What Is a Cross-Chain Swap? (And How to Swap Into THAT)
A cross-chain swap lets you exchange a token on one blockchain for a token on another in a single step. Here's how it works — and how to swap assets like ETH or USDT into THAT.
Evie Nahi · Marketing Coordinator
· 2 min read
A cross-chain swap lets you exchange a token on one blockchain for a token on another in a single step — for example, swapping Ethereum on the Ethereum network for THAT on Polygon. It removes the need to manually bridge assets between networks first, so moving between chains takes fewer steps.
How does a cross-chain swap work?
Normally, moving a token from one blockchain to another means bridging it across networks and then swapping it — several steps, and easy to get wrong. A cross-chain swap combines that into one flow: you choose the asset you hold on its network, choose the token you want on its network, and the swap handles the rest.
Why cross-chain swaps matter
Most people already hold crypto across different networks — ETH on Ethereum, or assets like USDT elsewhere. Cross-chain swaps let you bring those together without bridging manually first, which means fewer steps, less confusion, and less chance of sending funds to the wrong network.
How to swap into THAT
The THAT app supports cross-chain swaps, so you can move assets you already hold into THAT — ready to spend. If you hold a supported asset on another network, you can swap it into THAT on Polygon directly in the app. Download the THAT app to get started. The steps below show how it works.
Cross-chain swaps vs bridging
Bridging moves the same asset from one network to another; a swap exchanges one asset for a different one. A cross-chain swap does both at once — it changes the asset and the network in a single step. THAT supports EVM networks like Ethereum and Polygon, with more on the roadmap.
Swap in, then spend
Once you've swapped into THAT, you're ready to use it in the real world. See how to pay with crypto using the THAT app.
- 1
Open the THAT app's swap feature
In the THAT app, open the swap feature to exchange assets across networks.
- 2
Choose the asset you're swapping from
Select the token and network you're swapping from — for example, ETH on Ethereum, or USDT.
- 3
Choose THAT as the destination
Select THAT on Polygon as the token you want to receive.
- 4
Confirm the swap
Review the details and confirm. Your assets are swapped into THAT in the app, ready to spend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cross-chain swap?+
It's an exchange of a token on one blockchain for a token on another in a single step — for example, ETH on Ethereum for THAT on Polygon — without manually bridging first.
How is a swap different from bridging?+
Bridging moves the same asset to a different network; a swap exchanges one asset for another. A cross-chain swap does both at once.
Which assets can I swap into THAT?+
Assets like ETH and USDT on supported EVM networks can be swapped into THAT (on Polygon) in the app. Check the app for the current supported list, with more networks on the roadmap.
Do I need to bridge before swapping?+
No. A cross-chain swap removes the manual bridging step — that's the point. You swap directly into THAT.
Why would I swap into THAT?+
THAT is built for spending crypto at real-world businesses. Swapping in means your existing assets are ready to use in the THAT app.