[2503 Collective Rewards] Router Pay by Router Protocol

Collective Rewards
1

Project Name: Router Protocol

Submission Date: 19-03-2025

Team: Router Protocol’s team, led by Ramani Ramachandran has constructed cross-chain infrastructure, notably a mesh network for messaging and asset transfers, to streamline communication between diverse blockchains. Live since 2022, with backing from investors like Coinbase Ventures and Wintermute, this globally distributed team aims to solve the fragmentation challenges within the decentralized ecosystem.

Sector: DeFi Infrastructure / Cross-Chain Interoperability
Project Stage: Live
Links to: Product Deck

Socials:
Twitter - @routerprotocol

Description:
Router Protocol is a cross-chain infrastructure that enables trustless and instant transfer of assets and arbitrary data across 35+ blockchain networks. Our innovative intent-based framework simplifies complex multi on-chain interactions into seamless one-click experiences, making blockchain interoperability effortless for both users and developers.

Mission

Rootstock currently faces liquidity flow constraints due to lack of centralized exchange (CEX) withdrawal support of BTC to the RSK network. As a result, stablecoin and rBTC liquidity within the ecosystem remain limited, restricting DeFi activity and obstructing user engagement.

Router Protocol, a prominent interoperability infra, previously integrated Rootsock to a mesh network of 35+ chains including EVMs and Non-EVMs, and has recently developed Router Pay, a novel payment framework that enables users to use assets from any exchanges or wallet to bridge into the chain of their choice. Router Pay generates a custom one-time address for users’ withdrawals mapped to a specific intent, which can either be scanned in QR formats using any wallet/browser or be copied and pasted, thereby eliminating the requirement for wallet injections or approvals.

Product | Router offers three flagship products:

  1. Router Nitro: A trustless, ultra-low latency bridge that transfers user funds across chains in under 30 seconds, 20% cheaper than competing bridges. Supporting 19 chains including Rootstock, Nitro enables seamless asset movement between RSK and other major networks. [Already live on Rootstock]

  2. Router Pay: A revolutionary cross-chain settlement technology that eliminates the need for wallet connections and approvals. Router Pay generates custom one-time addresses for users’ withdrawals mapped to specific intents, allowing users to move assets directly from centralized exchanges into Rootstock without intermediaries.

  3. Cross-chain Intent Framework (CCIF): An advanced system that simplifies blockchain interactions by converting user intents into executable workflows through specialized intent adapters and optimized execution paths.

Summary

This proposal seeks the support from the Rootstock Collective to support the integration of Router Pay, a new cross-chain settlement technology developed by Router Protocol that eliminates the need for wallet connections and approvals for interacting on-chain.

This integration will facilitate frictionless inflows of rBTC liquidity from other chains/assets and even CEXs into the Rootstock ecosystem.

Proposal Details

By leveraging Router Pay, users will be able to receive rBTC on Rootstock swapping USDC, USDT, and other assets from a number of chains like Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, and many more. Additionally, we also aim to allow a Router Pay flow to withdraw USDC or USDT from assets on centralised exchanges bridging into rBTC on their pre-specified deposit address. This will be achieved through:

  • ISA enabled Cross-chain Withdrawals: Add a Router Pay widget as a separate tab labelled “Withdraw from CEX” on Rootstock’s Get rBTC segment can allow users to bridge assets like USDT, USDC directly from CEX’s supported withdrawal chains into Rootstock without any restrictions from intermediaries.
  • Liquidity Aggregation: Router Protocol has already identified multiple liquidity sources that can be enabled to facilitate smooth asset swaps across different chains, ensuring accessibility to rBTC and even one-click to stRIF.
  • Scalability & Ecosystem Growth: This solution will significantly improve liquidity inflows, unlocking new use cases for Rootstock dApps, enhancing DeFi participation, and increasing transaction volume on the network.

