Author(s): My Defi, GR (Cat Herder), Infinity
Status: Proposal
Submission Date: TBD
Summary:
Straddl (https://straddl.io) is a next-generation bridging platform built entirely on Across Protocol, designed to offer users highly competitive bridging rates while leveraging the Across Intents Framework (ERC-7683) for an efficient bridge + swap experience. To enhance its utility and further leverage the power of intent-based transactions, Straddl proposes expanding its capabilities to provide deeper DeFi integrations.
Straddl currently allows users to perform some of the following actions:
- Bridge ETH/WETH, USDC/USDC.e, USDT, WBTC and DAI on all routes supported by Across Protocol at discounted rates
- Bridge + swap to a wide variety of tokens on Optimism, Arbitrum, Polygon, zkSync Era, and Base
- Bridge + send gas for users who are bridging to a chain in which they do not yet have the necessary token for performing transactions (such as Polygon)
- Relay deposits sitting on the open market and available for anyone to fill
This expansion will introduce features that allow users to:
- Bridge + swap on Uniswap on Unichain, improving efficiency for users looking to move liquidity cross-chain,
- Bridge + swap on all other chains with high-liquidity DEXes (including Mainnet)
- Bridge + send gas on additional chains where ETH is not the native token (i.e. Aleph Zero)
- Bridge + deposit into Aave to streamline access to lending opportunities,
- Bridge + repay/pay down debt on Aave, enabling more seamless debt management,
- and much more!
By integrating these features as well as several other UI improvements, Straddl aims to enhance the user experience, unlock new DeFi possibilities, and solidify its position as a premier intent-based bridging solution.
This benefits Across as a direct source of exclusive bridge volume in contrast with other system integrators that also service competing protocols.
Additionally, this proposal includes a request for funding to support development efforts, compensate contributors, and bootstrap user engagement campaigns on Intract and other similar platforms.
Motivation:
Across Protocol’s Intents Framework presents a unique opportunity to redefine bridging by incorporating advanced DeFi interactions. Currently, users must execute multiple transactions manually to bridge assets and interact with protocols like Aave or Uniswap, resulting in higher gas costs, longer transaction times, and added complexity.
Straddl’s expansion aims to address these inefficiencies by enabling users to bridge assets while simultaneously executing DeFi actions in a single, optimized transaction. This not only improves UX but also expands the utility of Across Protocol by demonstrating the power of ERC-7683-based intent execution in real-world DeFi applications.
Although Across has gained a significant share of volume through system integrators, a fully featured app that supports a broad set of intent-based actions offers direct benefits. This includes handling more complex orders, such as cross-chain swaps, and capturing volume not supported by the standard Across front-end application. Additionally, another bridge interface improves service availability in case services managed by Risk Labs are impacted.
Straddl.io has been a fully grassroots project from the start, built and maintained without any outside capital. Despite this, contributors have dedicated significant time and effort to making Straddl a leading intent-based bridging platform. One of our core contributors, Infinity, has put in extensive development work—which can only be described as relentless commitment—without receiving any compensation to date. This proposal seeks to fund the next phase of Straddl’s growth while also retroactively compensating Infinity for his invaluable contributions.
Additionally, Straddl is 100% aligned with Across Protocol—it does not integrate or rely on any other bridges. The project is solely focused on leveraging Across to create a seamless, intent-driven DeFi experience, reinforcing its role as a key builder in the Across ecosystem. Furthermore, all of Straddl’s contributors—GR, Infinity, and My Defi—are active community members who regularly provide development support within the Across Protocol Discord.
Notably, in 2023 and 2024, Across Protocol ran a “Community Integrations Bounty” program designed to encourage projects like Straddl. However, this initiative did not gain much traction, and the allocated token rewards were ultimately returned to the DAO. Given that Across had already set aside funds for community-driven integrations, we believe this signals that the community may be open to reallocating some of these unused funds to support Straddl’s continued development.
To ensure successful execution and adoption of these new features, this proposal also requests funding for engagement campaigns on platforms like Intract. These campaigns will drive awareness, increase usage, and reward early adopters who contribute to the platform’s growth.
Current growth
To date, Straddl has grown through two primary avenues: organic adoption and targeted campaigns on the Intract platform. Despite operating without external funding, Straddl has achieved significant traction, demonstrating strong user interest and engagement. As of February 2025, Straddl has recorded:
- 72,800+ Straddl “questers” on the Intract platform
- 3,400+ deposits and relays completed on Straddl.io in February alone
- 3,400+ members in the Straddl Discord community
- 3,200+ followers on Straddl’s Twitter/X account (created in September 2024)
- 100+ users who fully completed all tasks in Straddl’s Intract campaigns
- $2,000 in USDC rewards distributed to Intract campaign winners (as of February 28, 2025)
These early results highlight Straddl’s ability to attract and engage users, even with minimal resources.
