Cross-chain transactions often involve complex processes, high fees, and long waiting times. ACX token powers Across Protocol, a bridge solution that uses "intents" and optimistic verification to solve these problems with faster, cheaper transfers between Ethereum and Layer 2 networks. Understanding ACX helps you navigate the expanding multi-chain ecosystem more efficiently.

What is ACX Token?

ACX is the governance token of Across Protocol, a cross-chain bridge that enables fast, secure asset transfers between Ethereum and various Layer 2 networks including Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, and Base. Unlike traditional bridges that rely on complex message-passing systems, Across Protocol uses an "intents-based" architecture where users specify desired outcomes rather than execution paths.

The protocol distinguishes itself through its integration with UMA's optimistic oracle, which provides security through economic incentives rather than complex cryptographic proofs. This approach allows Across to process transfers in minutes rather than hours while maintaining robust security guarantees.

ACX serves multiple functions within the ecosystem: governance participation, liquidity provider incentives, and protocol fee management. With a maximum supply of 1 billion tokens and approximately 494 million currently in circulation, ACX holders directly influence the protocol's future development and parameter adjustments.

How Across Protocol Works

Across Protocol operates through a unique two-part system that prioritizes speed and capital efficiency over traditional bridge complexity.

Intent-Based Architecture

The protocol uses "intents," allowing users to specify what they want to achieve rather than how to achieve it. When you want to bridge assets from Ethereum to Arbitrum, you express the intent to receive specific tokens on the destination chain. Relayers compete to fulfill these intents, creating a market-driven system that optimizes for speed and cost.

This design eliminates the need for users to understand the underlying technical complexity of cross-chain transactions. You simply state your desired outcome, and the protocol's network of relayers handles execution.

Optimistic Verification System

Across leverages UMA's optimistic oracle for security, which assumes transactions are valid unless disputed within a challenge period. This "optimistic" approach enables much faster processing compared to bridges that require cryptographic proofs or extended waiting periods for finality.

The system works through economic incentives: relayers post bonds when facilitating transfers, and these bonds can be challenged if transfers are invalid. Since disputes are rare and expensive to initiate frivolously, the vast majority of transactions process quickly without intervention.

The optimistic oracle has processed over 10,000 data assertions for various Web3 projects since mid-2021, demonstrating its reliability in production environments.

Single Liquidity Pool Model

Unlike many bridges that require separate liquidity pools for each route, Across uses a unified liquidity pool on Ethereum mainnet. This approach improves capital efficiency by allowing the same liquidity to serve multiple destination chains.

Relayers front liquidity to users for immediate bridging, then get reimbursed from the main pool. This system enables sub-5-minute transfers while maintaining security through the optimistic verification process.

Understanding ACX Tokenomics

ACX follows a structured distribution model designed to balance early adopter rewards, protocol development, and long-term sustainability.

Token Distribution

The 1 billion total ACX supply was allocated across several key stakeholder groups:

DAO Treasury: 42.78% (427.8 million tokens) - Controls future protocol development funding and ecosystem growth initiatives

Team and Advisors: 26.94% (269.4 million tokens) - Subject to four-year vesting schedules to align long-term incentives

Investors: 17.53% (175.3 million tokens) - Private funding rounds with structured vesting periods

User Airdrops: 11.62% (116.2 million tokens) - Retroactive rewards for early protocol users and strategic partners

DAO Airdrops: 1.13% (11.3 million tokens) - Allocated to other DAOs building in the ecosystem

At launch, approximately 127.5 million tokens (12.75% of total supply) entered circulation, with the remainder subject to vesting schedules or held in the treasury for future use.

Utility Functions

ACX serves multiple roles within the Across ecosystem beyond simple governance:

Governance Rights: Token holders vote on protocol upgrades, fee structures, and treasury allocation decisions. The protocol uses optimistic governance through oSnap, allowing community votes to execute automatically without multi-signature requirements.

Liquidity Incentives: ACX rewards liquidity providers who contribute to the protocol's unified pool, creating economic incentives for maintaining adequate bridge liquidity across supported chains.

Fee Mechanisms: While users currently pay bridge fees in the transferred assets, governance could activate protocol fee switches that generate revenue for ACX holders, similar to other DeFi protocols.

Referral Rewards: The protocol includes referral programs that distribute ACX to users who bring new participants to the ecosystem.

Real-World Applications and Use Cases

Across Protocol enables several practical applications that benefit from its fast, low-cost cross-chain transfers.

DeFi Yield Optimization

Traders and yield farmers use Across to quickly move assets between chains to capture opportunities. The protocol's speed advantage makes it practical to bridge assets for time-sensitive opportunities like arbitrage or liquidity mining programs.

For example, if Ethereum DeFi yields become less attractive than opportunities on Arbitrum or Optimism, users can quickly bridge assets to capture better returns without waiting hours for traditional bridge confirmation times.

Layer 2 Onboarding

The protocol serves as infrastructure for bringing new users into the Layer 2 ecosystem. Many applications integrate Across to help users move from Ethereum mainnet to Layer 2s where transaction costs are significantly lower.

