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Bridge review

Relay review

Centralised intent bridge — Relay-operated solvers fill from their own liquidity; settlement rests on one allocator key per chain

Snapshot Cartoon avatar of Arnold BurnBy Updated Data gate passed · 38 routes / 7 d

Key findings

Relay is a fast, intent-based bridge run by one operator: Relay's API quotes the order, Relay's own solvers pay you on the destination chain, and settlement happens off-chain and on Relay's own chain. L2Beat notes that on each deposit chain the escrow can be moved by a single allocator key, and that the owner (an EOA on Base) can replace that key without delay. Bridging fees are 0% platform fee plus a $0.02 execution cost and destination gas.

As of 3 Nov 2026, 11:35 UTC (run #540), Relay returned quotes on 38 sampled routes (228 quote rows in this packet). At $200 it was the cheapest ranked quote on 0 routes. Median cost among its non-negative $200 quotes: 27.01 bps (cheapest observed 0.00 bps). Sources reporting it: LI.FI, Relay. Real-money tests: none yet — planned after launch.

Source: upswap.io snapshot #540 · CC BY 4.0 · Zenodo DOI: Example / pending

How does Relay work?

You request a quote from the Relay API and pay on the origin chain through one of three paths (a receiver that forwards to a solver, a router, or the RelayDepository escrow). A Relay-operated solver then fills on the destination chain from its own pre-positioned liquidity with a normal transfer, swap or call. No contract checks the link between your payment and the fill; matching and accounting happen off-chain (L2Beat).

Solvers are repaid via the Relay Oracle, which attests deposits and fills to a Hub contract on the Relay Chain (Relay's own rollup posting data to Celestia); withdrawals are signed through an Allocator on Aurora that uses NEAR chain signatures (L2Beat).

Scorecard (no total score)

Cost excl. gas

27.01
median bps · n=76

Coverage

38
routes this packet

$200 wins

0
cheapest finishes

Quote rows

228
all tiers

Real transfers

0
not enough data

Upgrade / custody

—
待核实

How much does Relay cost on each route?

336 runs · 7 d

Over the last 7 days Relay's median $200 cost ranged from 0.00 bps (Arbitrum One → Hyperliquid (HyperCore) USDC) to 56.16 bps (Solana → Ethereum SOL→ETH); it was the cheapest bridge in 694 route-runs.

