SubSwap Documentation
SubSwap is a non-custodial Bittensor gateway for moving between USDC, TAO, and subnet Alpha tokens.
What SubSwap does
Bridge
Move USDC from supported chains into TAO or subnet Alpha on SS58, or sell TAO/Alpha back to USDC on supported chains.
Swap / Stake
Convert native TAO to subnet Alpha, or unstake Alpha back to TAO, directly from an SS58 wallet.
Liquidity
Explore curated TAO pools and add liquidity to earn pool fees where supported.
Portfolio
View connected-wallet balances, subnet Alpha positions, and liquidity exposure in one place.
Quick start
- Open the app at /swap or /bridge.
- Connect the wallet needed for the selected route: SS58, EVM, or Solana.
- Select your source asset and destination asset.
- Enter amount, review estimated received, route, slippage, and fees.
- Sign the required wallet transactions. SubSwap never takes custody of your funds.
Wallets
| Wallet type | Used for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| SS58 | Native TAO, subnet Alpha, staking and unstaking. | Taostats, Talisman, Polkadot.js-compatible wallets. |
| EVM | USDC on Base, Ethereum, Arbitrum and Bittensor EVM. | MetaMask, Rabby, Coinbase Wallet, WalletConnect-compatible wallets. |
| Solana | Solana USDC source routes. | Phantom, Solflare. |
For SS58 account switching, the wallet extension must authorize every account you want SubSwap to see.
Bridge
The Bridge page handles cross-chain movement between USDC, TAO, and subnet Alpha.
Buy Alpha / TAO
Use this when you have USDC on a supported external chain and want TAO or Alpha in your SS58 wallet.
- Select source chain, such as Base.
- Select destination asset: TAO or a subnet Alpha.
- Connect source wallet and SS58 destination wallet.
- Review and sign the source-chain transaction.
- The relayer handles Bittensor EVM gas for the inbound conversion step.
Sell Alpha / TAO
Use this when you have native TAO or subnet Alpha on SS58 and want USDC on a supported destination chain.
Swap / Stake
The Swap page is the lightweight SS58-native route for TAO ↔ subnet Alpha.
| Action | What happens |
|---|---|
| Stake TAO to Alpha | User signs an SS58 stake transaction into the chosen subnet and validator. |
| Unstake Alpha to TAO | User signs an SS58 unstake transaction from the selected subnet position. |
Datura is the default validator, with a validator selector available for advanced users.
Liquidity
The Liquidity page collects curated TAO pools in one place.
| Pool | Network | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| WTAO / USDC | Subtensor EVM | Main pool used for SubSwap TAO ↔ USDC routing. |
| WTAO / USDC | Ethereum | External Ethereum liquidity option. |
| WTAO / WETH | Ethereum | External Ethereum TAO liquidity option. |
LPs choose a price range. Narrower ranges can earn higher fee APR when active, but carry more out-of-range risk.
Portfolio
Portfolio is a read-only wallet overview. It shows assets and positions discovered from connected wallets.
- SS58 TAO and Alpha positions.
- EVM balances where connected.
- LP positions where supported.
Supported routes
| Route | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base USDC → TAO / Alpha on SS58 | Live | Uses inbound relayer for Bittensor EVM gas. |
| Ethereum / Arbitrum / Solana USDC → TAO / Alpha | Supported where configured | Availability depends on bridge routing and wallet support. |
| TAO / Alpha on SS58 → USDC on destination chain | Live | Routes through TAO and the WTAO / USDC pool. |
| Bittensor EVM USDC → SS58 | Advanced | Requires TAO gas unless a dedicated gasless/meta-transaction route is added. |
Relayer
The inbound relayer removes the need for users to hold TAO gas on Bittensor EVM when entering from an external chain.
How it works
- User bridges USDC from the source chain to the SubSwap relayer address on Bittensor EVM.
- The relayer receives USDC.
- The relayer pays Bittensor EVM gas.
- The relayer swaps USDC to TAO and sends TAO to the user’s SS58 wallet.
- If Alpha is selected, the user signs the final SS58 stake action.
The relayer does not remove gas requirements for USDC already held in the user’s own Bittensor EVM wallet.
Fees
| Fee | Where it applies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pool fee | TAO ↔ USDC swaps | The underlying WTAO / USDC pool fee tier is 0.30%. |
| Bridge gas | Cross-chain delivery | Paid to bridge/message infrastructure and source-chain validators. |
| SubSwap execution fee | Where enabled | Protocol fee used to operate relayers, routing, and infrastructure. |
| Network gas | User wallet signatures | Depends on source chain and transaction type. |
Contracts
| Name | Address | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Subtensor EVM WTAO / USDC pool | 0x6647...7E3c | Main liquidity pool for TAO / USDC routing. |
| Swap router | 0x667A...6092 | Executes pool swaps. |
| Position manager | 0x61Ee...1e25 | Mints and manages LP positions. |
| Swap and transfer | 0x3130...ceBA4 | Packages swap plus SS58 delivery. |
| SubSwap fee wallet | 0xDA42...31eF | Receives configured protocol fees. |
Risks
- SubSwap is non-custodial, but smart contract, bridge, relayer, and liquidity risks remain.
- Large trades can experience price impact if pool liquidity is shallow.
- Cross-chain settlement is asynchronous and may take time.
- Alpha staking and unstaking depends on Bittensor runtime behavior.
- Always verify wallet prompts before signing.
FAQ
Does SubSwap custody funds?
No. Funds move through user-signed wallet transactions and smart contracts.
Why do some flows need multiple signatures?
Some routes cross wallet types and chains. Each chain may require its own approval or signature.
Do users need TAO gas on Bittensor EVM?
Not for the relayed external-chain inbound route. They may need TAO gas for local Bittensor EVM actions initiated from their own EVM wallet.
Can I provide liquidity?
Yes, on supported pools. LPs earn pool fees and take price/range risk.