Intent-based cross-chain bridge with the fastest settlement and lowest fees on EVM routes
Last updated: July 2026
Across Protocol is an intent-based bridge that has become the fastest and most capital-efficient way to move assets between Ethereum mainnet and its major Layer 2 networks — Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, zkSync Era, Linea, and more. Rather than locking assets in a canonical bridge and waiting for the settlement period, Across uses a network of relayers who front the requested funds on the destination chain immediately, then get reimbursed through the canonical bridge after settlement. From the user's perspective, bridge completion in under two minutes replaces the multi-hour wait of canonical bridges. The UMA optimistic oracle resolves any disputes about relayer reimbursements. Across charges a small LP fee (dynamically priced based on route utilization, typically 0.05–0.15% for stablecoins) and no additional protocol fee — making it consistently the cheapest major bridge for EVM-to-EVM transfers. The ACX governance token launched in November 2022 and earned significant community credibility for its retroactive airdrop to early bridgers. The Across v3 upgrade introduced improved capital efficiency, tighter fee spreads, and support for arbitrary cross-chain message passing alongside token transfers.
Across Protocol offers a free plan.
Across Protocol
Free
| Feature | Across Protocol |
|---|---|
| Settlement Time | ~2 minutes |
| Bridge Model | Intent-based (relayer network) |
| Fee Model | Dynamic LP fee only |
| Canonical Security | ✓ |
| Cross Chain Messages | ✓ |
| Governance Token | ✓ |
| Multi Chain | ✓ |
| Self Custody | ✓ |
| Arbitrary Messaging | ✗ |
| Non Evm Support | ✗ |
Yes, Across Protocol has a free plan.
Across Protocol is used for intent-based cross-chain bridge with the fastest settlement and lowest fees on evm routes. It's primarily used by Web3 teams in the Cross-Chain Bridges category.
See our full alternatives comparison at web3tools.directory/alternatives/across-protocol.
Across Protocol has a rating of 4.6/5 based on 1240 reviews. Key strength: Fastest EVM bridge — ~2 minutes vs hours for canonical bridges. Main limitation: EVM-only — no Solana, Bitcoin, or non-EVM chain support.
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