Why slippage happens
Crypto markets continue moving while a transaction is being confirmed. Cross-chain swaps also coordinate activity on more than one network, so a quote can remain exposed to changing market and liquidity conditions while the source transaction is confirmed.
Trade size matters as well. A route with enough liquidity for a small swap may move through several price levels for a larger swap, producing a different average execution price.
- Fast price movement can change the available exchange result.
- Limited route liquidity can increase price impact for larger swaps.
- Blockchain confirmation time can lengthen the interval between quote and execution.
Expected amount versus minimum received
Expected receive is the route's current estimate. Minimum received is the lower boundary permitted by the quote's slippage setting. If execution would fall below that boundary, the route should not silently complete at an unrestricted result.
These values are quote-specific and should never be copied from a static article. Review the current values in the swap interface immediately before continuing.
How to review slippage safely
Confirm the exact source and destination networks, compare expected receive with minimum received, and check that the quote is still current. If the difference is larger than you are comfortable with, do not deposit funds; request a fresh quote or use a smaller amount.
A very permissive slippage setting is not automatically better. It can make execution more likely, but it also accepts a wider range of outcomes.