Across (ACX): An Intents-Driven Solution for Cross-Chain Transfers

Transferring crypto assets from one blockchain network to another is still cumbersome, costly and inconvenient for many users, particularly those without a deep technical understanding of the technology. Numerous bridging solutions have emerged to facilitate the process, but the costs and complexity of crypto transfers are still an issue limiting the adoption of cross-chain decentralized apps (DApps).

Across Protocol (ACX) is a blockchain project that aims to tackle this problem by offering highly efficient, low-cost and secure cross-chain transactions based on intent technology. 

Intents — transaction requests with prespecified conditions — have seen rapid adoption in the blockchain industry. Across Protocol has focused its service offerings on using this promising technology. Begun in 2021 as a solution to facilitate token transfers between Ethereum (ETH) Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks linked to the blockchain, the protocol has evolved through two major version upgrades into a modular cross-chain solution that DApp operators can easily integrate into their platforms.

The protocol’s latest iteration, Across V3, features a modular settlement layer that decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and other decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms can leverage to offer their users seamless, intent-based cross-chain swaps and asset transfers, all without leaving the user app’s native interface.

Key Takeaways:

• Across Protocol (ACX) is a cross-chain bridge platform that offers low-cost, fast and secure intent-based transactions.

• The Across Protocol ecosystem includes a decentralized network of relayers that compete to execute user intents by finding the best on-chain execution sources. Users deposit their funds into a single liquidity pool from which the relayers are repaid upon the finalization of cross-chain transactions.

• The platform's native token, ACX, is used primarily for governance.

What Is Across Protocol?

Across Protocol (ACX) is an intent-based, modular web3 solution that offers cross-chain crypto transfers and swaps. Using the protocol, DApp operators can integrate Across into their own solutions to let their end users conduct intent-based cross-chain operations.

Across is not a newcomer to the blockchain scene — the project was launched in late 2021 and might be considered one of the first, if not the first, decentralized protocols specializing in intent-based cross-chain transactions. The original protocol, now known as Across V1, was primarily limited to enabling direct asset transfers between Ethereum and Layer 2 chains connected to the world's largest smart contract blockchain.

In June 2022, the protocol underwent its first significant upgrade with the introduction of Across V2. This upgrade improved the overall efficiency of the platform and introduced new functions. The major difference between V1 and V2 was that the latter could facilitate further intent-based transactions after the transfer of assets from the origin chain to the destination network. In contrast, Across V1 was limited to simple asset bridging between chains.

However, the protocol's most significant upgrade arrived in the form of Across V3, announced in February 2024, which introduced asset swap functionality and architectural modularity, allowing Across to act as a pluggable solution for various DeFi applications. Across V3 also simplified the calculation of fees for cross-chain operations. With Across V3, DApps of various kinds — primarily in the DeFi niche — can easily integrate intent-based cross-chain asset transfers, swaps and liquidity solutions into their own platforms. The protocol provides a set of APIs for developers for such integration.

The best part is that users of these DApps don't need to leave the platforms' native interfaces to execute the cross-chain operations. All of the activities supported by Across Protocol are carried out via the client's DApp interface. This is in stark contrast to the typical cross-chain experience for many web3 users, as they need to use multiple interfaces — e.g., one provided by an asset bridging solution and another at the destination app they use — to carry out their desired crypto operations.

How Does Across Protocol Work?

Transactions executed by the protocol are based on user intents. Intents are conditional requests from users to perform some action, e.g., a token swap from ETH to USDT, if specific requirements are met, e.g., the swap rate is no lower than a certain value of ETH. In reality, many intents are executable transactions in the form of limit orders. Intent-based transactions have recently become popular in the crypto industry, due to benefits such as the limit on swap rates, a no-slippage fee model and other conditions that perfectly fit users' intended outcomes.

User intents are passed to Across's decentralized network or relayers, also known as solvers or fillers, which look for the best on-chain sources to satisfy the requests. Relayers compete with each other to offer the best solution to the user's stated outcome. The relayer that provides the best outcome earns the right to execute the transaction. This competitive relayer landscape allows end users to access the best possible rates for their cross-chain transfers and swaps.

Across Protocol locks user funds allocated for a transaction in an escrow pool instead of immediately transferring them to the winning relayer's custody, providing enhanced security to users. Relayers are responsible for providing the necessary funds to carry out the transaction on their own without having access to the user funds in escrow. When a relayer successfully executes an intent, they’re repaid from the liquidity pool holding the escrowed assets. To optimize gas costs, repayments to relayers are bundled and transferred in batches.

Source: docs.across.to

At the architectural level, Across is a modular system with three main layers — intent, relayer and settlement.

