Lightning Swap

Lightning Swap — Terms of Service

Last updated: July 21, 2026

Please read these terms of service (the "Terms") carefully before using Lightning Swap. By accessing or using any part of the website, API, or related services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must stop using the Service immediately.

1. General provisions

1.1. These Terms are a legal agreement between Lightning Swap ("Lightning Swap", "we", "us", "our") and users, clients, visitors, and others who access the Service ("User", "you", "your").

1.2. The Service means the cryptocurrency-to-Lightning exchange offered through lightning-swap.com (the "Website"), the order pages at /o/<public_token>, and the HTTP API.

1.3. Lightning Swap offers a fixed-rate exchange of supported on-chain cryptocurrencies into Lightning Bitcoin, based on an order ("Order" or "swap") you create.

1.4. The rate for an Order is fixed at creation: if you send the exact quoted deposit amount to the assigned deposit address within the deposit window, and the deposit confirms as required, you receive the Lightning payout amount shown when the Order was created (subject to these Terms and successful payment of your BOLT11 invoice).

1.5. Headings are for convenience only and do not limit these Terms.

1.6. If you do not read and accept these Terms, do not use the Service.

2. Using the Service

2.1. You confirm that you have full legal capacity to use the Service, and that you are at least the age of majority in your place of residence (or have consent from a legal guardian).

2.2. You agree not to reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell, or exploit any portion of the Service without our express written permission.

2.3. Creating a swap does not require an account or an email address. To create an Order you choose a supported deposit asset, provide a BOLT11 invoice for the Lightning payout, and receive a deposit address and quoted amounts on the Order page. You must send funds to that address in a single transaction on the selected network and currency.

2.4. After creation, an Order is accessed through a URL containing an unguessable public_token (/o/<public_token>). That token is your credential to view the Order, cancel it while awaiting deposit, and request a refund when the Order is in emergency status. Treat the link like a bearer secret: anyone with it can act on the Order. We do not collect an email for swaps and cannot recover an Order for you solely by email if you lose the token.

2.5. Deposit windows. You must send the deposit so that it is seen by the Service within the Order’s deposit window. The deposit window is ten (10) minutes from Order creation for both Website swaps (lightning-swap.com dashboard / landing swap flow) and API swaps.

The Order’s expires_at time is authoritative and is shown on the Order page and in API responses. If your BOLT11 invoice expires before the applicable deposit window ends, the Order expires at the earlier time.

2.6. Late-deposit grace. After expires_at, we continue watching the deposit address for fifteen (15) minutes. A deposit that arrives during that grace period is treated as late: the Order will not complete as a Lightning payout. If the deposit is credited, the Order enters emergency status and you may request an on-chain refund (see Section 4). Deposits that arrive after the grace period ends are not guaranteed to be associated with the Order and may be unrecoverable.

2.7. Exact amount. You must send the exact deposit amount shown for the Order (excluding any network fee your wallet charges to send). Underpayments and overpayments do not complete as Lightning payouts; they enter emergency handling for refund where these Terms allow.

2.8. One transaction per Order. Only one deposit transaction is intended per Order address. Additional deposits are aggregated and typically force a full refund of the credited total rather than a Lightning payout. Sending multiple deposits is a misuse of the Service.

2.9. Minimum and maximum amounts are shown when you create a quote or Order. Sending less than the minimum, or more than the maximum, will not complete as a normal swap and may only be eligible for refund under Section 4 (subject to uneconomic / dust limits).

2.10. You are solely responsible for the correctness of: the deposit asset and network, the amount, and the BOLT11 invoice (including its amount and expiry). We are not responsible if you send to the wrong network, wrong asset, wrong address, or if your invoice is invalid, under/over the quoted payout, expired, or already paid.

2.11. Wrong network or wrong asset. Deposit addresses are network-specific. Sending funds on a different blockchain or in a different asset than the one selected for the Order is a violation of the exchange rules. Such funds may be permanently lost. Recovery, if any, is manual, discretionary, not guaranteed, and may involve fees or refusal.

2.12. Refunds are paid on-chain to an address you supply on the same network as the deposit asset. You must not request a refund to a Lightning Swap deposit address (including addresses from other Orders).

2.13. Orders are processed automatically. We may refuse requests to pause an Order, change Order data, or alter the BOLT11 after creation.

2.14. Cancel while awaiting deposit. You may cancel an Order that is still awaiting deposit. Cancellation expires the Order for payout purposes; we may still watch through the late-deposit grace so that an in-flight deposit can open a refund path instead of being stranded.

2.15. You are responsible for preserving the Order URL / public_token. Closing the page, losing the link, or sharing it with others is at your risk. Without the token (or an account that owns the Order), we may be unable to help you view or refund the Order.

2.16. The Service provides non-custodial services: we do not store your funds on deposits or balances. Funds move only in the course of completing an Order (deposit in, Lightning payout or refund out). There is no standing user balance with Lightning Swap after an Order is completed or refunded.

