What is 1inch swap: a complete guide

1inch – leading DeFi aggregator that helps make cryptocurrency trading more efficient and convenient. The Swap tool combines liquidity from many sources to provide the best prices on coins and offers multiple trading methods, including across different blockchains. This guide describes all three swap modes on 1inch – simple, advanced, and limit order – and shows how Fusion and Fusion+ allow for gasless swaps and trading across different blockchains. You will also learn about the 1inch security stack and why the company considers itself an innovator compared to traditional aggregators and DEX platforms.

Contents:* Swap modes on 1inch: simple, advanced, limit

• Simple mode
• How intention-based swaps work (Fusion and Fusion+)
• Advanced mode
• Limit Orders

• 1inch Fusion Protocol: gasless swaps based on intents

• MEV Protection
• Fusion compared to classic swaps

• Cross-chain swaps with Fusion+

• How Fusion+ Works
• Time Lock and Security
• Why Fusion+ could be a turning point in the game
• Security on 1inch: what protects you during the exchange

• 1inch Swap compared to alternatives
• Potential drawbacks
• Does 1inch Swap suit you?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Swap modes on 1inch: simple, advanced, limit

1inch provides a flexible trading interface with three modes to meet various user needs: simple mode, advanced mode, and limit order mode. All modes use 1inch aggregation technologies to ensure competitive rates, but offer different capabilities and levels of control.

Here is a brief overview of the three modes:

Simple mode

Simple Mode: 1inchThis mode is designed for quick and easy token exchanges with minimal complications. The interface is uncluttered and user-friendly, focusing primarily on exchanging one token for another without additional charts and settings.

You do not need to pay network fees or hold ETH or BNB for gas, as the swap is executed through resolvers that cover the gas expenses.

How Intent-Based Swaps Work on Fusion and Fusion+(

Resolvers are third-party executors that fulfill users' swap intentions on Fusion and Fusion+. You create an "order intention" in which you specify which coins you want to trade and your target price range. This intention participates in a Dutch auction where intermediaries compete to fulfill your order. When a resolver accepts the terms, they pay a gas fee, attract liquidity from DEX or CEX, and complete the exchange on the blockchain. If the order expires without a match, it is automatically canceled—your funds remain secure.

As soon as both parties confirm, the secret is revealed, and the resolver completes the exchange atomically. You will never lose control over the funds until the exchange is completed.

) Advanced mode

![]###https://img-cdn.gateio.im/webp-social/moments-6cc456d2f06f2e83410b6e77976cb4eb.webp(Advanced mode: 1 inchAdvanced mode provides access to the full range of 1inch features for experienced traders. In this mode, you gain access to real-time price charts, details of trading routes, and advanced swap settings.

You can view how 1inch distributes your trade among multiple liquidity sources and adjust parameters such as slippage tolerance, route priority, partial fill allowance, and preferred gas coin.

The advanced mode allows you to choose the classic )Pathfinder( swap execution and configure additional parameters. For those who are not aware, the classic swap uses the Pathfinder algorithm to split orders between liquidity sources with detailed visualization in the user interface:

![])https://img-cdn.gateio.im/webp-social/moments-e752f34b272802d6a125f4325340cf88.webp(Routing: 1 inch) Limit orders

![]###https://img-cdn.gateio.im/webp-social/moments-e44dad17126794bdc07f309d48d6bf40.webp(Limit orders: 1inchThe limit order function in 1inch allows placing trades at specific prices, providing greater control over execution.

In simple terms, a limit order remains open until the market reaches the conditions you set, instead of being executed immediately at the market price. The system based on the 1inch Limit Order protocol allows you to place orders without a fee.

You can specify the coin, price, and expiration time ), for example, to sell 1 ETH if it reaches 5,000 USDC (. Orders are stored off-chain and are executed only when the conditions are met, meaning that no gas is required for placing them.

Limit orders are available in advanced mode on the corresponding tab. You can also open it from the drop-down menu "Trading" in the swaps section on the 1inch website.

1inch Fusion Protocol: gasless swaps based on intents

One of the most powerful aspects of 1inch is the Fusion protocol, which supports gasless swaps in DeFi based on intents.

In Fusion mode, you can exchange coins without paying for gas and without facing miner attacks that extract value )MEV(, which is a significant advantage for traders in the blockchain.

Fusion allows creating an "order intention," which specifies what they want to trade and under what conditions ) instead of executing a swap directly through the DEX at the current price (.

This intent operates as a flexible limit order with a price range and a time window. After signing, the order is passed to resolvers — professional market makers who compete for its execution.