[Reference Image of Router Pay in Product Deck above]

Incentive

Additionally, we propose a 50% community distribution of our rewards to enhance participation in voting and ensure community alignment on this initiative.

Expected Impact:

  • Increased Liquidity: Enabling inflows of rBTC and stablecoins from CEXs will directly support DeFi applications on Rootstock.
  • Improved User Experience: Users will have a seamless way to withdraw and bridge assets into Rootstock directly from the ecosystem page.
  • Enhanced Adoption: More liquidity and ease of access will attract new use cases and developments for scalability on Rootstock.

Traction:

  • Integrations with 50 chains in the mesh network and counting
  • Canonical status on 10+ chain ecosystems including Boba, Redbelly, Matchain, Vanar
  • $1.2B+ total bridged volume on our cross-chain infrastructure
  • 1.7M+ transactions processed on Nitro
  • 20M ETH staked using Router’s StakeStone staking adapter

Enabling Router Pay

Any dApp on RSK can integrate Router Pay and provide users a no sign-up UX. This can be easily done by integrating Router Pay APIs.

Integration of Router Pay is a 2 step process:

  1. Generation of deposit address: API to generate a deposit address where users will send their funds to. Router Pay relayers will use the funds sent to this address to execute the transaction on behalf of the user.

  2. Check status: API to check the status of the transaction.

Technical Flowchart

BASE URL [api.pay.routerprotocol(dot)com]

Conclusion

Router Protocol is committed to solving liquidity mobility challenges for Rootstock through Router Pay. We believe this proposal will unlock a new level of interoperability and usability for the Rootstock ecosystem. We look forward to collaborating with the Collective to make this integration a possibility.

20 Likes
2

This would certainly be great for Rootstock!

3 Likes
3

Thank you Router team for this proposal.

This looks like a very cool solution, with serious traction already established which is a big plus. The proposal seeks to address key issues and we would be keen to support it.

We do want to express our concern that this has gone up for a vote already, as we believe any proposal should sit on the forum for at least a few days if not a week before it proceeds to a vote.

Before placing our vote, we have left some questions below:

Has Router Pay been audited, and if so would you be able to share the audit please?

Could you elaborate on this point please? How do you define “community” as well as define and delineate “our rewards”?

3 Likes
4

Great initiative RouterProtocol team. Lets move this forward!

2 Likes
5

It would be awesome and beneficial for both.

2 Likes
6

Good moves make a bright future.

7

The way Router Pay makes it so easy to move assets, even straight from a CEX into Rootstock without all the usual wallet hassles is super impressive. Feels like a real step forward in making DeFi more accessible. Big shoutout to the team for building something so thoughtful and user-friendly!

2 Likes
8

Glad to see initiatives like this being brought to the Collective.

Router Pay offers a solution to improve liquidity inflows and user experience. The team’s track record is solid, and the support from the Rootstock Collective team gives me confidence in the integration. The ability to bridge directly from CEXs to Rootstock is a clear value-add.

I agree with @Avantgarde that proposals should ideally remain on the forum for a longer period before moving to a vote. Setting clearer expectations around this could benefit future governance.

That said, I’ll vote in favor given the potential impact on the ecosystem and the strong alignment with Rootstock’s goals.

1 Like
9

win-win situation for both

1 Like
10

Hello Avantgarde, appreciate your prompt feedback. Thank you for your kind review of our proposal and the concerns raised.

Would like to clarify both points for you. On account of urgency, we were suggested to draft a proposal and immediately put up for voting by the collective to ensure that we can expedite the tech.

The Nitro Bridge & Router Chain Audits are already complete:

Audit for the Router Pay product is currently in process, the auditors are to come back to us with the report. Shall have the update on this by the end of the week for you.

Additionally, to clarify on the incentive distribution part. As per the collective rewards mechanism, any rewards issued to Router Protocol will be distributed to all the voters on our proposal.

Trust this resolves your query.

2 Likes