Router Protocol Announces Mainnet Launch of Nitro, Redefining Cross-Chain Asset Transfers

Nitro promises a new era of lightning-fast, cost-efficient, and fortified cross-chain transactions.

[January 25th, 2024] Router Protocol – an infrastructure enterprise enabling communication between blockchains, today announced the mainnet launch of its latest cross-chain solution, Router Nitro.

Nitro is a cross-chain intent-based bridge built on the Router Chain itself that prioritizes swift, secure, and cost-effective asset transfers, effectively eliminating the bottlenecks plaguing the free movement of assets across blockchains. Its features include:

• Cost Savings: Up to 60% compared to incumbent bridges.
• Chain Compatibility: Extensive support for EVM, non-EVM, and ZKEVM chains.
• Decentralization Commitment: Nitro incorporates an Additional Security Module (ASM) with community watch and oracle security.
• Security Enhancement: A chain-centric solution minimizes vulnerabilities.
• Capital Efficiency: Highly capital-efficient bridge architecture with zero TVL, reducing locked assets.
• Developer-Friendly: Ready-to-use APIs and SDKs for seamless B2B integrations.

Ultra-Low Latency, High Efficiency: Router Nitro sets new standards and leads the charge in fast, economic cross-chain transactions: Most existing bridges are either expensive or slow. This issue exists because of the tradeoff between trustlessness and latency. Router Nitro solves this by leveraging Router Chain’s middleware capabilities to offer an ultra-low latency trustless swapping engine. This results in light-fast transaction times while saving up to 60% in costs relative to existing options.

Security Reinvented: Nitro’s no-TVL strategy reshapes cross-chain security dynamics: Over time, the pertinent issue for cross-chain bridges has been their susceptibility to exploits. Nitro’s chain-based bridge solves this by implementing a no-TVL approach. Bridges get hacked because assets get locked, making them honey pots for hackers. With no TVL, there is no money, therefore, there will be no hacks. This also has the added benefit of improved capital efficiency, as no money is locked up.

Decentralization at its Core: Nitro’s Additional Security Module (ASM) ensures unrivaled security: Nitro is also equipped with an in-built Additional Security Module (ASM), which serves as an extra layer of security. This module has a community watch and an oracle security to allow for secure and efficient cross-chain asset and arbitrary instruction transfers without compromising safety. The protocol ensures that user funds are protected while maintaining a highly optimized approach to latency and cost.

Developer Empowerment: Nitro SDKs and APIs simplify B2B integrations: It is imperative for a dApp seeking to host plugins to all ends of crypto to be developer-friendly. That is why Nitro has been built with a focus on compatibility to integrate with other dApps easily. With Nitro’s Widget, SDK, and API tools, developers can not only build across multiple blockchain networks but also provide cross-chain swaps and transfers on their interface without worrying about technical overhead.

A comprehensive network linking EVM, Non-EVM, and ZKEVM chains: Nitro is live on the EVM chains like Ethereum, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, and Avalanche. Additionally, Nitro is available on non-EVM chains such as Tron, as well as zk-EVM chains like Zksync, Polygon zkEVM.

Additionally, in the upcoming phase Nitro will also introduce support for more chains, including Manta, Mantle, Linea, Base, Rootstock, Scroll, Aurora, Fantom, AlephZero, Near and others.

“With Router Nitro, we are proud to usher in an era where cross-chain asset transfers are not just efficient but redefine the very essence of speed, affordability, and security. This launch sets a new benchmark for what users can expect from blockchain interoperability solutions.” – Ramani Ramachandran, CEO at Router Protocol.

For more information visit: nitro.routerprotocol.com

About Router Protocol

Router Protocol is an infrastructure enterprise enabling communication between blockchains. Backed by investors including Coinbase Ventures, QCP, De-Fi Capital, Shima Capital, Wintermute, and Polygon, its mission is to increase Web3 adoption by solving existing problems in cross-blockchain communications, such as security, scalability, decentralization, and a lack of true-blue cross-chain dApps. In January 2023 Router Team pioneered the third generation of interoperability technology with the launch of Router Chain, a secure, scalable modular composable framework for cross-blockchain interoperability. Web3 projects can utilize four core frameworks of Router V2 to customize their cross-chain needs, including building dApps that are interoperable by default. Router is also building its Cross-chain Intent Framework (CCIF) to transform intents into reality. The overarching vision of Router Protocol is to power cross-chain interoperability and set the seamless stage for the next billion users in the Web3 space.