Uniswap Labs unveils ‘Compact v1’ system to tackle fragmentation across blockchains

Uniswap Labs has released "The Compact v1," an ownerless ERC-6909 contract designed to reduce cross-chain fragmentation. 

The system enables secure, reusable resource locks across blockchain networks, creating a shared framework for developers to build customizable and composable systems, said Uniswap in a Tuesday blog post.

According to the post, The Compact is an ownerless ERC‑6909 contract that manages resource locks. At its core, The Compact allows sponsors to deposit tokens into a contract, creating Resource Locks represented by ERC-6909 tokens. These locks remain under the sponsors' control but can back multiple "Compacts," or verifiable commitments that specify the conditions under which others may claim the assets. 

The architecture includes four key components. Allocators prevent double-spending by authorizing the use of resources. Arbiters verify that commitment conditions have been met. Tribunal serves as a settlement engine for cross-chain swaps, and Emissaries provide fallback verification for smart contract wallets.

The system is set to power cross-chain swaps on UniswapX and is being adopted by LI.FI and Rhinestone. "Cross-chain applications face a fundamental challenge: different execution environments operate asynchronously, making atomic transactions impossible," Uniswap said. "This breaks the basic atomic guarantee that makes single-chain transactions safe and predictable."

Uniswap noted that The Compact v1 has undergone multiple independent security reviews by OpenZeppelin and Spearbit, with full audit reports expected to be published soon. The project is also set to be integrated into Uniswap's bug bounty program.

The monthly volume on Uniswap rose to $143 billion in August, up from July's $99.3 billion, according to The Block's data dashboard.