Question 1

What does ChangeNOW API do?

Accepted Answer

ChangeNOW is a non-custodial instant cryptocurrency exchange service that provides an API for embedding crypto-to-crypto swaps directly into wallets, apps, and platforms. Unlike centralized exchanges (Binance, Coinbase) that require user account creation, KYC verification, and custody of funds on the exchange, ChangeNOW operates as a swap service: users provide their source asset and destination wallet address, ChangeNOW executes the exchange across its liquidity network, and the converted asset lands directly in the user's own wallet. The entire swap is non-custodial — ChangeNOW never holds user funds beyond the brief swap execution window.

For Nigerian developers building crypto wallets, payment processors, and DeFi applications, ChangeNOW is one of the most practical APIs for providing swap functionality. Nigeria's crypto users frequently need to convert between assets — swapping Bitcoin received from a remittance into USDT for stability, converting accumulated altcoins into BTC for cold storage, or exchanging ETH for BNB to take advantage of lower gas fees. Without a swap API like ChangeNOW, these conversions require users to go to an exchange, which is cumbersome and, for some Nigerian users, inaccessible due to exchange restrictions.

The exchange rate estimation endpoint (/exchange/estimated-amount) is the starting point for any swap flow. Given a source currency (e.g., BTC), destination currency (e.g., USDT), and amount, it returns the estimated output amount, the exchange rate, and the estimated completion time. This allows Nigerian applications to show users the exact expected output before they initiate the swap — building trust and transparency in the exchange process.

ChangeNOW supports both floating rate and fixed rate exchanges. With floating rates, the final output amount may differ slightly from the estimate due to market movements during the brief swap window — the user gets the market rate at execution time. With fixed rates, ChangeNOW locks in the exchange rate for a short window (typically 30-120 seconds) during which the user must send the source asset — the output is guaranteed at the quoted amount. Fixed rates are more user-friendly for Nigerian users who want certainty about what they will receive.

Creating an exchange (/exchange) generates a unique deposit address where the user must send the source asset. The API returns this address, the expected output amount, and an exchange ID for tracking. Once ChangeNOW detects the incoming funds, it executes the swap and sends the converted asset to the user's destination address. The entire process typically completes in 2-15 minutes depending on the blockchain confirmation requirements for the source asset.

Transaction status tracking via the /exchange/by-id endpoint allows applications to display real-time swap progress to Nigerian users: waiting for deposit, confirming source blockchain, exchanging, sending to destination, and completed. This status feed is important for user experience — crypto swaps are not instant, and users need reassurance that their funds are being processed correctly.

Coverage of 850+ trading pairs means Nigerian users can swap virtually any commonly held cryptocurrency. The coverage includes Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), USDT (on Tron, Ethereum, and BNB Chain), BNB, Solana (SOL), XRP, Dogecoin, and hundreds of altcoins. Minimum amounts vary by pair based on liquidity conditions and blockchain fees; the API provides a minimum amount endpoint so applications can validate user input before attempting a swap.

The API is completely free — ChangeNOW earns revenue from the spread between exchange rates, so there are no subscription fees or per-call charges for API usage. A free API key is obtained from changenow.io/api with no credit card required, and no geo-blocking for Nigerian developers has been reported.

Question 2

How much does ChangeNOW API cost?

Accepted Answer

ChangeNOW API is free to use. Free API access. ChangeNOW earns from exchange rate spread. No subscription fees or per-API-call charges.

Question 3

How do I authenticate with the ChangeNOW API API?

Accepted Answer

API Key

Question 4

Is there a rate limit on ChangeNOW API?

Accepted Answer

No published rate limits for standard usage; contact for high-volume needs

Question 5

Does ChangeNOW API offer a sandbox or test mode?

Accepted Answer

No public sandbox is documented for ChangeNOW API. Check the official docs for the recommended way to test integrations safely before going live.

Question 6

What is ChangeNOW API best suited for?

Accepted Answer

Nigerian crypto apps and wallets needing non-custodial crypto-to-crypto swap functionality — let users swap BTC to ETH, USDT to BNB, and 850+ pairs without an exchange account.

Question 7

Is there anything else I should know before integrating ChangeNOW API?

Accepted Answer

ChangeNOW is a non-custodial instant crypto exchange API. No user account required for swaps. Fixed and floating rate exchanges supported. Nigerian-accessible with no geo-blocking reported. Ideal for embedding swaps in wallets.

Question 8

Where can I find ChangeNOW API's documentation?

Accepted Answer

The official API documentation is at https://doc.changenow.io/. The provider's website is https://changenow.io/.

Question 9

Does ChangeNOW API support Nigerian developers?

Accepted Answer

Yes — ChangeNOW API explicitly supports Nigerian developers/use cases.

ChangeNOW API

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