Resolvers pay for gas to complete swaps on the blockchain, so users do not need native blockchain coins, such as ETH or BNB, to pay for gas. To determine the price, Fusion uses a Dutch auction model.

If the order reaches the end of the time window without being executed under acceptable conditions, it expires unexecuted.

When resolvers execute an order, they draw liquidity from DEXs, centralized exchanges, and internal reserves, thereby providing users access to deep, distributed liquidity. Even large orders can be executed in parts by multiple resolvers to reduce slippage.

The key advantage is gasless execution. Resolvers combine your trades into their own and obtain arbitrage or spread, and you only pay the swap amount and a small fee included in the rate.

) MEV Protection

Fusion also protects users from MEV attacks, such as front-running or sandwich attacks. Since the order is executed by the resolver and sent as a private, related transaction, MEV bots in the mempool will never see it.

Some resolvers use private execution channels to prevent any manipulation. This provides a fairer trading environment even for large swaps.

Fusion compared to classical swaps

Before the appearance of Fusion, 1inch swaps used a "classic" model where trades were executed immediately, and the user paid for gas. The classic mode is still available and useful when immediate, guaranteed execution is required.

However, the Fusion protocol has become the default option for the simple mode, as it often provides better results after accounting for gas and MEV.

According to an internal analysis by the company 1inch, users save about 9.5% compared to competing swaps using Fusion — primarily due to gas savings and execution optimization.

Cross-chain swaps with Fusion+

![]###https://img-cdn.gateio.im/webp-social/moments-9712d94cf9b6b035d7cda364ceba214d.webp(Fusion+: 1inchCross-chain compatibility has long been a problem in DeFi. Traditionally, exchanging coins between blockchains required using bridges or centralized exchanges — both options were slow, costly, and created custodial risks.

Fusion+ changes this situation by providing a relatively simple exchange between blockchains without the use of bridges within the platform.

The process is atomic, meaning that the swap either completes fully or fails with a refund — no partial results.

) How Fusion+ Works

![]###https://img-cdn.gateio.im/webp-social/moments-9fc15db6f64ffb2e93499846b8fd4952.webp01How Fusion+ Works: 1 inchFusion+ is built on the principles of atomic swap using smart contracts and resolvers from 1inch. When initiating a cross-chain swap, you sign the order intent by specifying the destination blockchain for the coins and the acceptable rate.

The intention is conveyed to resolvers who monitor the Dutch auction, where the price gradually decreases over time. They watch the auction with the aim of fulfilling the order as soon as the price reaches their target profit. The first resolver to accept the terms wins the auction and locks your coins in an escrow contract on the source blockchain.

At the same time, the winner locks the tokens of the target blockchain ( from their own funds ) in the second escrow on the target blockchain. Both escrows use a common secret hash and a time lock.

Once both escrows are confirmed, the "secret" is revealed, allowing the resolver to take the coins from one blockchain and send you coins from another. The entire process is coordinated for a secure and atomic completion.

( Time Lock and Security

If something goes wrong — for example, if the intermediary cannot fulfill the delivery — the swap is automatically canceled after a specified period of time.

Funds are returned to the original owners. Resolvers also make a small insurance deposit, which they lose in case of failure to fulfill obligations. This mechanism is designed to protect you from incomplete or unsuccessful swaps.

Fusion+ brings the reliability of atomic swaps into a user-friendly format, offering the same reliable guarantees but through a DeFi interface accessible to any user.

) Why Fusion+ could be a turning point in the game

With Fusion+, the company 1inch offers a unique and practical feature in DeFi: cross-chain swaps that are safe, decentralized, and do not require bridges.

The process is simple: no need to juggle applications, manage gas across multiple blockchains, and expose yourself to bridge vulnerabilities. For example, exchanging tokens from Ethereum to Polygon using Fusion+ is faster, safer, and cheaper than using a traditional bridge. You do not pay for gas in the source blockchain because resolvers take on the gas costs at both ends. This makes cross-chain trading as easy as standard token swapping.

In short, Fusion+ represents a significant achievement in DeFi infrastructure, eliminating reliance on custodial intermediaries and integrating atomic security.

Security on 1inch: what protects you during exchanges

The platform promises comprehensive protection against fraud, hacking, and fraudulent activities at every step. This includes everything from smart contract verification to real-time address checks.

