LI.FI is a cross-chain bridge and decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregation protocol that functions as a middleware infrastructure layer. It aggregates various on-chain liquidity sources and bridging solutions to enable asset swaps and transfers across multiple blockchain networks through a single, unified Application Programming Interface (API).

Overview

LI.FI is designed to address the issue of liquidity and infrastructure fragmentation within the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. As the number of blockchains has grown, users and assets have become siloed across different networks, making it complex and inefficient to move value between them. The protocol operates on the thesis that the future of blockchain is multi-chain, that cross-chain bridges are essential infrastructure, and that aggregating these solutions is necessary to simplify the user experience and drive mainstream adoption.

By functioning as a middleware or abstraction layer, LI.FI aims to connect the foundational elements of DeFi—such as bridges and DEXs—with the application layer, which includes wallets, decentralized applications (dApps), and other platforms. ^[1]

The protocol's primary focus is on providing a business-to-business (B2B) solution for developers and enterprises. It offers a suite of tools that save developers the time and resources required to integrate and maintain connections to numerous individual bridges and exchanges. This allows development teams to implement complex cross-chain strategies and user experiences without building the underlying infrastructure from scratch.

The name LI.FI is derived from its mission to **(LI)**nk the **(FI)**nancial components of the DeFi space. ^[1] A key figure associated with the project, Philipp Zentner, articulated the protocol's value proposition by stating,

"Interoperability might be solved, but fragmentation is not. This is where @lifiprotocol comes in." ^[2]

LI.FI provides its aggregated liquidity and bridging routes through a Software Development Kit (SDK), an API, and a pre-built widget. This allows partners to integrate cross-chain functionality in a way that suits their technical needs, from a fully customized backend integration to a simple, embeddable user interface. The protocol has achieved significant adoption, processing over $30 billion in transaction volume across more than 50 million transfers and integrating with over 600 partners, including major wallets and dApps. ^{[3] [2]}

History

The project's public-facing activities began around mid-2021, with its official X (formerly Twitter) account being established in June of that year. ^[2] Initially known as Li.Finance, the project underwent a significant rebranding on April 14, 2022, officially changing its name to LI.FI.

The change was intended to clarify its strategic focus as a B2B-oriented infrastructure provider rather than a consumer-facing application. As part of this strategic shift, the company designated its B2C interface for direct user swaps to a separate domain, transferto.xyz, to create a clear distinction between its core developer-focused infrastructure and its retail-facing product.

The rebranding announcement, authored by Arjun Chand, emphasized the company's mission to serve as a foundational layer for developers building in the multi-chain ecosystem. ^[1]

Since its inception, the protocol has continued to expand its partnerships and integrations.

On September 26, 2025, LI.FI announced that its infrastructure was being used to help power the financial system of the Plasma Foundation. The project has also engaged in community and industry events, such as co-hosting "Stable Takes," an event focused on the convergence of DeFi and Traditional Finance (TradFi) at the TOKEN2049 conference in Singapore, scheduled for October 1, 2025. ^[2]

Technology

LI.FI's technology is centered on the concept of aggregation and abstraction. It operates as a middleware layer that intelligently routes transactions through a complex network of liquidity sources to find the most efficient path for a user's desired cross-chain swap or transfer. The protocol creates what it describes as a "data mesh of cross-chain liquidity sources," which allows it to offer optimal execution on price, speed, and security. ^[1]

The core of the system is an advanced routing algorithm that considers multiple variables when processing a transaction. When a user initiates a cross-chain swap, the protocol analyzes various potential routes that may involve a combination of different bridges and DEXs. For example, swapping USDC on Ethereum for SOL on Solana might involve bridging the USDC to a chain with high liquidity for both assets, swapping it on a DEX on that intermediate chain, and then bridging the resulting asset to Solana. LI.FI's system automates this complex decision-making process to provide a seamless experience.

