As blockchain technology continues to evolve, one challenge persists: how to seamlessly trade assets across different blockchain networks. This challenge is heightened by the growing number of Layer 2 (L2) rollups, making cross-chain swaps more critical than ever. That’s where Uniswap and Across come in, introducing an innovative partnership that could redefine cross-chain transactions.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into how this integration works, why it’s a game-changer, and how it can benefit you as a DeFi user. You’ll learn what Across brings to the table, what makes Uniswap’s cross-chain swaps revolutionary, and how the newly introduced ERC-7683 token standard simplifies these transactions.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Cross-Chain Problem
Why Cross-Chain Trading is So Important
You’ve probably noticed how quickly the crypto space has expanded. It’s no longer just Ethereum or Bitcoin dominating the conversation. Chains like Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and many others are rising, each offering unique features and deeper liquidity pools for specific assets.
However, with this variety comes complexity. When you need to trade tokens from one chain but find better liquidity on another, you’re often forced to bridge assets manually. And let’s face it, that process can be cumbersome. Manually bridging tokens between different chains introduces friction and delays, often leading to increased gas fees and the risk of errors.
Uniswap, as a dominant decentralized exchange (DEX), and Across Protocol, known for its efficient bridging solutions, saw an opportunity to address this issue. The partnership brings a more seamless way for traders like you to conduct cross-chain swaps without manually hopping from one chain to another.
What Makes Cross-Chain Transactions Challenging?
Cross-chain trading requires multiple steps, each of which adds complexity. First, you need to transfer assets to a bridge, pay fees, and then wait for the bridge to execute the transaction. Once that’s done, you often have to swap tokens on the destination chain. This is a hassle for even the most experienced traders, let alone those who are newer to decentralized finance (DeFi).
What Uniswap and Across aim to do is to eliminate these obstacles. By integrating Across’s intent-based bridging into Uniswap, they’ve created a streamlined process where users can bridge and swap in one step. This offers the potential for faster trades, lower fees, and a more intuitive user experience.
Uniswap and Across: A Groundbreaking Collaboration
Across’s Intent-Based Bridging: What’s the Big Deal?
Across Protocol is built by Risk Labs, the same team behind the Universal Market Access (UMA) optimistic oracle. At its core, Across is designed to enable fast, secure, and cost-effective cross-chain transfers. According to data from their Dune dashboard, Across has bridged over $12.7 billion in lifetime volume, with $20-40 million in daily volume.
What sets Across apart is its intent-based bridging. Traditional bridges often require you to lock assets on one chain before unlocking them on another. This can be slow and expensive, particularly for large transactions. Across’s intent-based model simplifies this. For transactions under $10,000—which account for 99% of all Layer 2 (L2) activity—Across promises transfers within 3 seconds. This is a game-changer for traders who need speed and efficiency.
Across Protocol and Its Impact
Its bridging solution is designed for speed and efficiency, ensuring that 99% of all L2 transactions (which are typically under $10,000) are processed in mere seconds.
Supported Chains and Tokens (Table)
| Supported EVM Chains | Supported Tokens |
| Ethereum | Stablecoins |
| Base | WBTC |
| Arbitrum | Native Chain Assets (ETH, OP, ARB) |
The ERC-7683 Token Standard: Simplifying Cross-Chain Transactions
Alongside the integration of Across’s bridging, Uniswap and Across have co-developed a new token standard: ERC-7683. This standard aims to streamline cross-chain swaps by defining a framework that DEXs and bridges can use to execute transactions across multiple chains.
In simple terms, ERC-7683 allows intermediaries—known as solvers or relayers—to facilitate cross-chain swaps on behalf of users. It simplifies the process of executing transactions across different blockchains while maintaining compatibility with existing messaging networks.
This means that, as a user, you’ll benefit from faster, more efficient cross-chain trades without sacrificing the security or decentralization that DeFi is known for.
