Rift vs. Across
Rift Research
Last updated
TLDR: Rift is an aggregator with best price execution. It includes Across and all other supported venues in its routes. Rift adds 0 fee on the route, so you are guaranteed at least as good a rate as going to Across directly. If Across has the best route, Rift gives you that route with no added fee.
Across is an optimistic intent protocol optimised for fast transfers of canonical assets (especially USDC and ETH) across major EVM chains. Rift is an aggregator on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Hyperliquid, RobinhoodChain, Tempo, XLayer, Ink and Pharos.
Short version
| Dimension | Rift | Across |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Aggregator | Intent + optimistic oracle rail |
| Fee | Zero added fee on every route | Relayer spread + LP fee (no separate protocol take) |
| Assets | Native on supported chains | Canonical assets only |
| Speed | Venue-dependent | Seconds to low minutes on major EVM routes |
| Trust model | TEE | UMA optimistic oracle + bonded relayers |
| Best for | Best price execution across venues | Fast canonical USDC/ETH between EVM chains |
Where each wins
Across wins when:
- You are moving USDC or ETH between major EVM chains
- Speed and tight spreads on canonical assets matter most
- You want a pure intent rail rather than an aggregator
Rift wins when:
- Bitcoin or other non-canonical assets are involved
- You want best price execution across multiple venues, including Across, with zero added fee
Key differences
Across is a specialised rail. It is frequently the best choice for canonical stablecoin and ETH transfers on EVM.
Rift is an aggregator. It includes Across in its venue set. When Across is the best quote, Rift routes through Across and you receive Across’s rate with no added fee.
When to use which
- Use Across directly for fast USDC/ETH EVM transfers when you already know it wins.
- Use Rift when Bitcoin is in the path or you want best price execution across venues at zero added fee.