2.17. We may refuse service to anyone for any reason at any time, and may modify or discontinue the Website or Service without notice.

2.18. Third-party smart contracts. Sending deposits via third-party smart contracts or atypical contract calls is prohibited unless expressly allowed on the Order page. Such deposits may not be detected automatically and may require manual handling or be unrecoverable.

3. Prices and exchange rates

3.1. Prices and available pairs may change without notice. A pair is available for new Orders only while we treat its rate as fresh and online.

3.2. We are not liable to you or any third party for modification, price change, suspension, or discontinuance of the Service or any pair.

3.3. Our margin and operational costs are included in the fixed rate shown when the Order is created. Network fees you pay to send the deposit to us are separate and are your responsibility. Refund network costs are handled under Section 4.

3.4. Required blockchain confirmations differ by asset (for example, one confirmation on Solana and Tron assets; four on Ethereum assets) and may change without notice. The values shown on the Order / API response at creation apply to that Order.

3.5. Maximum Lightning payout size is limited by liquidity and hard caps (including a cap of 0.5 BTC and a fraction of available Lightning balance). Quotes that would exceed limits are rejected at creation.

4. Emergency handling and refunds

4.1. When automatic completion as a Lightning payout is not possible, the Order may enter emergency status. Common causes include: underpayment, overpayment, late deposit within the grace period, failed Lightning payout that returns the deposit to refundable status, or other credited deposits that cannot safely pay the invoice.

4.2. Emergency choice. When an Order is in emergency status, the self-serve resolution is an on-chain refund (REFUND) to an address you provide.

4.3. Self-serve refund. When the Order page or API offers a refund form, you submit a valid refund address on the correct network. We send the full credited deposit amount (see 4.4). You must use the Order’s public_token (or an owning account) to authorize the refund.

4.4. Refund amount. Self-serve refunds return the full credited deposit. Native SOL and ETH refunds still lose chain gas on-chain (the network deducts it from the amount sent). Token refunds return the full token balance; we front native gas from our own wallet. Dust or uneconomic deposits (below our minimum refundable floors) are not self-serve refundable and may require manual review or may be refused.

4.5. Expired with no deposit. If no credited deposit arrives by the end of the late-deposit grace period, the Order expires with nothing to refund.

4.6. Failed or stuck refunds. We may retry a refund a limited number of times. If refunds fail repeatedly, or the situation is ambiguous, the Order may require manual operator attention. Contact support with your public_token, deposit transaction id, and refund address.

4.7. Manual recovery for rule violations (wrong network, wrong asset, smart-contract deposit, lost token with proof of deposit, etc.) is discretionary. Processing times are not guaranteed. We may require proof that you control the sending wallet, charge additional recovery fees, refund only above a minimum economic threshold, or refuse recovery without giving reasons — especially where funds cannot be safely moved or ownership is unclear.

4.8. Suspected abuse or fraud. We may suspend processing, request clarification, freeze movement of funds, and/or refund only to the original sending address. Intentional misuse (including repeated rule violations aimed at extracting refunds or draining gas) may result in refusal of further service and claims for losses caused to the Service.

5. Accounts and API

5.1. An account is optional for swapping. Creating an account requires an email address and password (or supported OAuth). Account email is used for authentication and account security messages only — not for swap status notifications.

5.2. Logging in adds API key management and, when you hold an active API key, the ability to list your swap history. It does not change the core swap rules in Sections 2–4.

5.3. API keys are secrets. You are responsible for HMAC signing, safeguarding the secret, rate limits, and all activity performed with your keys. We may throttle, rotate, or revoke keys that abuse the Service or compromise security.

5.4. API Orders follow the same exchange rules as Website Orders, including the ten (10) minute deposit window (see 2.5). Emergency refunds via API use the documented /emergency refund choice only.

5.5. Guest swaps are authenticated by the Order public_token. Account email is used for login and API-key access only, not as a handle on individual Orders.

6. Prohibited jurisdictions

6.1. We may restrict or deny the Service in certain countries or regions.

6.2. Use of the Service is prohibited for individuals and legal entities located in, resident in, or organized under the laws of: the Russian Federation; Iran; Cuba; the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea); any other country or territory subject to comprehensive or list-based sanctions administered by the United States (including OFAC); any country on the United Nations Sanctions List; and any jurisdiction where use of cryptocurrency or of this Service is forbidden by applicable law. Nationals or residents of a prohibited jurisdiction may not use the Service even while physically elsewhere if doing so would violate these restrictions or applicable sanctions.

6.3. You must comply with these restrictions even if technical blocks are incomplete or can be bypassed. Attempting to evade geo or sanctions restrictions is prohibited.

7. Prohibited uses

7.1. You may not use the Website or Service:

7.2. You must not send funds that are linked to sanctioned addresses or contracts under regimes we choose to follow (including United Nations, EU, and United States sanctions analysis), or funds clearly tied to criminal activity.

