Why did my swap return a wrapped token instead of native coin?

A swap can deliver a wrapped-native token instead of the native coin itself. Those balances appear differently in wallets, and receiving the wrapper does not automatically replenish the account’s native gas balance.

Ethereum explains WETH as an ERC-20 representation of ETH. Other networks have their own wrappers, which must be identified by the correct contract and chain.

Inspect what the route actually requested

Compare the accepted output asset with the final token transfers. A route may include wrapping or unwrapping commands, but that does not mean every route always ends in native coin. Uniswap’s router command reference lists wrap and unwrap as explicit operations.

If the correct wrapper reached your address, add or reveal that verified token in the wallet. If the output remained at a router or reached another recipient, a display change is not the remedy.

Unwrap only through a supported flow

Use a genuine wallet or application that supports the specific wrapper. Review the contract and expected native output. Unwrapping typically requires an onchain action and may need native gas, so a wrapper-only balance can leave an operational funding problem.

Do not send wrapped tokens directly to a native-coin deposit address unless the receiving service explicitly supports that asset and network. A similar ticker does not establish compatibility.

If the quote promised native output but the receipt shows a wrapper, preserve the accepted quote and hash for support. That is a routing or settlement discrepancy worth investigating separately from wallet display.