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 25 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.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Wait for Bitcoin confirmations. This is the slow part. The order page shows the stage it is in: confirming, routing, trading, sending.
- 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
- Fee: 2% of the amount, plus a Hyperliquid taker fee and size rounding of about 30 to 50 cents on a $1,000 swap. All of it appears in the quote; the quote is an estimate, the deposit amount is exact, and the final ZEC can move with the market during execution.
- Minimum: about $40 of BTC. Below that the quote answers with the minimum in USD.
- Time: about 25 minutes end to end on the live estimate, mostly Bitcoin block confirmations. Large amounts are executed in slices to protect your rate and can take longer by design.
Times are approximate for the default network, from deposit detection to swap completion. Confirmations, order size and your selected network can change the timing.
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.
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?
2% of the amount, charged on swaps into a privacy coin, plus a Hyperliquid taker fee and size rounding of about 30 to 50 cents per $1,000. The quote shows the full breakdown before you send. Swaps out of ZEC into Bitcoin or USDT have a 0% Wagyu fee; Zcash to Monero pays 2% because Monero is a privacy coin too.
How long does a BTC to ZEC swap take?
About 25 minutes on the live estimate, most of it Bitcoin confirmations. Swaps funded from Ethereum, Solana or Monero take about 10 minutes.
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.