Overview
Houdini supports three core routing strategies — private, standard, and DEX — plus two options that apply on top of CEX routing: fixed rate and reverse quotes. You can choose to support one, multiple, or all routing types in your integration.Routing Strategy Comparison
1. Private Swap
How It Works
Private swaps route through multiple CEX hops to maximize privacy and eliminate the need for wallet connections.1
User deposits source token
User sends funds to Houdini-provided deposit address
2
Multi-hop CEX routing
Funds route through 2 partner exchanges to break transaction trail
3
Delivery to destination
Final token arrives at user’s destination address
Technical Flow for Integrators
For detailed integration steps, see the Private Swap guide.Private swaps support a fixed rate variant — add
fixed=true to lock the rate across both hops — and reverse quotes. See Fixed Rate & Reverse Quote below.Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Maximum privacy: Multi-hop breaks transaction trail
- No wallet needed: Users just send to deposit address
- No gas fees: All fees included in quote
- Deep liquidity: Access to CEX order books
Considerations
- Longer completion time: 15-45 minutes typical
- CEX dependency: Relies on partner exchange availability
- AML screening: Transactions screened by partner CEXs
- Not instant: Not suitable for time-critical swaps
When to Use
- Users prioritize privacy and anonymity
- No wallet connection is possible or desired
- Time is not critical (15-45 min acceptable)
- Swapping larger amounts where CEX liquidity shines
2. Standard Swap (No Wallet Connect)
How It Works
Semi-private swaps use a single CEX hop for faster execution while maintaining privacy.1
User deposits source token
User sends funds to deposit address
2
Single CEX hop
Funds route through one partner exchange
3
Quick delivery
Faster settlement to destination address (3-30 minutes)
Technical Flow for Integrators
For detailed integration steps, see the Standard Swap guide.Standard swaps support a fixed rate variant — add
fixed=true to your /quotes request to lock the rate and guarantee the output amount. See Fixed Rate & Reverse Quote below.Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Faster than multi-hop: 3-30 minutes typical
- No wallet needed: Deposit address flow
- No gas fees: Included in quote
- Excellent liquidity: CEX order book depth
Considerations
- Less privacy: Single hop vs multi-hop
- CEX dependency: Relies on partner availability
- AML screening: CEX compliance applies
- Not instant: Still takes 3-30 minutes
When to Use
- Balance between speed and privacy
- Faster execution preferred (3-30 min vs 15-45 min)
- No wallet connection needed
- Good liquidity required
3. Fixed Rate and Reverse Quote
These are not routing types — they are options layered on top of CEX routing. Both work with standard and private swaps; neither works with DEX.Fixed Rate
Fixed rate locks the exchange rate at quote time. The user receives exactly the quotedamountOut regardless of market movement, as long as the exchange is created before validUntil expires. On a private swap the lock spans both hops, and expires at whichever hop expires first.
Reverse Quote
A reverse quote inverts which side of the swap you specify. Instead of “the user sends 1 ETH, what do they get?”, you ask “the recipient must receive 2500 USDC, what must the user send?”. It requires a fixed rate — a floating rate cannot guarantee an exact output.Technical Flow for Integrators
For detailed integration steps, see the Fixed Rate & Reverse Quote guide.Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Guaranteed output: Exact
amountOutdelivered regardless of volatility - Reverse quotes: Quote backwards from the amount the recipient needs
- Works with private: Available on both standard and private routing
- No wallet needed: Same deposit-address flow
Considerations
- Rate lock window: Must create the exchange before
validUntil - 60-second quote window: Enforced separately from
validUntil - refundAddress required: Must supply a source-chain refund wallet
- Route-bound: No fallback if a provider becomes unavailable
- Fewer routes: Can return no quotes where floating rate succeeds
- CEX only: Not available for DEX swaps
When to Use
- User needs a guaranteed output amount (e.g. paying an exact invoice)
- High-value swaps where slippage is unacceptable
- Partner wants to show a firm quote in the UI before the user commits
- The output is the fixed constraint — use a reverse quote instead of quoting by send amount
4. DEX Swap
How It Works
DEX swaps execute directly on-chain through decentralized exchanges and bridges.1
User approves tokens
Wallet approves token spending (if needed)
2
Execute on-chain swap
Transaction sent to DEX or bridge contract
3
On-chain settlement
Swap completes on-chain, funds arrive at destination
Technical Flow for Integrators
For detailed integration steps, see the DEX Swap guide.Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Fully on-chain: Transparent and verifiable
- No CEX dependency: Pure DeFi execution
- Can be fast: Seconds to minutes depending on network
- Trustless: Smart contract execution
- Wide token support: Access to long-tail assets
Considerations
- Public: All transactions visible on-chain
- Requires wallet: User must connect wallet
- User pays gas: Network fees additional
- Variable gas costs: Can be expensive on Ethereum L1
- Slippage risk: Especially for large trades or volatile pairs
When to Use
- On-chain transparency required or preferred
- Access to long-tail or newer tokens
- Lower gas fee networks (L2s, alt-L1s)
- Users already have wallet connected
- Trustless execution is priority
Next Steps
Order Lifecycle
Understand order states and status transitions
Private Swap
Detailed integration guide for private swaps
Fixed Rate & Reverse Quote
Guaranteed output — rate locked at quote time, on standard or private routing
DEX Swap
Complete guide for DEX swap integration
API v2 Reference
Full API documentation for all endpoints