AtomicDEX API is free, open-source software for atomic swaps, letting two people trade one cryptocurrency for another directly, without a central exchange holding their funds. It is aimed at developers, at traders who are comfortable with command-line tools, and at anyone who wants to study how decentralized swap engines work on Windows. One point to know before reading further: the project's repository is now archived, and no further updates, bug fixes or security patches are planned.
The software is written in Rust and is also described in its documentation under the name Komodo DeFi Framework. It shares orderbooks and swap states over the libp2p networking protocol and relies on Hash Time Lock Contracts so that a trade either completes for both sides or funds return to their original owners. Treat this page as a guide to the technology and to installing a ready-made Windows build, not as an endorsement of using it with significant funds.
What Is Atomic Swap Trading?
An atomic swap is a trade in which two parties exchange coins from different blockchains without handing either side's funds to a middleman. Neither party has to trust the other or a platform operator, because the rules of the trade are enforced by the chains themselves.
The mechanism behind this is the Hash Time Lock Contract, or HTLC. Each party locks funds in a contract that can be unlocked only with a secret and only within a time limit. If both sides follow the steps, each claims the other's coins and the trade completes. If the trade stalls, the time limit expires and the locked funds return to their original owners.
Imagine Alice holds Bitcoin and wants Dogecoin from Bob. Both lock their coins under the same secret hash, and each claim reveals the information the other side needs to claim its own coins. If Bob disappears, Alice recovers her Bitcoin after the timeout.
For traders, the practical consequence is that a swap is a multi-step process rather than an instant transfer. Understanding each stage helps you read the program's output correctly and recognize when a trade is still in progress.
How Peer-to-Peer Orderbooks Work Over libp2p
Most centralized exchanges keep their order lists on their own servers. AtomicDEX API takes a different route by sharing orderbook information and swap states across a peer-to-peer network built on libp2p, a modular networking stack that lets nodes find each other and exchange messages directly.
In practice, the list of offers you see is assembled from many participants rather than pulled from a single company's database. Each node may receive updates at slightly different moments, so two users can briefly see different prices for the same pair. Checking depth at more than one point in time is a sensible habit before you act.
Peer-to-peer design also changes how failures happen. No central server can go down for everyone at once, but individual nodes can disconnect, and your own connection quality affects how quickly your offers and swap messages travel. A stable internet connection and reliable chain-data servers generally make for a smoother experience.
This architecture is one reason the software interests developers: the networking layer and the swap logic are separate concerns that can be studied on their own.
Who Is AtomicDEX API For?
AtomicDEX API is not a consumer app with a polished interface. It is closer to a trading engine that you run, query and configure, which makes it a better fit for some readers than for others. The name itself points to this design: it is an API that other software can call.
Developers are the most natural audience. The project is written in Rust, and a developer might use orderbook queries to build a price monitor or study how HTLC steps appear in logs during a test setup.
Technically confident traders who want to understand every component may also find it useful. Running the program from a command prompt, reading console output and configuring makerbot behavior all require comfort with settings and logs.
Casual users who expect a single window with buttons, balances and charts will likely find it frustrating. Anyone who needs ongoing security updates should look elsewhere, because this repository is archived and will not receive patches.
Key features
Trading without a local native chain
Orderbook queries across supported coins
Taking and making orders
Automated makerbot trading
Supported coins
The documentation names Bitcoin (BTC), Dogecoin (DOGE) and Komodo as examples of coins the software works with. Because it connects to chains through Electrum servers in some setups, the set of usable assets depends on the chains and servers you configure. Before relying on a specific trading pair, confirm that both coins are supported in your setup and that you can query an orderbook for that pair.
How to install AtomicDEX API on Windows
- 1
Get the Windows build from the official source
Open the project's GitHub repository at github.com/KomodoPlatform/atomicDEX-API and go to its Releases page. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, where ready-made Windows binaries are published. Avoid mirror sites and file-sharing links, even ones that rank highly in search results.
- 2
Verify the download
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published alongside the release. On Windows, you can run Get-FileHash in PowerShell to calculate it. If the release also provides a signature, verify that as well. Do not run a file whose checksum does not match.
- 3
Place the files in a dedicated folder
Extract or copy the executable into a folder you control, such as a new folder under Documents, so that configuration files and logs stay together. Keep the original archive until the program runs correctly, in case you need to recheck the checksum later.
- 4
Start the program from a command prompt
Open Command Prompt in the folder that contains the executable and run kdf.exe. On other platforms the same program is launched as ./kdf. Watch the console output for startup errors before attempting any trade.