Relay: $200 cost distribution by route (7 days)Per route: whisker = min to max, box = 25th to 75th percentile, thick tick = median of this bridge's cheapest rankable $200 quote per run, 336 runs. Amber rows: this bridge was cheapest on the route at least once. Log scale, bps, excl. gas.251020501002005001,000bpsArbitrum One → Hyperliquid (HyperCo…0.0Ethereum → OP Mainnet USDC2Base → OP Mainnet USDC2Base → Arbitrum One ETH2Ethereum → Base USDC2Arbitrum One → Base USDC2OP Mainnet → Base USDC2Polygon PoS → Base USDC2OP Mainnet → Arbitrum One ETH2.1Ethereum → Arbitrum One USDT2.1Ethereum → Avalanche C-Chain USDC2.1Base → Polygon PoS USDC2.1Ethereum → Arbitrum One USDC2.1Polygon PoS → Arbitrum One USDC2.1Base → Arbitrum One USDC2.1Ethereum → Polygon PoS USDC2.1Arbitrum One → Polygon PoS USDC2.1Arbitrum One → Ethereum USDC3.2Base → Ethereum USDC3.2Solana → Ethereum USDC3.2Solana → Base USDC3.3Solana → Arbitrum One USDC3.4Base → Ethereum ETH3.6Base → Solana USDC4Ethereum → Solana USDC4Arbitrum One → Solana USDC4OP Mainnet → Base ETH4Ethereum → OP Mainnet ETH6Arbitrum One → OP Mainnet ETH6Ethereum → Arbitrum One ETH6.1Arbitrum One → Ethereum ETH6.6Ethereum → Base ETH8Arbitrum One → Base ETH8Arbitrum One → BNB Chain USDT22Ethereum → BNB Chain USDT22BNB Chain → Arbitrum One USDT42Ethereum → Solana ETH→SOL47Solana → Ethereum SOL→ETH56
Relay: $200 cost distribution by route (7 days)Per route: whisker = min to max, box = 25th to 75th percentile, thick tick = median of this bridge's cheapest rankable $200 quote per run, 336 runs. Amber rows: this bridge was cheapest on the route at least once. Log scale, bps, excl. gas.251020501002005001,000bpsArbitrum One → Hyperliquid…0.0Ethereum → OP Mainnet USDC2Base → OP Mainnet USDC2Base → Arbitrum One ETH2Ethereum → Base USDC2Arbitrum One → Base USDC2OP Mainnet → Base USDC2Polygon PoS → Base USDC2OP Mainnet → Arbitrum One…2.1Ethereum → Arbitrum One US…2.1Ethereum → Avalanche C-Cha…2.1Base → Polygon PoS USDC2.1Ethereum → Arbitrum One US…2.1Polygon PoS → Arbitrum One…2.1Base → Arbitrum One USDC2.1Ethereum → Polygon PoS USDC2.1Arbitrum One → Polygon PoS…2.1Arbitrum One → Ethereum US…3.2Base → Ethereum USDC3.2Solana → Ethereum USDC3.2Solana → Base USDC3.3Solana → Arbitrum One USDC3.4Base → Ethereum ETH3.6Base → Solana USDC4Ethereum → Solana USDC4Arbitrum One → Solana USDC4OP Mainnet → Base ETH4Ethereum → OP Mainnet ETH6Arbitrum One → OP Mainnet…6Ethereum → Arbitrum One ETH6.1Arbitrum One → Ethereum ETH6.6Ethereum → Base ETH8Arbitrum One → Base ETH8Arbitrum One → BNB Chain U…22Ethereum → BNB Chain USDT22BNB Chain → Arbitrum One U…42Ethereum → Solana ETH→SOL47Solana → Ethereum SOL→ETH56
Relay: $200 cost distribution by route (7 days)Per route: whisker = min to max, box = 25th to 75th percentile, thick tick = median of this bridge's cheapest rankable $200 quote per run, 336 runs. Amber rows: this bridge was cheapest on the route at least once. Log scale, bps, excl. gas.251020501002005001,000bpsArbitrum One →…0.0Ethereum → OP…2Base → OP Main…2Base → Arbitru…2Ethereum → Base2Arbitrum One →…2OP Mainnet → B…2Polygon PoS →…2OP Mainnet → A…2.1Ethereum → Arb…2.1Ethereum → Ava…2.1Base → Polygon…2.1Ethereum → Arb…2.1Polygon PoS →…2.1Base → Arbitru…2.1Ethereum → Pol…2.1Arbitrum One →…2.1Arbitrum One →…3.2Base → Ethereum3.2Solana → Ether…3.2Solana → Base3.3Solana → Arbit…3.4Base → Ethereum3.6Base → Solana4Ethereum → Sol…4Arbitrum One →…4OP Mainnet → B…4Ethereum → OP…6Arbitrum One →…6Ethereum → Arb…6.1Arbitrum One →…6.6Ethereum → Base8Arbitrum One →…8Arbitrum One →…22Ethereum → BNB…22BNB Chain → Ar…42Ethereum → Sol…47Solana → Ether…56
Per route: whisker = min to max, box = 25th to 75th percentile, thick tick = median of this bridge's cheapest rankable $200 quote per run, 336 runs. Amber rows: this bridge was cheapest on the route at least once. Log scale, bps, excl. gas.
Relay: $200 cost distribution by route (7 days)
RoutenMinP25MedianP75MaxCheapest runs
Arbitrum One → Hyperliquid (HyperCore) USDC3350.000.000.000.0020.000
Ethereum → OP Mainnet USDC3362.002.002.002.0021.070
Base → OP Mainnet USDC3362.002.002.002.0021.060
Base → Arbitrum One ETH3362.002.012.012.0243.46129
Ethereum → Base USDC3362.042.052.052.0521.090
Arbitrum One → Base USDC3362.042.052.052.0521.090
OP Mainnet → Base USDC3362.042.052.052.0521.090
Polygon PoS → Base USDC3362.042.052.052.0521.090
OP Mainnet → Arbitrum One ETH3362.052.062.062.0741.06191
Ethereum → Arbitrum One USDT3362.112.112.112.1227.662
Ethereum → Avalanche C-Chain USDC3362.092.102.122.1321.120
Base → Polygon PoS USDC3362.012.132.132.1421.130
Ethereum → Arbitrum One USDC3362.132.132.142.1437.500
Polygon PoS → Arbitrum One USDC3362.132.132.142.1437.510
Base → Arbitrum One USDC3362.132.132.142.1437.520
Ethereum → Polygon PoS USDC3362.022.132.152.1621.130
Arbitrum One → Polygon PoS USDC3362.012.132.152.1621.130
Arbitrum One → Ethereum USDC3362.122.653.204.771,204.3953
Base → Ethereum USDC3362.132.683.204.761,206.3955
Solana → Ethereum USDC3362.102.623.244.931,197.500
Solana → Base USDC3363.293.303.303.3021.090
Solana → Arbitrum One USDC3363.383.383.393.3927.470
Base → Ethereum ETH3343.133.373.604.521,229.01206
Base → Solana USDC3364.004.014.014.0221.070
Ethereum → Solana USDC3364.004.014.014.0221.050
Arbitrum One → Solana USDC3364.004.014.014.0221.080
OP Mainnet → Base ETH3364.024.024.024.0241.060
Ethereum → OP Mainnet ETH3366.006.006.006.0042.910
Arbitrum One → OP Mainnet ETH3366.006.006.006.0041.050
Ethereum → Arbitrum One ETH3366.066.066.066.0742.931
Arbitrum One → Ethereum ETH3346.136.376.617.541,226.268
Ethereum → Base ETH3368.028.028.028.0242.920
Arbitrum One → Base ETH3368.028.028.028.0241.060
Arbitrum One → BNB Chain USDT33622.0422.0822.0932.09111.145
Ethereum → BNB Chain USDT33622.0722.1122.1232.12111.143
BNB Chain → Arbitrum One USDT33612.1312.1442.1342.1342.1428
Ethereum → Solana ETH→SOL33613.1641.3646.9953.0591.428
Solana → Ethereum SOL→ETH33430.3750.0356.1663.53487.695

