How to Trade Across Chains with Aspens Markets Stack¶
This guide is for cross-chain trading between EVM-compatible chains and Hedera.
Aspens Markets Stack supports various blockchain environments and will be expanding to more chains in the future.
This section provides a step-by-step walkthrough for trading digital assets across different blockchain networks using an Aspens Markets Stack.
Prerequisites¶
- Two blockchain wallets (one for each chain you wish to trade between)
- Tokens on at least one of the chains
- A web browser with wallet extensions installed
1. Wallet Setup¶
Supported Wallets¶
To trade across chains, you'll need wallets for both blockchain networks:
- EVM-compatible chains: MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or other EVM-compatible wallets
- Hedera: HashPack, Blade, or other Hedera wallets
Both wallets need to be connected simultaneously to enable cross-chain trading.
Wallet Configuration¶
- Install the wallet extensions in your browser
- Create or import wallets for both chains
- Fund your wallets with:
- The token you wish to trade
- A small amount of native gas tokens (ETH, HBAR, etc.) to cover transaction fees
2. Connect to an Aspens Markets Stack¶
Choosing a Market¶
- Visit the Aspens platform or a specific Aspens Markets Stack instance
- Browse available markets to find the trading pair you're interested in
- Markets are displayed in the format
TOKEN(ChainA):TOKEN(ChainB)
- Example:
USDT(Ethereum):USDT(Hedera)
for trading USDT between Ethereum and Hedera
Connecting Wallets¶
- Click on "Connect Wallets" in the trading interface
- Select and connect your first wallet when prompted
- Select and connect your second wallet when prompted
- Verify both wallets are properly connected in the interface
3. Deposit Assets¶
Before trading, you need to deposit assets to the Aspens smart contracts:
- Navigate to the "Deposit" section
- Select the token and chain you wish to deposit from
- Enter the amount you wish to deposit
- Approve the smart contract to access your tokens (first-time only)
- Confirm the deposit transaction in your wallet
- Wait for the transaction to be confirmed on-chain
Note: Aspens is non-custodial. Your tokens remain under your control through smart contracts.
4. Place Trading Orders¶
Limit Orders¶
For more control over your trading price:
- Navigate to the order entry section
- Select "Limit Order"
- Choose the direction of your trade (buy or sell)
- Enter the amount you wish to trade
- Set your desired price
- Review the details and click "Place Order"
- Confirm the transaction in your wallet
Market Orders¶
For immediate execution at the current market price:
- Navigate to the order entry section
- Select "Market Order"
- Choose the direction of your trade (buy or sell)
- Enter the amount you wish to trade
- Review the details and click "Place Order"
- Confirm the transaction in your wallet
5. Settlement and Delivery¶
Once your order is matched:
- The system automatically initiates the cross-chain settlement process
- You'll receive the purchased tokens on the destination chain
- Your trade will be viewable in the "Order History" section
- Both transactions will be verifiable on their respective blockchain explorers
6. Withdrawing Assets¶
To withdraw your assets back to your personal wallet:
- Navigate to the "Withdraw" section
- Select the token and chain you wish to withdraw to
- Enter the withdrawal amount
- Confirm the transaction in your wallet
- Wait for on-chain confirmation
Learn More¶
- Check out the Core Concepts page for more information on how cross-chain trading works
- See Tutorials for detailed examples of specific trading scenarios
- Review Full and Fair Disclosure to understand the risks involved in trading
- For operators interested in running their own stack, see the Operator Guide
- Developers building on top of Aspens should refer to the Application Developer Guide