Bridging assets between blockchains has always been a pain point for both users and developers. When it comes to transferring stablecoins like USDC from Ethereum to Cosmos chains, the frustration of waiting 16 minutes (or longer!) for cross-chain finality can turn away users during critical onboarding moments. Fast USDC, powered by Agoric Orchestration, solves this persistent problem.
Let’s explore how Fast USDC leverages Agoric Orchestration to create an innovative bridging experience that drastically reduces friction and builders can extend to their own projects.
The Problem: A 16-Minute Roadblock
Imagine you’re building a dApp on Cosmos. A new user wants to transfer USDC from Ethereum to your platform.
They connect their MetaMask wallet to Noble Express, the canonical bridge from Ethereum to Cosmos for USDC, then enter the amount they want to transfer, and hit "Submit." Then they wait roughly 16 minutes for the bridging process to finalize.
This scenario is not ready for prime time. By crypto standards, 16 minutes is already an engineering marvel. But for most new users entering the space with web2 expectations, 16 minutes too long. The result? Drop-offs, missed opportunities, and frustrated users — and a bad look for crypto that keeps mass adoption at bay
Enter Fast USDC, Built with Agoric Orchestration
Fast USDC dramatically reduces bridging times from Ethereum (and other EVM chains) to Cosmos chains. By combining off-chain transaction monitoring, on-chain orchestration, and third party liquidity, Fast USDC can complete transfers within just 2 minutes — a 90% improvement.
The secret? Agoric Orchestration, which coordinates the entire process seamlessly.
Solving the Last Mile with Agoric Orchestration
An important piece of Fast USDC, Agoric Orchestration is designed to handle complex, multi-chain workflows.
Fast USDC has four high-level key features:
Real-Time Transaction Monitoring
An off-chain watcher service monitors EVM chains like Ethereum. When it detects a USDC transfer, it verifies the transaction and submits proof to the Agoric Orchestration contract.
Instant Liquidity via Liquidity Providers
Agoric contracts facilitate liquidity providers filling user intents to advance USDC on Cosmos. The contract ensures that users receive their funds on-chain almost instantly, long before the Ethereum transaction reaches full finality - the Agoric platform easily handles this asynchronicity.
Automated Settlement
Once the transaction is finalized on Ethereum, Agoric Orchestration ensures LPs are reimbursed, while all fees are transparently accounted for and distributed.
IBC-Driven Transfers
The Orchestration contract leverages the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol (IBC) to securely and efficiently deliver funds to the user’s destination chain — whether that’s Noble, dYdX, or any other Cosmos application.
Improved UX = More Users
One of the biggest pain points in Web3? Bridging assets across chains, where slow transaction times, high fees, and clunky user interfaces can derail even the most enthusiastic users.
Fast USDC addresses this head-on. By leveraging Agoric Orchestration’s robust cross-chain capabilities, Fast USDC enables is an easy, efficient path from EVM to Cosmos, drastically reducing the wait times that often frustrate users. The time reduction Fast USDC offers has far-reaching implications for developers, too.
Long wait times often lead to user abandonment during critical onboarding moments. By eliminating this bottleneck, you keep users engaged and improve conversion rates for your application. Especially for new users entering the blockchain space, every second matters. A fast and seamless transfer experience helps set the right tone, meeting the expectations of users accustomed to the speed of modern Web2 services. A smooth, efficient experience fosters trust and satisfaction, making users more likely to return to your platform and explore other features. In the crowded blockchain landscape, offering an improved user experience can set you apart, helping you stand out and attract more users.
Imagine a scenario where a user is exploring your app for the first time. They’ve just connected their wallet and are eager to transfer USDC from Ethereum to start trading, staking, or gaming. If that transfer takes minutes instead of seconds, there’s a real risk they’ll lose interest and move on. Fast USDC ensures that first impressions are positive, providing a seamless, responsive experience that keeps users engaged.
Ready to Build the Impossible?
Fast USDC is more than just a faster way to bridge — it’s a glimpse into how cross-chain liquidity solutions can transform the user experience and unlock new revenue streams. Whether you’re building the next big dApp on Cosmos or looking to solve liquidity challenges in your ecosystem, Agoric Orchestration can help.
Let’s talk about how you can leverage Agoric Orchestration for your own fast liquidity solutions. Reach out to our team today and start building the future of cross-chain finance.
Build with Agoric. Empower your users. Orchestrate the future.