---
title: Swap BTC to USDT ERC-20 without an account | Sablebolt
description: Swap BTC for USDT ERC-20 without an account: live floating rate, network fee shown before you send, about 21–44 minutes from deposit to payout.
url: https://sablebolt.io/swap/btc/usdt-erc20
---

# Swap BTC to USDT ERC-20

Swap Bitcoin for USDT on Ethereum without an account: enter the amount, paste your 0x… address and send BTC from any wallet.

- **Arrival:** ≈ 21–44 min

- **Confirmations:** 2 on Bitcoin

- **Rate:** Floating

- **Fee token after arrival:** ETH

## When this route is the right one

You hold bitcoin and need USDT on Ethereum specifically — because a lending protocol, a DEX pool or a platform you use accepts only ERC-20, or because the person you are paying gave you a 0x… address and said Ethereum. If the destination is flexible, USDT on TRON is cheaper to move afterwards; this route is for when it is not.

The Bitcoin network cannot pay an Ethereum address. The route receives your BTC at a one-time address, waits for 2 confirmations — plan for 21–44 minutes — and transfers USDT on Ethereum to the address you gave. That Ethereum transfer pays gas, which is already inside the estimate.

## BTC vs USDT ERC-20 — side by side

|  | BTC on Bitcoin | USDT on Ethereum ERC-20 |
|---|---|---|
| Address format | 1…, 3…, bc1… | 0x… (42 characters) |
| Fee token | BTC | ETH |
| Confirmations we wait for | 2 | 15 |
| Explorer | blockchain.com | etherscan.io |

## What happens, in order

1. Enter the BTC amount and your Ethereum address Paste the 42-character 0x… address that should receive USDT. The estimate is in USDT.
2. Send bitcoin to the deposit address A Bitcoin deposit address created for this swap is shown. Send the exact amount in one transaction, with a fee set to confirm within the next few blocks.
3. Bitcoin confirms 2 confirmations, about 21–44 minutes. The USDT amount is fixed at the second one.
4. USDT is paid out on Ethereum The status page links your deposit on the Bitcoin explorer and the Etherscan transaction crediting your 0x… address.

## Before you send — checklist

- The USDT goes to an Ethereum address: 42 characters, beginning with 0x.
- If it belongs to an exchange, the deposit page says USDT on Ethereum (ERC-20) — not BEP-20, Polygon or Arbitrum, which show the same address string.
- The receiving wallet has, or will get, some ETH. The USDT arrives without it and cannot leave without it.
- The Bitcoin fee is set to confirm soon; the rate is fixed only when the second confirmation lands.
- You saved the status link.

## The two mistakes that cost money on this route

### Giving a 0x address that lives on another network

The address string is the same on Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Base and Arbitrum. If you want the USDT on one of those, this route is the wrong one — it pays USDT on the Ethereum mainnet. If you gave an exchange address copied from a BEP-20 deposit page, the exchange may not credit an ERC-20 deposit to it.

### Forgetting that the payout pays gas

USDT on Ethereum arrives through an Ethereum transaction, and that transaction has a cost that depends on the gas price at the moment of the payout. The estimate includes it, which is why the figure is lower than on a TRON payout for the same BTC. It also means the minimum for this route is higher.

## Other ways to make the same move

| Way | What you need | Where it is slower or dearer |
|---|---|---|
| An exchange account | An account; a BTC deposit with the exchange's confirmation count, a market sell, an ERC-20 withdrawal | Sign-up, a trading fee, a withdrawal fee that tracks gas, two waits |
| Wrapping BTC on Ethereum, then a DEX | A custodian or bridge that mints a BTC token, ETH for gas, a DEX swap | A minting fee, gas twice, and a wait that is usually longer than two Bitcoin confirmations |
| This swap | Two addresses | A floating rate fixed at the second Bitcoin confirmation; the Ethereum gas is inside the estimate |

## What is visible on-chain

The Bitcoin explorer shows your transaction to the deposit address — inputs, amount, fee — permanently. Etherscan shows the USDT contract transferring tokens from a payout address to your 0x… address, with the amount and the gas the sender paid. Anyone with the hashes can read both; nothing on either chain connects them.

## FAQ

How long does it take?

About 21–44 minutes for 2 Bitcoin confirmations, then an Ethereum payout mined within a block or two.

Why does USDT on Ethereum pay out less than USDT on TRON for the same BTC?

The Ethereum transfer pays gas and that is deducted inside the estimate. On a quiet day the difference is small; during congestion it is larger.

Do I need ETH to receive the USDT?

Not to receive. You need ETH in that wallet to send the USDT on.

Is this the USDT issued by Tether?

Yes — Tether's ERC-20 contract 0xdAC17F958D2ee523a2206206994597C13D831ec7, listed on Tether's page of supported protocols (checked on 12 October 2026).

Which Bitcoin address types can I send from?

Any — 1…, 3…, bc1q… or bc1p…. The deposit address is ours; your wallet only has to be able to send to it.

What if the swap cannot be completed?

Write to support with the swap ID from the status page. The form has no refund address: a swap that cannot be completed is handled by hand, and a return to the address you sent from is arranged under the partner's rules, less the network fee.

## Related routes

About the coins on this route: [Bitcoin (BTC)](https://sablebolt.io/coin/bitcoin) · [Tether (USDT)](https://sablebolt.io/coin/tether)

- [USDT TRC-20 → BTC](https://sablebolt.io/swap/usdt-trc20/btc)
- [BTC → USDT TRC-20](https://sablebolt.io/swap/btc/usdt-trc20)
- [USDT BEP-20 → BTC](https://sablebolt.io/swap/usdt-bep20/btc)
- [USDT ERC-20 → BTC](https://sablebolt.io/swap/usdt-erc20/btc)
- [BTC → XMR](https://sablebolt.io/swap/btc/xmr)
- [XMR → BTC](https://sablebolt.io/swap/xmr/btc)

Read next [Floating rate: what changes between the estimate and the payout](https://sablebolt.io/blog/floating-rate-estimate-vs-payout)

Read next [USDT network fees compared: TRON, BNB Smart Chain, Ethereum, TON, Solana](https://sablebolt.io/blog/usdt-network-fees-compared)

Read next [Reading a swap status page: every state from waiting to finished](https://sablebolt.io/blog/reading-a-swap-status-page)

## External resources

- [CoinGecko — Tether](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/tether)
- [Tether — supported protocols](https://tether.to/en/supported-protocols/)
- [Blockchain.com explorer](https://www.blockchain.com/explorer)
- [Etherscan](https://etherscan.io/)