Multi-Hop Architecture
1. Introduction
Transferring assets between independent blockchains typically involves multiple bridge hops, manual routing, and exposure to custodial liquidity models. Multi-Hop addresses this fragmentation by enabling assets to move between any supported chains in a single atomic transaction, using Lucid’s platform infrastructure to coordinate routing, verification, and settlement.
For example, a user holding USDC on Base can initiate a transfer to Gnosis Chain. The system automatically routes the transaction via Across or Relay to Arbitrum, where Lucid’s controller contracts lock and mint the equivalent L-USDC on the destination chain. This process occurs seamlessly within one deterministic transaction flow, without user intervention or liquidity dependency.
2. System Architecture
2.1 Base Mint Chain
Lucid designates Arbitrum as the base mint chain for Lucid assets (with more going live soon). All mint and burn operations are executed exclusively by Lucid Asset Controller Contracts, which are governed by strict access control policies. These controllers exist independently from the Multi-Hop system and are unaffected by its operational logic.
The Multi-Hop routing product interacts only with the bridge aggregation layer and transient relay contracts, it does not hold or require any mint or burn privileges. This separation ensures that the decentralization and sovereignty of Lucid’s asset model remain fully intact.
2.2 Routing and Relay Layer
When a Multi-Hop transfer is initiated, the routing flow proceeds as follows:
The user specifies the input asset, source chain, and destination chain.
The transfer is routed to Arbitrum using one of Lucid’s supported bridges (e.g., Across or Relay).
The bridged funds are received by a 2-of-3 Safe multisig relay contract, which acts solely as a transient routing checkpoint.
Two independent signing environments verify transaction parameters and co-sign the forwarding action.
Upon validation, the assets are immediately forwarded to the destination bridge, via one of Lucid’s internal bridges: LayerZero, Polymer, CCIP, Axelar, Wormhole and Hyperlane where the minting of the corresponding Lucid asset completes the transaction.
The described flow above is bidirectional and functions in both directions. The bridging process works identically in reverse.
At no point does the relay serve as a custodian. Funds typically reside in the multisig wallet for less than three second before being forwarded. If a failure or interruption occurs, an automatic refund mechanism restores the funds to the sender on Arbitrum (or to a predefined fallback address).
3. Security Model
3.1 Multisig Purpose and Operation
The 2-of-3 Safe multisig serves as a security checkpoint, not a control mechanism. Its purpose is to provide fault tolerance and verifiable coordination during the brief routing period.
Two of three independent signers must authorize each transfer.
Each signer operates within a distinct, isolated environment with no shared infrastructure.
The multisig has no authority or access to Lucid’s mint/burn controllers.
Human access is disabled under normal operation, permitted only under controlled emergency recovery procedures.
This design ensures that operational redundancy is achieved without introducing new trust assumptions or compromising decentralization. In practice, it is at least as decentralized, and often more secure, than alternative systems that rely on single relayer sets or custodial bridge operators.
3.2 Decentralization Considerations
The inclusion of a temporary 2-of-3 multisig does not constitute centralization. It introduces redundancy and validation integrity without conferring unilateral control. Even in the theoretical event of a multisig compromise, Lucid’s mint and burn privileges remain entirely segregated and inaccessible.
The distributed signer architecture, deployed across independent environments and cloud providers, minimizes correlated risk and ensures that no single failure or collusion can affect the state of Lucid’s token supply or bridging integrity.
3.3 Emergency Access
Emergency access is strictly reserved for exceptional recovery procedures. Any invocation requires authorization from Lucid’s internal multisignature governance and is subject to public transparency. This mechanism ensures user protection without introducing permanent custodial control, a model demonstrably more transparent than most existing bridging frameworks.
4. Benefits
Single-step deterministic transfers between any supported ecosystems
Elimination of liquidity pools and rebalancing risks
Bridge-agnostic architecture, supporting multiple integrated providers
Redundant, verifiable relay mechanism with minimal latency
Predictable settlement and automatic fallback recovery
Full preservation of Lucid’s decentralized mint/burn model
5. Conclusion
Lucid Multi-Hop represents a modular product layer built atop the Lucid platform’s bridge aggregation and asset controller infrastructure. It introduces deterministic, single-step routing for cross-chain transfers while maintaining strict isolation from mint and burn authority.
The transient 2-of-3 multisig mechanism functions purely as a verifiable relay checkpoint, not a control layer, ensuring operational security without compromising decentralization.
By combining deterministic routing, fault-tolerant verification, and complete separation of control layers, Lucid Multi-Hop achieves a level of security and decentralization comparable to, and often exceeding, leading interoperability solutions in the industry.
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