Where does Relay win at $200?

Relay best $200 quote by route
RouteVia sourcebpsRoute leader
Arbitrum One → Hyperliquid (HyperCore) USDCRelay0.00Hyperliquid Native 0.00
Ethereum → OP Mainnet USDCRelay2.00Eco 0.00
Base → OP Mainnet USDCRelay2.00Eco 0.00
Base → Arbitrum One ETHRelay2.01Layerswap 0.45
OP Mainnet → Base USDCRelay2.05Eco 0.00
Arbitrum One → Base USDCRelay2.05Eco 0.00
Polygon PoS → Base USDCRelay2.05Eco 0.00
Ethereum → Base USDCRelay2.05Eco 0.00
OP Mainnet → Arbitrum One ETHRelay2.06Layerswap 0.40
Ethereum → Avalanche C-Chain USDCRelay2.11NEAR Intents 1Click 0.40
Ethereum → Arbitrum One USDTRelay2.11Celer 1.36
Base → Polygon PoS USDCRelay2.12Eco 0.00
Arbitrum One → Polygon PoS USDCRelay2.12Eco 0.00
Ethereum → Polygon PoS USDCRelay2.12Eco 0.00
Ethereum → Arbitrum One USDCRelay2.14Eco 0.00
Polygon PoS → Arbitrum One USDCRelay2.14Eco 0.00
Base → Arbitrum One USDCRelay2.14Eco 0.00
Solana → Base USDCRelay3.30Across 1.00
Solana → Arbitrum One USDCRelay3.39Layerswap 0.64
Arbitrum One → Ethereum USDCRelay3.60Eco 0.00
Base → Ethereum USDCRelay3.60Eco 0.00
Solana → Ethereum USDCRelay3.64Across 1.00
Base → Ethereum ETHRelay3.73Eco 1.70
Base → Solana USDCRelay4.01Across 1.30
Arbitrum One → Solana USDCRelay4.02Across 1.40
Ethereum → Solana USDCRelay4.02Across 1.00
OP Mainnet → Base ETHRelay4.02Celer 1.50
Arbitrum One → OP Mainnet ETHRelay6.00Celer 1.92
Ethereum → OP Mainnet ETHRelay6.00Layerswap 0.35
Ethereum → Arbitrum One ETHRelay6.06Layerswap 0.16
Arbitrum One → Ethereum ETHRelay6.73Eco 1.53
Ethereum → Base ETHRelay8.02Across 1.17
Arbitrum One → Base ETHRelay8.02Eco 1.23
Arbitrum One → BNB Chain USDTRelay22.08Across 1.20
Ethereum → BNB Chain USDTRelay22.15Across 1.20
BNB Chain → Arbitrum One USDTRelay42.13Celer 1.36
Solana → Ethereum SOL→ETHRelay48.05Chainflip 14.87
Ethereum → Solana ETH→SOLRelay48.30Chainflip 12.57

