Rift vs. Chainflip

TLDR: Rift is an aggregator with best price execution. It includes Chainflip 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 Chainflip directly. If Chainflip has the best route, Rift gives you that route with no added fee.

Rift is an aggregator. It compares quotes across venues and selects the best available rate on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Hyperliquid, RobinhoodChain, Tempo, XLayer, Ink and Pharos. Chainflip is a native cross-chain AMM that uses just-in-time (JIT) liquidity and charges a protocol fee plus LP spread.

Short version

Where each wins

Chainflip wins when:

• You want to go direct to the venue without an aggregation layer
• You are swapping pairs Chainflip supports well (BTC, ETH, SOL, USDC)
• You prefer interacting with the AMM itself
• You need chains Rift does not support (e.g. Solana, Polkadot)

Rift wins when:

• You want best price execution across multiple venues, including Chainflip, with zero added fee
• The winning venue changes between THORChain, Chainflip, Garden, intent rails and others
• Your route is on Rift’s supported chains

Key differences

Chainflip is a venue. It holds liquidity and prices the swap itself.

Rift is an aggregator. It includes Chainflip in its venue set. When Chainflip is the best quote, Rift routes through Chainflip and you receive Chainflip’s rate. Rift charges no added fee. The only extra cost versus going direct is the gas of the additional hop.

Rift OTC is a separate venue. It charges 0.1% taker only when it wins the route on rate after that fee.

When to use which

• Use Chainflip directly if you already know it is the best venue for your pair and size, or if you need chains Rift does not support.
• Use Rift if you want best price execution across venues (including Chainflip) at zero added fee on its supported chains.