Supported Chains and Tokens
Uniswap’s integration with Across currently supports nine major EVM-compatible chains, including:
- Ethereum
- Base
- Arbitrum
- Polygon
- Optimism (OP Mainnet)
- Blast
- ZKsync
- Zora
- World Chain (recently announced)
The tokens supported in this integration include stablecoins, WBTC (Wrapped Bitcoin), and native chain assets such as ETH, OP, and ARB. Whether you’re swapping ETH for ARB or transferring stablecoins across L2 chains, this integration makes it significantly easier.
How Does This Benefit You as a Trader?
Faster Transactions
One of the most significant advantages of this partnership is speed. By leveraging Across’s bridging infrastructure, Uniswap users can bridge and swap assets across chains in just a few seconds. This is particularly valuable for smaller transactions, where speed is essential for taking advantage of arbitrage opportunities or moving funds quickly during periods of market volatility.
Lower Fees
With fewer steps in the cross-chain swapping process, you’ll benefit from lower fees. By eliminating the need for manual bridging, the costs associated with gas fees and transaction fees are reduced. For traders moving between Layer 2 chains, this can lead to substantial savings over time.
Greater Access to Liquidity
As more Layer 2 chains gain popularity, liquidity is becoming increasingly fragmented. Some assets may have deeper liquidity on specific chains, making it challenging to find the best prices for trades. The integration of Across into Uniswap addresses this issue by allowing you to access liquidity across multiple chains without manually bridging assets. This ensures you can always get the best price, regardless of which chain you’re trading on.
How to Perform Cross-Chain Swaps on Uniswap
Step-by-Step Guide
- Connect Your Wallet: Ensure your wallet is connected to Uniswap. Popular wallets like MetaMask, WalletConnect, and Ledger are all compatible.
- Select Your Tokens and Chains: Choose the token you want to trade, and specify the source and destination chains.
- Bridge and Swap: Uniswap will automatically use Across’s bridging infrastructure to bridge your assets and execute the swap. All of this happens within a few clicks.
- Confirm and Pay Fees: Review the details of the transaction, including any associated fees, and confirm the trade.
That’s it! In just a few steps, you’ll have swapped assets across chains without ever leaving the Uniswap interface.
FAQs About Uniswap and Across Cross-Chain Swaps
1. What is intent-based bridging?
Intent-based bridging allows you to specify the destination and action for your transaction (such as swapping tokens), and Across handles the rest. This eliminates the need for you to manually bridge tokens between chains.
2. What is ERC-7683?
ERC-7683 is a new token standard co-developed by Uniswap and Across. It enables seamless cross-chain swaps by allowing relayers or solvers to facilitate these transactions across multiple blockchains.
3. What chains are supported in this integration?
The integration currently supports nine EVM-compatible chains, including Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, and more.
4. Which tokens are supported for cross-chain swaps?
Initially, the supported tokens include stablecoins, Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), and native assets like ETH, OP, and ARB.
5. How fast are cross-chain swaps with Across?
For transactions under $10,000, Across aims to complete transfers in just 3 seconds.
6. How do I access this feature on Uniswap?
Simply connect your wallet to Uniswap, choose the tokens and chains you want to trade, and Uniswap will handle the rest using Across’s bridging infrastructure.
Conclusion: The Future of Cross-Chain Swaps is Here
As DeFi continues to grow, the need for seamless cross-chain swaps will only increase. With the integration of Across’s intent-based bridging and the introduction of ERC-7683, Uniswap is positioning itself as the go-to platform for these transactions. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or new to the DeFi space, this partnership makes cross-chain trading easier, faster, and more efficient.
By simplifying the process of bridging assets and enabling cross-chain swaps in a single step, Uniswap and Across are paving the way for the next generation of decentralized trading. So, if you’ve been hesitant to explore cross-chain swaps due to the complexity, now is the perfect time to dive in.
Call to Action: Ready to take your DeFi trading to the next level? Start using Uniswap’s new cross-chain swap feature today and experience the future of decentralized trading firsthand!
