Native coins · Cross-chain routing
Choose the pivot
for the route.
Use Litecoin to connect Monero, TRX to connect swap protocols, or native USDC on Avalanche for a stable route to Solana. Compare the complete route before choosing a pivot.
01 / Choose an intermediary
Compare the pivots
Connectivity first. Then the combined fees, market depth and time spent in the intermediate asset.
| Pivot asset | Where it helps | Cost considerations | Exposure & constraints | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
LitecoinLTC · native Litecoin | Monero → broader liquidityBasicSwap connects XMR↔LTC. THORChain connects LTC to TRON and Ethereum stablecoins.BasicSwap ↗ · THORChain pools ↗ | Avoids an intermediate BTC transferCompare LTC network costs, both swap spreads and available offers. Low network fees do not guarantee the lowest total cost. | Price exposure while holding LTCBasicSwap needs a separately running local client and available counterparties; it is not strict browser-only execution. Standard Litecoin addresses; no MWEB assumption. | Monero connector A practical candidate for the first cross-protocol leg. |
TRXTRON · native coin | THORChain ↔ ChainflipA common native asset connecting LTC routes to Solana stablecoins.Supported assets ↗ | Native transfer, no TRC-20 energyAvoids the token-execution resource cost of a USDT transfer. Reserve TRX from the intermediate output for the next transaction. | TRX price exposureNetwork costs, liquidity fees and both quotes still matter. Use minimum-output protection and re-quote after settlement. | Native connector A leading topology to quote for LTC → Solana token routes. |
USDCAvalanche · native USDC | THORChain → Circle CCTPTHORChain supplies native Avalanche USDC; CCTP connects it to native USDC on Solana or Ethereum.CCTP networks ↗ | Compare burn-and-mint costsStandard CCTP has no protocol fee currently; source/destination gas, approvals and optional forwarding can still cost money. | AVAX gas and Circle attestationMust use native USDC, not USDC.e. After burning, an interrupted transfer may require resuming attestation/mint. | Stable connector A strong stable alternative to quote for a Solana USDC destination. |
BNBBNB Smart Chain · native | THORChain ↔ ChainflipAnother common native asset with routes into Solana and Ethereum stablecoins.Chainflip assets ↗ | Native BSC gasReserve part of the BNB output to fund the next transfer. Compare actual liquidity and protocol costs against TRX. | Explicit price protection requiredChainflip documents no default oracle-based slippage protection for BNB. A minimum output must be set deliberately. | Additional candidate Compare only with explicit minimum-output limits. |
USDTTRON · TRC-20 | THORChain ↔ ChainflipA common asset and network connecting Litecoin routes to Solana stablecoins.Chainflip assets ↗ | Measure TRON resource costsAccount for outbound charges, the next transfer and token execution resources. Do not assume a TRC-20 transfer is nearly free. | Dollar exposure, issuer controlsUSDT depeg/freeze risk plus both protocols’ settlement risks. The next leg may need TRX for fees. | Stable connector Compare against Ethereum stablecoin routes for the actual amount. |
USDCEthereum · ERC-20 | Broad common liquidityAvailable on THORChain and Chainflip. CCTP supplies another path to native USDC on Solana.Circle CCTP ↗ | Gas can dominate small swapsInclude ETH gas, any approval, source transfer and destination costs. Quote quality can outweigh gas for larger trades. | Dollar exposure, issuer controlsRequires ETH fee funding unless a supported route explicitly covers it. CCTP adds Circle’s attestation dependency. | Useful alternative Stable, well-connected; cost depends on size and network conditions. |
USDCSolana · SPL token | Solana destination and local hubChainflip, CCTP and local Solana DEX routes. Does not itself connect directly to BasicSwap’s XMR/LTC market.Jupiter routing ↗ | Efficient local settlementInclude priority fees and token-account creation where required. Cross-chain provider charges still apply. | Exact network mattersUSDC on Solana cannot be spent as USDC on Ethereum. A transfer or swap must connect those endpoints. | Destination hub Excellent to compare locally; not a universal connector for native coins. |
BitcoinBTC · on-chain | Broad native-coin connectivityShared by the main swap protocols and relevant to Lightning conversion.Lightning Loop ↗ | Additional settlement and miner feesCan add costly intermediate movements. Actual fees vary with transaction size and fee market conditions. | Retained as an endpointThe route explorer excludes BTC as an intermediary by default. Lightning routes may still require it. | Excluded as pivot Your chosen routing constraint, not a claim that BTC is always expensive. |
Recommendation, not a price ranking. LTC connects Monero; native TRX connects THORChain and Chainflip; native Avalanche USDC connects THORChain to Circle CCTP. The cheapest route remains quote-dependent.
02 / Explore the coverage
What can connect to what?
Choose a pair or select a table cell. The route panel shows a candidate path through existing integrations, with the intermediary assets made explicit.
BTC can still be the source or destination.
Try a route without an on-chain BTC intermediary
03 / Compare the complete route
Cheap transfers are only
one part of the price.
The winning route maximizes net destination output for the amount being swapped, while meeting the user’s settlement and trust constraints.
- 01Start with net output.
Include each protocol’s liquidity fees, price impact, outbound charges, provider charges and separately paid network costs. Avoid deducting costs already included in a quote twice.
- 02Price every intermediate movement.
The first protocol pays out. The next needs a new deposit or transfer. Stablecoin token transfers may also need TRX, SOL or ETH in the user’s wallet.
- 03Re-quote after the first settlement.
A sequential route’s second quote can expire before the first leg finishes. If the user declines the new quote, they keep the intermediate asset.
04 / Follow the evidence
Primary sources
Documentation checked 06 November 2026 · linked pages may change