7.3. We may terminate or suspend your use of the Service for violating prohibited uses.

8. Compliance

8.1. Guest swaps do not require registration or KYC. We may nonetheless suspend an Order, withhold payout or refund, and request information about the source of funds where deposits appear linked to criminal activity, sanctions exposure, fraud reports, law-enforcement requests, or similar risk signals.

8.2. If we contact you about a suspended Order, communicate from an address we can associate with the request and provide the Order public_token, deposit transaction, and any evidence we reasonably request. Refusal, false information, or confirmation of illicit origin may result in freezing funds and cooperation with authorities or victims.

8.3. We may verify transactions with internal and third-party screening tools and need not disclose our information sources.

8.4. We may restrict new Orders while an investigation is pending.

9. Personal data

9.1. Processing of personal data is described in our Privacy Policy. By using the Service you agree to that policy.

9.2. We may share limited data (including IP addresses and transaction metadata) with service providers or authorities where needed to operate the Service or to prevent or investigate prohibited or illegal activity, as allowed by law and the Privacy Policy.

10. Accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of information

10.1. We do not warrant that information on the Website is always accurate, complete, or current. Material is general information only; reliance is at your own risk.

10.2. We may change Website content at any time without an obligation to update historical pages. You should check these Terms and product pages periodically.

11. User comments, feedback, and other submissions

11.1. If you send ideas, suggestions, or other materials to us, you grant us a perpetual, royalty-free right to use, edit, publish, and exploit them in any media without restriction or compensation to you.

12. Disclaimer of warranties

12.1. We do not guarantee that use of the Service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free.

12.2. We may suspend or discontinue the Service for indefinite periods without notice.

12.3. THE WEBSITE AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. YOU ASSUME ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK FOR YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.

12.4. We do not guarantee continuous or secure access; the Website and blockchain / Lightning networks may be affected by factors outside our control.

13. Limitation of liability

13.1. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Lightning Swap and its operators, directors, members, employees, and agents are not liable for lost profits, revenue, savings, data, or similar damages, or for hacking, tampering, malware, unauthorized access, downtime, incorrect user-supplied details, chain congestion, invoice expiry, or funds sent to wrong networks or assets.

13.2. Where liability cannot be excluded, our aggregate liability for a claim relating to an Order is limited to the fees / margin attributable to that Order.

13.3. You agree to indemnify Lightning Swap and its operators, officers, employees, and agents against claims arising from your breach of these Terms, your misuse of the Service, or use of the Service with your credentials (including API keys or Order tokens).

13.4. We are not liable for failure to perform obligations due to force majeure or other causes beyond our reasonable control.

13.5. We are not responsible for phishing sites, fake apps, or chatbots that misuse the Lightning Swap name or design.

14. Entire agreement

14.1. Failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver.

14.2. These Terms, the Privacy Policy, and operating rules posted on the Website constitute the entire agreement regarding the Service and supersede prior agreements on the same subject.

14.3. Ambiguities are not construed against the drafting party.

15. Tax

15.1. You may have tax obligations when exchanging digital assets. Lightning Swap does not determine whether taxes apply, and does not collect, report, withhold, or remit taxes for your swaps unless required by law.

15.2. You are solely responsible for compliance with tax and other laws in your jurisdiction.

16. Changes to these Terms

16.1. The current Terms are always available at this page.

16.2. We may update these Terms by posting a new version on the Website. Continued use after posting constitutes acceptance. The "Last updated" date will change when we revise the Terms.

17. Risk

17.1. You acknowledge the risks of cryptocurrency and Lightning Network transactions, including volatility, irreversible transfers, network fees, congestion, invoice expiry, and loss from user error.

17.2. Your use of the Service is at your own risk. Lightning Swap is not responsible for adverse results inherent to those risks.

18. Intellectual property

18.1. Lightning Swap owns its name, logos, site content, software, and related intellectual property.

18.2. You may not use our marks or content for commercial or public purposes without express permission, except for personal non-commercial use as allowed by these Terms or applicable law.

18.3. Do not issue press releases or public statements about us implying partnership without our permission.

19. Restricted activities

19.1. In connection with the Service you shall not: breach these Terms; violate law; infringe IP or privacy rights; threaten or harass our staff or users; provide false information; or engage in fraudulent or suspicious activity.

20. Disputes

20.1. Disputes should first be addressed by contacting us at [email protected]. Include your Order public_token and relevant transaction ids when applicable.

20.2. Email correspondence with that address is an effective method of communication for dispute discussions.

20.3. If we cannot resolve a dispute within thirty (30) days of your complete written notice, either party may pursue available legal remedies in a court of competent jurisdiction.

20.4. To the extent allowed by law, any claim arising from these Terms must be brought within one (1) year after it arose, or it is waived.

21. Contact

Questions about these Terms: [email protected]