VECTOR_ANALYSIS // TECHNICAL
Atomic Swap
NODE: ATOMIC-SWAP
VERIFICATION: PASSED
01_DEFINITION
Strict Definition
"A smart contract technology that enables the exchange of one cryptocurrency for another without the need for a central intermediary or a bridge."
Liability Check // Risk Analysis
The 'Wait Time' risk. Because they often happen cross-chain (e.g., BTC for ETH), they depend on the settlement time of the slower chain. If one party vanishes mid-swap, the funds may be locked in a contract for 24-48 hours before being refunded.
Knowledge Context // Related Terms
Auditor NotesVS-AN-2026
Strategy Domain
"Use atomic swaps for 'Trustless' peer-to-peer OTC trades where you cannot rely on the counterparty's honesty."
Operations Standard
"Utilize Hashed Timelock Contracts (HTLCs) to ensure the trade either happens in full or is refunded in full."
Legal & Compliance
"Atomic swaps provide perfect audit trails for the transfer of value, reducing the need for escrow-based audits."
DOCUMENT_ID: CW3-ATOMIC-SWAP-2026
SCHEMA_VER: AEO_3.2
LAST_AUDIT: 2/11/2026
HASH: GZMAA
SCHEMA_VER: AEO_3.2
LAST_AUDIT: 2/11/2026
HASH: GZMAA