A quote from the company's official blog summarizes its technical philosophy:

"For LI.FI abstraction is the name of the game. We abstract all the complexities of bridging/swapping/transferring assets and bring it all together as a data mesh of cross-chain liquidity sources in one SDK that can power any cross-chain strategy." ^[1]

Aggregated Infrastructure

To build its "data mesh," LI.FI integrates with a wide array of on-chain infrastructure. This multi-layered approach ensures deep liquidity and extensive route optionality. The aggregated components include:

• Cross-Chain Bridges: The protocol connects to numerous bridges, such as Stargate and Across, which are responsible for transferring assets between different blockchains.
• DEX Aggregators: To find the best swap prices on any given chain, LI.FI taps into major DEX aggregators like 1inch, which themselves source liquidity from multiple decentralized exchanges.
• Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs): The protocol can also route trades directly through individual DEXs like Uniswap when it is the most efficient option.
• Intent-Based Systems: LI.FI utilizes intent-based systems and solvers, which allow users to declare their desired outcome (e.g., "I want to turn X amount of ETH on Arbitrum into Y amount of SOL on Solana") and let a network of third-party "solvers" compete to execute the transaction in the most efficient way.

This combination of infrastructure allows the protocol to facilitate complex cross-chain transactions seamlessly. ^[3]

Blockchain Support

The protocol is designed to be blockchain-agnostic and supports a wide range of networks. As of 2025, LI.FI supports over 30 chains, including major ecosystems such as:

• EVM-compatible chains (e.g., Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, BNB Chain, Base, Avalanche, zkSync, Linea, Metis)
• Solana
• Bitcoin
• Other alternative virtual machines (alt-VMs)

This broad support enables developers to build applications that can interact with a large portion of the DeFi landscape. ^[3]

Enterprise Solutions

For its enterprise and large-scale partners, LI.FI offers a suite of features designed to ensure reliability, performance, and support. The infrastructure is built on a cloud-native, modular architecture with advanced caching to handle high transaction volumes and maintain performance.

The enterprise offering includes service-level agreements (SLAs), dedicated account managers for technical and strategic support, and a partner portal with access to detailed data and analytics. These analytics provide insights into user activity, volume trends, and fees generated, allowing partners to make data-driven decisions about their integration. ^[3]

Products

LI.FI offers a range of products tailored to developers and dApps, enabling them to integrate cross-chain functionality with varying levels of customization.

• API and SDK: The core developer offering is a comprehensive API and Software Development Kit (SDK). This allows for deep integration of LI.FI's cross-chain swapping and bridging logic directly into an application's backend and frontend. Developers can use the SDK to build fully customized user experiences while leveraging LI.FI's powerful routing and aggregation engine.
• Trading Widget: For teams seeking a faster and simpler integration, LI.FI provides a pre-built, customizable UI component. This widget can be embedded into any dApp or website, reportedly in under five minutes, to instantly enable cross-chain trading and bridging functionality for users. The widget's appearance can be tailored to match the host application's branding.
• LI.FI Scan: A cross-chain block explorer designed specifically for transactions facilitated through the LI.FI protocol. It allows users and developers to track the status of their multi-step, cross-chain transactions from their origin to their destination chain, providing transparency in a typically opaque process.
• LI.FI Partner Portal: A dedicated dashboard for integrated partners. The portal allows partners to manage their integration settings, monitor performance, and access analytics related to their users' transaction volume and behavior.
• transferto.xyz: While LI.FI's primary focus is B2B, it maintains transferto.xyz as its official business-to-consumer (B2C) interface. This standalone website allows individual users to directly access the protocol's cross-chain swap and bridging capabilities.
• Glacis: This is listed as a product on the company's official website, though specific details about its function are not provided in the available documentation.

These products provide a flexible toolkit for building multi-chain applications. ^{[3] [1]}

Partnerships and Adoption

LI.FI has been integrated by a wide range of companies across the Web3 ecosystem, establishing itself as a key infrastructure provider for cross-chain functionality. As of September 2025, the protocol reported having over 600 partners. Data from the same period indicated a 24-hour DEX aggregation trading volume of nearly $595 million. Cumulatively, the protocol has processed over $30 billion in transfer volume across more than 50 million transactions. ^{[2] [3]}

Notable partners integrating LI.FI's technology include:

• Wallets: Robinhood (Web3 Wallet), MetaMask, Binance Web3 Wallet, Phantom, and Brave Wallet.
• DeFi & dApps: DeFi Saver, Hyperliquid, and Layer3.
• NFT & Data Platforms: OpenSea and DappRadar.
• Infrastructure & Payments: Gnosis Pay and the Plasma Foundation.

The integration with major wallets like MetaMask, Phantom, and Robinhood is particularly significant, as it exposes LI.FI's infrastructure to millions of end-users. Arnaud Lepraux, a Senior Business Manager at a partner company, provided a testimonial on the integration experience, stating, "Fast, efficient, and collaborative—LI.FI was a key enabler in upgrading our swap experience.” ^[3]