Across Raises $41 Million in a Paradigm-Led Token Sale to Expand Intents-Based Tech
Across, an innovative interoperability startup and co-creator of the ERC-7683 standard, has successfully raised $41 million in a strategic token sale led by the prominent venture capital firm Paradigm. This significant funding aims to address the long-standing fragmentation issue within the Ethereum ecosystem, striving for a more unified experience for users and developers alike.
Funding Details and Background
The recent token sale attracted participation from notable investors such as Bain Capital Crypto, Coinbase Ventures, Multicoin Capital, and Sina Habibian. This follows a previous $10 million private token sale in 2022, which included contributions from Hack VC, Placeholder, and Blockchain Capital. As a result, Across has now secured a total funding amount of $51 million to date.
Addressing Ethereum’s Fragmentation
Across aims to connect Ethereum and various Layer-2 networks in a matter of seconds. The platform currently supports a multitude of ecosystems including:
This initiative provides seamless bridge integrations for decentralized applications (dApps), eliminating the need for separate bridging processes. The team emphasizes that their solution can facilitate asset transfers in as little as three seconds, significantly improving the user experience compared to traditional methods.
Utilization of Funds
The newly acquired $41 million will be primarily allocated towards enhancing product development and supporting Ethereum’s roll-up-centric roadmap. The funding will also play a crucial role in promoting the adoption of the ERC-7683 standard, which has already gained backing from over 50 protocols.
Across has demonstrated its effectiveness in the market, recording over $19 billion in total volume, with a notable $1 billion transacted in January 2025 alone.
The Power of Intents-Based Technology
In addition to its focus on unifying Ethereum, Across is also dedicated to expanding its intents-based technology. This innovative approach allows users to execute cross-chain actions rapidly—often in mere seconds. The core principle of intents-based technology is to enable users to define their desired actions through a single transaction request. For instance, users can deposit tokens across different chains, swap coins, or bridge funds—all seamlessly managed by Across in the background.
As stated by Dan Robinson, General Partner at Paradigm, “Across pioneered intent-based interoperability and used it to build the leading bridge in crypto.” This technological advancement simplifies the user experience, making it more intuitive and efficient.
Meeting User Expectations
Hart Lambur, co-founder of Risk Labs and a key figure behind the Across and UMA Protocols, insists that Ethereum users demand a fast and seamless experience. “The next billion users won’t tolerate waiting,” he asserts. He outlines the pressing need for Ethereum to feel like a unified network, regardless of the number of chains involved, stating that this has been the mission from the very beginning.
Partnerships and Future Prospects
Across has also partnered with Uniswap Labs to co-author the ERC-7683 standard for cross-chain intents on Ethereum. This collaboration has enabled Web3 applications to perform complex, multi-step cross-chain transactions as a single request, which can be executed by a shared network of relayers.
Over 50 protocols, including Base, Arbitrum, Polygon, and Optimism, currently support this standard, with backing from the Ethereum Foundation’s L2 Interop working group. This support signifies a strong commitment to improving interoperability across the Ethereum ecosystem.
In February 2025, Across announced its support for cross-chain transfers on the Layer-2 Unichain’s public mainnet from day one, further extending its capabilities and enhancing user experience.
Conclusion
The successful raising of $41 million in funding marks a significant milestone for Across as it continues to develop solutions aimed at unifying the Ethereum ecosystem. With its innovative intents-based technology and strong backing from major investors, Across is well-positioned to lead the charge in addressing the fragmentation issues that have long plagued Ethereum users. As the project moves forward, it holds the potential to revolutionize how users interact with decentralized applications across multiple chains, paving the way for a more cohesive and efficient blockchain experience.
