On October 7, 2017, the decentralized cryptocurrency trading platform Altcoin Exchange announced the team performed the first atomic swap between the Ethereum and Bitcoin blockchains. The exchange says this is the startup’s first step towards creating a trustless exchange process.
What makes the technology behind Atomic Swaps so exciting is it allows for nearly instant direct trades between cryptocurrencies. We believe this to be a critical component for creating a truly decentralized exchange that executes transactions at the same speed in which centralized exchanges are able to but without the risk of hacking and theft.