.

The "You send" details. Token symbol, amount, and the network it is on. For example: "Send 0.5 ETH on Ethereum." If the exchange shows a QR code or an address, include that. The address is critical - if you sent to the wrong address, the screenshot shows you copied the correct one.

The "You receive" details. Token symbol, amount, and the network. Note the rate or conversion ratio if displayed. Some exchanges show a locked rate for a timer. Capture that timer and the rate. If the rate changes after you send, you have evidence.

The network selection. Many exchanges support multiple networks for the same token (e.g., USDT on Ethereum, BSC, or Polygon). The screenshot must show which network is selected for both sending and receiving. Sending on the wrong network can lose funds permanently.

The expiry or timer. Some swap pages show a countdown before the rate expires. Capture that. If the exchange later claims the rate expired before your transaction confirmed, the screenshot shows the time you accepted.

Any fees displayed. Some exchanges show a service fee, network fee, or minimum amount. Capture those numbers. They matter if the exchange deducts a fee you did not see.

The confirmation button. If the page has a "Confirm" or "Swap" button, capture it in the same screenshot as the terms. This proves you did not alter the page before clicking.

What to capture after confirming

After you click confirm, the exchange usually shows a transaction ID (TXID) or a link to the block explorer. Screenshot that page too. It ties the order to the on-chain transaction. If the exchange later claims no order existed, the TXID proves otherwise.

Also screenshot the transaction on the block explorer itself. This is covered in detail on the sibling page "How to read a swap transaction on a block explorer to see what went wrong". That page shows you how to verify the output matches what the exchange promised.

When to take the screenshots

Take the first screenshot before you send any funds. Take the second screenshot immediately after you confirm and receive the TXID. Do not navigate away before capturing both.

If the exchange's page has multiple steps (e.g., a preview page, then a confirmation page), screenshot each step. The preview page may show a rate that disappears after you confirm.

What if the exchange does not show all details?

Some exchanges hide the receiving address until after you send. That is a red flag. In that case, screenshot everything that is visible. If the exchange does not show the network, do not proceed until you can confirm it elsewhere. The hub page "Swapping crypto safely" explains how to assess whether an exchange is worth using at all.

One more thing

Do not rely on the exchange's email confirmation or order history. Those can be altered or deleted. A screenshot stored on your device is under your control. Keep it until the swap completes and you have moved the received funds to a wallet you control.

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