This integration is particularly valuable for applications that need to minimize user friction. Rather than asking users to navigate complex bridge interfaces, applications can embed Across functionality directly into their user experience.

NFT and Gaming Applications

Across has partnered with projects like TeleOrdinal to enable cross-chain NFT functionality, allowing users to bid on NFTs across different chains without manually bridging assets for each transaction.

Gaming applications benefit from the protocol's speed when enabling asset transfers between different game environments or allowing players to cash out rewards quickly across multiple chains.

Institutional and Enterprise Use

The protocol's reliability and security model make it suitable for institutional use cases where large value transfers require robust security guarantees but benefit from faster settlement than traditional bridges offer.

Trading ACX on LeveX

LeveX provides access to ACX trading through both spot and futures markets, allowing you to participate in the cross-chain bridge economy.

Spot Trading

Spot trading ACX lets you buy and hold the actual governance tokens, enabling participation in Across Protocol's governance process. This approach suits investors interested in the long-term development of cross-chain infrastructure.

Futures Trading

ACX perpetual contracts provide leveraged exposure to price movements without requiring token custody. This option appeals to traders focusing on price speculation rather than governance participation.

LeveX's competitive fee structure with rates as low as 0.0060% for futures makers helps optimize trading costs whether you're accumulating ACX for governance or trading price movements.

Multi-Trade Opportunities

With LeveX's Multi-Trade Mode, you can simultaneously hold multiple ACX positions with different leverage levels and risk parameters. This capability enables sophisticated strategies like holding long-term governance positions while trading shorter-term price movements.

Advantages and Challenges

Strengths of Across Protocol

Speed and Efficiency: The intents-based architecture with optimistic verification enables transfers that complete in minutes rather than hours, providing significant user experience improvements over traditional bridges.

Capital Efficiency: The single liquidity pool model maximizes capital utilization compared to bridges requiring separate pools for each route, potentially improving returns for liquidity providers.

Security Model: Integration with UMA's battle-tested optimistic oracle provides robust security through economic incentives rather than complex cryptographic assumptions.

Growing Ecosystem: Support for major Layer 2 networks and ongoing expansion to additional chains increases the protocol's utility as the multi-chain ecosystem develops.

Challenges and Considerations

Relayer Dependency: The system requires active relayer participation to function effectively. While decentralized, concentration among major relayers could impact performance during network stress.

Market Competition: Numerous bridge solutions compete for market share, including protocol-native bridges from Layer 2 teams and other intent-based systems inspired by Across's success.

Regulatory Uncertainty: Cross-chain bridge protocols face evolving regulatory scrutiny that could impact operations or token utility in various jurisdictions.

Oracle Risks: While UMA's optimistic oracle has proven reliable, the security model ultimately depends on economic incentives and community participation in dispute resolution.

Market Performance and Adoption

ACX has experienced significant volatility since launch, reaching an all-time high of $1.76 in December 2024 before declining over 90% to current levels around $0.14. This volatility reflects both broader cryptocurrency market conditions and the evolving competitive landscape for bridge solutions.

The protocol has processed billions of dollars in cross-chain transfers since launch, demonstrating real utility beyond speculative trading. Volume and adoption metrics continue growing as more applications integrate Across for cross-chain functionality.

Market capitalization currently sits around $67-83 million depending on exact pricing, ranking ACX among the mid-tier DeFi governance tokens. Trading occurs primarily on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and centralized platforms including Gate.io and LeveX.

Getting Started with ACX

Whether you're interested in cross-chain bridge technology, governance participation, or trading opportunities, ACX offers multiple ways to engage with the expanding multi-chain ecosystem.

For Bridge Users

Experience Across Protocol directly by bridging assets between supported chains. The protocol's interface makes cross-chain transfers straightforward while the underlying technology handles complexity.

For Governance Participants

ACX holders can participate in protocol governance through Forum discussions and Snapshot voting, influencing future development priorities and parameter adjustments.

For Traders

Start trading ACX on LeveX with competitive fees and access to both spot and futures markets. Use our trading tutorials to understand platform functionality.

The Future of Cross-Chain Infrastructure

Across Protocol represents an evolution in cross-chain bridge design, moving from complex message-passing systems to user-focused intent-based architectures. The success of this approach has influenced other projects, with UniswapX and other major protocols adopting similar design patterns.

As the multi-chain ecosystem continues developing, protocols like Across that prioritize user experience and capital efficiency may capture increasing market share. The combination of speed, security, and simplicity positions ACX as a significant player in cross-chain infrastructure.

For traders seeking exposure to this trend, ACX provides direct participation in a protocol solving real problems in the expanding blockchain ecosystem. Whether through spot purchases or futures trading, LeveX offers the tools needed to access this growing market.

Ready to explore cross-chain bridge tokens? Create your LeveX account and start trading ACX with our competitive fees and comprehensive trading features. For more cryptocurrency guides, explore our Crypto in a Minute series covering the blockchain ecosystem's most important projects.