Overview
Across is a purpose-built crosschain interoperability protocol designed to make bridging and cross-network interactions simple, efficient, and secure. At its core Across replaces brittle, manual crosschain flows with crosschain intents — declarative user orders that capture the desired outcome rather than prescribing each execution step. This user-centric approach lets a network of competitive relayers optimize execution paths while a dedicated settlement layer escrows funds and enforces correct completion. Across positions itself as a production-ready solution, providing the fastest and lowest-cost bridging for popular tokens and offering developer tooling to embed crosschain experiences into applications.
Core Capabilities
-
Intents-based execution: Across allows users to submit crosschain intents, which are a combination of a limit-order style instruction and an associated on-chain action. Relayers compete to fulfill those intents, delivering the best available route and price.
-
Modular three-layer architecture: The system is composed of (1) a request-for-quote mechanism to solicit competitive execution, (2) a network of relayers that execute and optimize crosschain paths, and (3) a settlement layer that escrows user funds, verifies outcomes, and repays relayers.
-
Low cost and high speed: Across emphasizes lowest fees and fastest speeds, with metrics showing sub-minute average fill times and very low bridging costs (for example, bridging 1 ETH often costs under $1 in fees).
-
Developer-friendly products: Across offers distinct products to support different integration needs: the Across Bridge for end-users, Across+ (Crosschain Bridge Hooks) for embedding bridge behavior directly into dapps, and Across Settlement as a crosschain intents settlement layer.
-
Production-proven security and scale: Across reports substantial on-chain activity with billions in volume and millions of transactions processed, asserting that it achieves high performance without sacrificing security guarantees.
Key Features
- Crosschain Intents Abstraction: Replace explicit multi-step crosschain flows with a single outcome-driven order, reducing complexity for both users and dapp developers.
- Competitive Relayer Network: Multiple relayers can bid to fulfill an intent, enabling better pricing and execution choices for users.
- Settlement and Escrow Layer: A dedicated settlement system escrows funds, validates execution, and handles relayer reimbursement to preserve security and trust minimization.
- Developer Integration Tools: Documentation and SDKs enable developers to embed intents or bridge hooks in their protocols quickly, creating seamless crosschain UX.
- Production Metrics and Adoption: Demonstrated volume, transaction counts, and partner integrations illustrate that Across operates at scale and is trusted by numerous leading applications.
Recommended Reasons to Consider Across
Across is a strong choice if you value user-centric UX, cost-efficient bridging, and a modular architecture that separates quoting, execution, and settlement concerns. Developers benefit from straightforward integration patterns: embed a standardized intent order in your protocol actions and let relayers compete to fulfill the user’s request. For end-users, Across minimizes friction and often reduces both cost and time compared to traditional message-passing or ad-hoc bridging solutions.
Use Cases and Getting Started
- End-users seeking the cheapest, fastest way to move tokens across chains can use the Across Bridge interface.
- Dapps that require crosschain flows can integrate Across+ to embed bridging hooks, offering seamless cross-network experiences without reworking core contract logic.
- Protocols that need reliable crosschain settlement and dispute-free reimbursements can adopt Across Settlement as the escrow and verification backbone.
To begin, users can access the bridge or developers can consult the official developer docs to learn how to integrate intents and bridge hooks. With a combination of innovative abstractions, competitive relayers, and a robust settlement layer, Across aims to simplify crosschain operations while maintaining strong security and performance guarantees.


