Converting one cryptocurrency into another — or into a currency like the US dollar — is one of the most common things people do in crypto. The idea is simple, but a few details are worth understanding before you start.
How conversion rates work
There is no single official price for a cryptocurrency. Instead, a market price emerges from trades happening across many exchanges. A conversion rate between two coins is just the ratio of their current market prices. If coin A is worth $30,000 and coin B is worth $3,000, then one A converts to ten B.
Prices move constantly, so a quoted rate is only accurate for a moment. Our Crypto Converter uses live market data, so the figure updates as the market does.
Fees, spreads and slippage
The mid-market rate you see in a converter is a reference point. When you actually trade, you may pay a little more or receive a little less because of exchange fees, the bid-ask spread, and — in thin markets — slippage. The larger your trade relative to a market’s depth, the more these matter.
A simple worked example
- Decide how much of the first asset you want to convert.
- Look up the current price of both assets in the same reference currency.
- Divide the value of what you hold by the price of what you want.
That is exactly what the converter automates. To learn the vocabulary you will meet along the way, see our crypto glossary.
This guide is general information, not financial advice. See our Methodology.