The intent layer is the component that handles user intents and their deposits at the origin chain. Then, the relayer hosts the network of relayer nodes and handles functions related to their activity — provision of capital to execute user intents, competitive bidding and the execution of intents.

The settlement layer is where the finalization of the transaction flow occurs, with relayers repaid in bundles and transactions settled on the destination chain. Verification of transactions uses an optimistic oracle that’s provided by the UMA platform, a protocol specializing in blockchain oracle services.

Across Key Products

Across Bridge

Across Bridge is a cross-chain token bridge designed for efficient, low-cost and secure asset transfers. It provides an easy-to-use interface for users to move tokens seamlessly between different decentralized networks. To start using the bridge, you’ll need to connect a supported wallet. As of early February 2025, the bridge supports four popular wallet types — MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, Phantom and the group of wallets compatible with the WalletConnect framework. Currently supported networks for transfers include the Ethereum mainnet, Arbitrum (ARB), Base, Optimism (OP), Polygon (POL) and zkSync Era. Transfers from the origin chain to the destination chain typically take only a few seconds to confirm.

Across+

Across+ is a bridge abstraction solution that utilizes cross-chain hooks to bundle multiple actions into one user transaction. In plain terms, it simply means that you can bridge assets to a protocol or DApp on the destination chain and carry out further actions (such as contributing liquidity) with a single transaction. For end users, this helps abstract the fact that the assets used for a crypto operation have been initially moved in from a different network. The cross-chain hooks let end-users carry out these transactions with a single instruction/signature, although under the hood, multiple actions are performed at the smart contract level.

Across+ boasts an extensive cross-chain reach. It currently supports 17 networks, including Ethereum and a wide range of Ethereum-linked Layer 2 chains.

Across Settlement

Earlier, we noted that Across Protocol moved to a modular design with the launch of its V3 in early 2024. This shift to modularity has created opportunities for DApps and external protocols to use the platform’s settlement layer as a pluggable standalone product to provide efficient settlement for intent-based cross-chain transactions. Using Across Settlement, DApps can extend their functionality into intent-based liquidity operations, swaps and transfers. Across Settlement supports the same 17 decentralized networks that can be utilized with Across+.

Source: across.to

What Is the Across Protocol Token (ACX)?

In November 2022, Across Protocol launched its native token, ACX. The token is primarily used for governance, and holders can vote on various proposals related to the protocol's rules, future direction, treasury spending and native token emission. ACX holders exercise their governance function through membership in the Across DAO.

Holders of the token represent one component of the protocol’s governance model. The other two key parties involved are the Across Council and Committees, made up of specific subject matter experts. While all ACX token holders are entitled to vote on proposals, only those who hold at least 50,000 ACX (around $16,000) can submit proposals considered for voting.

ACX is a supply-capped asset, with a total and maximum supply of 1 billion. The token’s allocation shares are as follows:

• Airdrop campaigns — 11.5%

• Strategic partnerships and fundraising — 25%

• Protocol rewards — 10%

• Across DAO Treasury reserve — 53.5%

Where to Buy ACX

The ACX token is available on Bybit as a Perpetual contract with USDT. Under the terms of the contract, you can trade ACX with up to 50x leverage. The contract is available to traders in Bybit’s derivatives products, such as Futures Grid, Futures Martingale and Futures Combo.

Across Protocol (ACX) Price Prediction

As of Feb 20, 2025, the ACX token is trading at $0.3257, which is 80.7% lower than its ATH of $1.69 on Dec 6, 2024, and 846.3% higher than its ATL of $0.03441 on Jun 1, 2023.

Long-term price forecasts for ACX are mostly bullish.DigitalCoinPrice predicts an average rate of $1.17 in 2027 and $1.78 in 2030, whileCoinCodex expects the token to trade at around $0.34 in 2027 and rise to $1.12 in 2030.

Closing Thoughts

The inefficient and often costly process of moving assets from one chain to another continues to hamper the adoption of DApps among crypto users. By enabling cross-chain intent-based functionality, Across Protocol seeks to provide DApps and their end users with a truly single-chain experience, where crypto operations across different networks can be handled from the same user interface.

Moreover, some of the protocol's key features — intent-based transaction execution, the competitive nature of the relayers' work and the batching of relayer repayments — contribute to lowering the costs of transfers and other crypto operations. Furthermore, the escrow system that the protocol employs protects users from malicious relayers, contributing to a stronger security profile for its platform. 

Minimal costs and tight security while carrying out your cross-chain crypto operations from a single DApp interface — these features aren't easy to come by all in one solution! 

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