Specification & Implementation:
This proposal seeks funding to support Straddl’s next phase of development, focusing on:
- Feature Upgrades – Expanding Straddl’s capabilities by integrating additional DeFi interactions using Across Protocol’s Intents Framework (ERC-7683). These enhancements will enable users to combine bridging with actions like depositing into lending protocols, repaying loans, or swapping assets in a single, optimized transaction.
- UI/UX Enhancements – Improving the front-end experience to make cross-chain interactions more intuitive, reduce friction, and increase adoption. This includes refining the user interface, streamlining transaction flows, and optimizing gas efficiency.
- Contributor Compensation – Ensuring that core contributors, including Infinity, are compensated for their past and ongoing work, enabling continued development and support.
- User Engagement & Growth – Allocating funds to run targeted campaigns on platforms like Intract, rewarding early adopters, and driving user adoption through strategic engagement initiatives.
- Backend & Infrastructure Improvements – Optimizing transaction batching and execution logic to ensure cost-efficiency, security, and seamless integration with Across Protocol.
By implementing these upgrades, Straddl will reinforce its role as a key builder within the Across Protocol ecosystem while demonstrating the power of intent-based bridging.
Straddl Team Members and Responsibilities
GR is a long-standing member of the Across community and one of the earliest Across Protocol relayers. He has made significant contributions to the Across DAO and Across Protocol, including two discord bots, a bountied demo app for Across+, the formation of the Community Essentials Committee and many hours of support for relayers, users and developers in the community. GR has a fintech background with extensive knowledge in several domains including payments, security and risk management.
My DeFi is an active Across community member, Across Protocol relayer, is currently on the Across UMA Voting Committee, and has previously served the Across DAO as a Community Essentials Committee member. My DeFi is also a software developer and co-contributor of Straddl (straddl.io) which leverages the power of Across+ to provide advanced bridging capabilities for users and other DeFi apps.
Infinity is an experienced Computer Engineer with a decade of experience, and for several years, linked to Web3 development as a Front End Dev. He has skills that allow him to solve different tasks with great quality. He joined Across Protocol and since then he was an important member of the community, making himself stand out. He was given the role of Events Master and also the role of Moderator. He was later selected for the Dev Support role because he had the skills to perform it adequately, performing all these roles at the same time efficiently. Also, at the proposal of the members of the CEC and the support of the community, he was promoted to occupy a place in the CEC. Its superpower lies in practically being available 24 hours a day and supporting everything necessary in the fastest and most efficient way possible. Now he was also promoted to the Community Moderator role. Focused on maintaining a pleasant and harmonious environment at all times.
Revenue Distribution/Compensation
Straddl is requesting 100,000 ACX tokens (~$27,000 at the current ACX price) for this funding and future development. The funds will be allocated as follows:
- 12,500 ACX (~$3,400 at the current ACX price) to be allocated for Intract campaign rewards (Intract rewards are provided as USDC)
- 12,500 ACX (~$3,400 at the current ACX price) to be distributed to Infinity for his contributions to date
- 75,000 ACX (~$20,200 at the current ACX price) to be allocated to the Straddl team (GR, Infinity, and My Defi) over the course of the next 12 months to complete all of the updates outlined in this proposal and cover the cost of associated expenses. These costs include:
- Two prior Intract campaigns
- Account servicing costs including (Discord, Email, Twitter etc)
- Infrastructure and hosting fees
- Gas faucet funds and contract deployments
Rationale
This proposal requests funding to support both development efforts and ecosystem growth. The requested amount is based on:
- Development & Compensation – Supporting ongoing technical upgrades while fairly compensating contributors, including retroactive compensation for Infinity, who has worked extensively without pay.
- User Engagement & Adoption – Providing incentives for early adopters and contributors through Intract and other engagement platforms, ensuring a strong initial user base.
- Sustainability – Enabling Straddl to continue iterating and improving, reinforcing its alignment with Across Protocol whilst showcasing the power and innovation possible with ERC-7683 intent execution.
- Resilience – An alternative bridge service enhances the availability of the Across Protocol, ensuring that the primary service managed by Risk Labs is not a single point of failure.
- Reallocation of Unused DAO Funds – Across Protocol previously allocated rewards for its Community Integrations Bounty, which were returned due to low participation. Given this precedent, we believe there is an opportunity to reallocate a portion of these unused funds to support Straddl’s expansion.
This funding will ensure that Straddl not only continues to operate but also grows into a cornerstone of the Across Protocol ecosystem.
To ensure transparency, the Straddl team will share quarterly progress updates in the Across Protocol Discord.
