Hidden Costs in Crypto Swaps: Slippage, Price Impact and Fees

Users often receive less than expected from crypto swaps even after seeing an attractive quoted rate. The article explains that the final amount can be reduced by network fees, price impact, slippage, and trading or protocol charges. Slippage occurs when the execution price differs from the expected price because markets move before a trade completes. Price impact becomes more pronounced in low-liquidity pools or with larger trades, which can shift the price significantly. The author advises comparing the estimated final amount after all costs rather than relying on the headline exchange rate.