Here are some of the key security levels offered by 1inch:

• Blocklist Strategy: 1inch checks wallet addresses for risk using data from TRM Labs, Etherscan, and its own team of investigators. Suspicious wallets are automatically blocked.
• Transaction Simulation: the wallet shows you exactly what will happen right before you sign the deal. You see which coins are leaving your wallet and which ones are incoming.
• Fraud Protection: 1inch has partnered with security platforms like Blockaid to detect malicious transactions, suspicious DApps, fraudulent domains, and phishing attempts. You will receive a warning before connecting to anything marked as unsafe.
• Smart contract audit: every contract used in 1inch has undergone multiple audits. Simply put, they are non-upgradable, so no unexpected code changes can sneak in.
• Protection against imposters: Fusion and Fusion+ do not allow bots to manipulate your transaction by hiding your order until it is executed.
• Compliance with AML requirements: resolvers must undergo KYC verification before starting operations. Transactions are also checked for links to money laundering, fraud, or hacked funds.
• Brand Protection: 1inch actively removes counterfeit websites and social scams with the help of Red Points and Phishfort. This way, you remain protected even beyond the DApp.

1inch Swap compared to alternatives

| | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Characteristic | 1inch Swap | Most other aggregators | | Gasless Exchange | Yes, according to the Fusion protocol | Not supported | | Inter-chain swaps | Yes, without bridges through the Fusion+ protocol | Typically require bridges | | Swap Modes | Simple, advanced, and limit orders | Often limited to basic swaps | | Front-running protection | Yes, own MEV resistance | Mainly rely on slippage control | | Liquidity Depth | Aggregated from 100+ sources | Aggregation is limited to leading DEX | | Security Stack | Includes blockchain, AML, and fraud detection | Not always transparent and accessible | | User Interface Settings | Settings for beginners and professionals | Often fixed or less customizable | | Support for Permit2 | Fully supported | Rarely or partially | | Management Model | Community-managed DAO | Primarily centralized management |

Potential Drawbacks

Despite the fact that 1inch Swap has practical and efficient features, several potential drawbacks can be highlighted depending on your use case:

➤ Execution Delay in Fusion Mode: since Dutch auctions are used in Fusion, your swap may not be executed instantly. If you need immediate execution, it is better to use Classic mode.

➤ Limit orders depend on the interests of beneficiaries: your order may not be executed if it is unprofitable for sellers or resolvers, especially on low-liquidity pairs.

➤Gas fees in Classic mode: if you are using swaps in classic mode, you will still need native coins such as ETH or MATIC to pay for gas.

➤ Interchain swaps depend on resolvers: Fusion+ relies on resolvers to complete swaps. Although they are secured by deposit and recovery mechanisms, they are not instantaneous like swaps with a native blockchain.

➤ Difficulty for new users: advanced settings, presets, and auction mechanics may seem complicated if you are used to simpler DEX.

Does 1inch Swap Fit You

As you can see, 1inch Swap offers much more than the basic functionality of a DEX aggregator. If you are an active trader managing assets across different blockchains, it can be a good alternative to simpler platforms.

At the same time, a multitude of modes and advanced settings may seem complicated for newcomers who would prefer simpler tools for basic swaps. Additionally, the dependency of the Fusion mode on resolvers also affects the timing and pricing. Overall, whether 1inch Swap is suitable for your needs depends on how actively you trade and how much control you want to have.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does 1inch Swap work?

1inch Swap connects your trade with resolvers that compete to execute your order at the best available price. In Fusion and Fusion+ modes, resolvers can attract liquidity from DEX, CEX, and private pools. Classic swaps are routed directly through the 1inch Aggregation Protocol, which distributes orders among multiple liquidity sources to improve pricing and reduce slippage.

What is the advantage of Fusion or Fusion+ on 1inch?

Fusion allows for gasless swaps based on intentions, where third-party resolvers compete to execute your order at the best rate. You do not need native coins for gas, and your transaction is protected from MEV attacks. Fusion+ extends this functionality to cross-chain swaps without bridges, using escrow contracts for secure settlements.

Can I use 1inch without having ETH or other native coins?

Yes, the Fusion mode allows you to exchange tokens without having ETH, MATIC, BNB, or other native assets on hand. Resolvers cover all gas fees and execute the transaction on your behalf. This is especially useful for new wallets or users who only have stablecoins.

What risks or limitations should I be aware of?

The execution of Fusion swaps may take longer due to the auction mechanism and the involvement of resolvers. Limit orders may remain unfulfilled if the target price is not reached or liquidity is low. Classic swaps still require gas fees and expose trades to MEV risk if they are not manually protected.

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