What are the risks of using Relay?

sources checked 2026-10-24

Each item links to its source (L2Beat, DefiLlama or official docs). Items we could not verify are marked 待核实. No overall score.

  • Settlement & disputes

    No contract verifies or enforces that your payment was filled — matching and accounting are off-chain. Escrowed funds leave the RelayDepository with a single allocator signature (a 1-of-1 trust assumption on each deposit chain).

    L2Beat

  • Upgrade authority

    Contracts are immutable (no proxies), but critical power sits in keys: the Depository owner — an EOA on Base — can replace the allocator at any time without delay, taking control of escrowed funds.

    L2Beat

  • Approval risk

    Router-flow approvals go to RelayApprovalProxyV3; its owner can only sweep funds stuck in that contract and cannot spend user approvals.

    L2Beat

  • Recent changes

    Not yet checked: we have not found a dated change log for Relay's contracts and keys. Pending verification.

    待核实 · unverified

  • Security incidents

    No bridge incident for Relay (relay.link) in DefiLlama Hacks as of 2026-10-24. (DefiLlama's 2023 “MEV-Boost Relay” entry is a different project.)

    DefiLlama Hacks

What fees does Relay charge?

Execution cost
$0.02 flat plus estimated destination gas (origin gas only for gasless transactions). Relay
Platform fee
0.00% for token bridges; 0.01% stablecoin swaps, 0.06% major swaps, 0.15% minor swaps. Relay
Swap cost
DEX fees, price impact and solver rebalancing, when a swap is involved. Relay

We rank Relay by net amount received excluding origin gas; quotes come from Relay's public API without an integrator fee.

How did its quotes perform in our data?

run #540

Quotes for Relay in run #540, by the API that reported them.

Quote performance by source
SourceTypeRoutesQuote rows$200 cheapestMedian $200 bpsNegative-cost rows
Relaydirect3811403.600
LI.FIvia aggregator38114028.580

Negative-cost quotes (receiving more than you send) are listed, never ranked. Cost excludes source-chain gas.

Has upswap tested it with real money?

Not yet. Real-money tests are planned after launch; no test wallets or transactions are published yet.

What are the pros and cons?

Pros

  • Very fast fills from solver inventory.
  • Transparent, published fee schedule; 0% platform fee on plain bridging.
  • Immutable contracts — no surprise code upgrades.

Cons

  • Single-operator design: Relay quotes, fills and settles.
  • Escrow controlled by one allocator key per chain; owner EOA can swap it without delay.
  • No on-chain link between your payment and the fill.

Who is Relay for?

Good for small and medium transfers where speed matters and funds sit in Relay's contracts only for seconds; less suitable if you need on-chain guarantees or plan to leave funds in escrow.

Has it been hacked?

No incident linked in our incident library.

Incident library →

Which official links are verified?

  • App relay.link · checked 2026-10-24
  • Docs docs.relay.link · checked 2026-10-24
  • Fee docs docs.relay.link/references/api/api_core_concepts/fees · checked 2026-10-24

What is still unverified?

  • 待核实 Dated change log for Relay's allocator and Depository owner keys.

Sources

  1. Relay — interop protocol page — L2Beat · Database · checked
  2. Cost & Fee Structure — Relay · Docs · checked
  3. Relay — protocol page — DefiLlama · Database · checked
  4. DefiLlama Hacks database — DefiLlama Hacks · Database · checked

Changelog

  • — Draft review written from L2Beat and Relay fee docs.

How do I cite this page?

Burn, A. / upswap.io (2026). Relay (relay.link) review. Updated 2026-10-24. https://upswap.io/bridges/relay#summary. CC BY 4.0. Accessed ____.

Stable anchors: #summary #type #risk #fee-structure #performance #tests #pros-cons #fit #incidents #official #sources #changelog #disclosure #cite