Decentralized exchange Uniswap has introduced a new feature that allows its users to easily bridge assets across nine different blockchain networks. This in-app, permissionless cross-chain bridging service was launched on October 23, marking a significant step towards enabling cross-chain swaps on the Uniswap platform.
The cross-chain bridge is powered by the Across Protocol, a protocol designed to facilitate seamless cross-chain transactions. Users can now move assets between networks such as Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, and ZKSync, with support for native assets like ETH and ARB, as well as stablecoins.
By enabling cross-chain transactions directly through the Uniswap interface and Uniswap Wallet, the platform aims to increase the adoption of multi-chain access among its six million users. Despite the growing interest in cross-chain swaps, the number of bridge swaps remains relatively low, prompting Uniswap Labs to focus on expanding this functionality.
In addition to the cross-chain bridge, Uniswap has also introduced UniChain, a new layer-2 chain specifically designed for DeFi and cross-chain liquidity. UniChain, announced on October 10, aims to address the challenges faced by the crypto market by offering decentralization, near-instant transactions, and support for multi-chain swapping.
With the launch of these new features, Uniswap is positioning itself as a leader in the decentralized finance space, providing users with innovative solutions for accessing liquidity across different blockchain networks. The integration of UniChain and the permissionless cross-chain bridge further solidifies Uniswap’s commitment to driving the adoption of decentralized finance and making it more accessible to a wider audience.