# How It Works

**Optimex** Swap is a decentralized, non-custodial RFQ (Request-for-Quote) Bitcoin trading protocol designed for high liquidity and fast settlement. It ensures optimal trade execution through rate aggregation at the protocol level. Large trades are intelligently split and routed across multiple market makers, eliminating slippage and MEV risks.

**Optimex** Swap operates on its own ledger—an EVM Layer 2 (L2)—which acts as a public bulletin board to coordinate various stakeholders. This design enhances transparency while maintaining decentralization. To participate, stakeholders must meet security deposit or staking requirements.

Users and market makers retain full custody of their assets at all times, ensuring a **non-custodial** trading experience. Additionally, key services and stakeholders operate in a **decentralized** and permissionless manner, reinforcing trust and transparency.

### <mark style="color:orange;">Architecture</mark>

**Optimex Swap** enables secure, non-custodial trading between **Bitcoin and Ethereum**, as well as **other EVM-compatible chains**. The architecture supports two trade paths, depending on the user’s destination:

**1. Bitcoin ↔ Ethereum (Direct Swap via Optimex Protocol)**

Trades between BTC and assets on **Ethereum Mainnet** (e.g., ETH, WETH, USDC, USDT) are executed entirely within the Optimex protocol. The process is secure, efficient, and decentralized thanks to the following innovations:

* [**Native Bitcoin Vault**:](/optimex-revolutionizing-bitcoin-finance/primary-building-blocks/native-bitcoin-vault.md) Secure BTC custody mechanism enabling seamless on-chain interactions.
* [**Decentralized Settlement Committee**:](/optimex-revolutionizing-bitcoin-finance/primary-building-blocks/decentralized-validation-network.md) A trust-minimized approach to transaction finality and dispute resolution.
* [**L2 as a Communication Layer**:](/optimex-revolutionizing-bitcoin-finance/primary-building-blocks/l2-as-a-communication-layer.md) The **Optimex** ledger (EVM L2) coordinates trades, records key events, and ensures a transparent yet efficient trading process.

<figure><img src="/files/Iu0BtsGYcWtz1RgkgnTe" alt=""><figcaption><p>BTC-to-ETH Swap Flow</p></figcaption></figure>

**2. Bitcoin ↔ EVM-Compatible Chains (Swap + Across Bridge)**

For swaps between **BTC and assets on EVM-compatible chains** (e.g., Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, BSC), Optimex combines its native Bitcoin **↔** Ethereum swap (explained above) with [**Across Bridge**](https://across.to/across-bridge).&#x20;

In particular, if the base asset is BTC,  the swap is carried out on Optimex Swap first, resulting in a quote asset on Ethereum Mainnet. The quote asset is then bridged to the user's selected EVM-compatible chain via Across Bridge. Alternatively, if the base asset is on an EVM-compatible chain, it is bridged to Ethereum Mainnet via Across Bridge before being swapped into BTC via Optimex Swap.


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