-
Confirm the version you are running
Make sure the version you started matches the release you downloaded. The latest listed version is v3.0.0-beta, a pre-release build, so expect rough edges. Because the repository is archived, no patches will follow for this or any other build.
How to use AtomicDEX API
Before you start, plan a small test trade and read the console output carefully. The steps below assume you have already installed the Windows build.
- Open a Command Prompt window in the folder that contains kdf.exe.
- Start the program with kdf.exe and wait for the startup messages to finish.
- Decide which coins you plan to trade and confirm that both appear in the supported list.
- Query the orderbook for the pair you want to examine, and note the offered prices and depth.
- Decide whether to take an existing offer or create a maker order of your own.
- If you use makerbot, set the price update interval and enable Telegram alerts only if you need them.
- Monitor each swap from start to finish, and keep the console open until it reaches a final state.
- Stop the program when you are finished, and store your seed phrase offline, never in a text file or on a website.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the code published on GitHub
- Ready-made Windows binaries are available
- Can work without a local native chain by using Electrum servers
- Orderbook queries cover all pairs within the supported coin set
- Includes automated makerbot trading with optional Telegram alerts
- Useful for developers who want to study atomic swap mechanics
- The repository is archived, with no further updates, bug fixes or security patches
- The latest version is a beta build, v3.0.0-beta
- Documentation names only a few example coins, such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin and Komodo
- Command-line operation may be unfamiliar to everyday Windows users
- Chain data from Electrum servers must be trusted, which adds a dependency
- Liquidity in the orderbook depends on other participants being online
Is AtomicDEX API safe?
AtomicDEX API handles keys and trades, so safety comes first. The repository is archived and no security patches are planned, which means any vulnerability found later will likely stay unfixed. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running kdf.exe. Never enter a seed phrase on a third-party website, and never share it with anyone who contacts you offering help.
Keep Windows updated and use a reputable antivirus, but do not disable protection to get the program running. Before installing, check the latest version on the official website to see whether a newer release exists. Start with small amounts while you learn how the software behaves.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/KomodoPlatform/atomicDEX-API. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
AtomicDEX API sits closer to the engine level than many programs in this catalog. Komodo DeFi Framework, the name the documentation also uses, is listed separately as a developer-oriented atomic swap engine, so compare the two if you are choosing between them. Bisq is a decentralized peer-to-peer exchange for Bitcoin with its own trading application, and Bisq 2 is its newer version. ASGARDEX focuses on a wallet and DEX for THORChain.
Choose AtomicDEX API when you want to study or build against an atomic swap framework. If you want a graphical application for everyday trading, one of the finished desktop products is usually the better starting point.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v3.0.0-beta
- Last update
- 7 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/KomodoPlatform/atomicDEX-API
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The software is free and open source, and its code is published on GitHub. There is no license fee for the Windows build. Keep in mind that the repository is archived, so the free price comes with no guarantee of future updates or security patches.
It can be used carefully, but it carries real risk. The repository is archived and no security patches are planned, so known issues may stay unfixed. Verify the SHA-256 checksum of every download, and never enter a seed phrase on third-party websites. Testing with small amounts is a sensible precaution.
An atomic swap exchanges coins between two blockchains without a middleman. Each party locks funds in a Hash Time Lock Contract that requires a secret and a time limit to unlock. Either the trade completes for both sides, or the locked funds return after the timeout, so neither side can keep both sets of coins.
The documentation names Bitcoin (BTC), Dogecoin (DOGE) and Komodo as examples of supported coins. The software is designed to work with a broad range of assets, but you should confirm that the specific pair you want is supported before relying on it for a trade.
Not necessarily. The software can work without a local native chain by using Electrum servers for blockchain data. This reduces setup effort, but it means you rely on those servers. When trade size matters, check which servers you connect to and compare the results they return.
Makerbot is the automated trading feature that can run a maker strategy on a schedule. It supports periodic price updates and optional Telegram alerts. Because it can place and refresh orders without manual input, test it with small amounts and review its configuration carefully before leaving it running.
No. The project status says the repository is archived and kept for historical reference. No further updates, bug fixes or security patches are planned. You can still read the code and try the existing release, but do not expect new features or fixes from the maintainers.
Verdict
AtomicDEX API is best suited to developers and technically confident users who want to learn about or experiment with atomic swaps on Windows. Its free, open-source design and orderbook tools are valuable for study. However, the repository is archived and no security patches are planned, so it is a poor choice for holding meaningful amounts of crypto. If you want to trade, look at the alternatives listed above and choose a program with ongoing maintenance, then review the safety section before any installation.