The decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem continues to evolve with major platforms expanding their cross-chain capabilities. In a significant development, 1inch has announced the integration of the Unichain network. This strategic move aims to provide users with more opportunities for secure token swaps at optimal rates, marking another step forward in the unification of decentralized finance.
What Is 1inch?
1inch is a leading DeFi aggregator that operates as a decentralized platform dedicated to accelerating permissionless crypto trading. With efficient and low-cost token exchange services, it has attracted over 23 million users and facilitates a daily trading volume of $1 billion.
The platform offers a suite of tools designed to simplify the DeFi experience:
- A self-custodial wallet for secure asset management
- A portfolio tracker for monitoring digital assets
- A comprehensive developer portal
- A debit card that enables simplified spending of cryptocurrencies
The core mission of 1inch is to make decentralized finance accessible to everyone by streamlining the user experience and reducing complexity.
Understanding Unichain
Unichain is the dedicated DeFi chain developed by Uniswap, specifically designed to facilitate decentralized finance applications. This Layer-2 solution on Ethereum utilizes optimistic rollup technology to provide near-instant transactions at significantly reduced costs while maintaining full compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem.
Since its launch in December 2024, Unichain has demonstrated impressive growth, achieving a DeFi Total Value Locked (TVL) of nearly $850 million. The network's development has focused intensely on efficiency, resulting in high transaction speeds and minimal fees.
Uniswap, the decentralized exchange behind Unichain, was originally launched in 2018 but gained significant traction during the second half of 2020. With a TVL of approximately $4.8 billion, it remains one of the most prominent DEX platforms in the market and has consistently recorded some of the highest trading volumes in the DeFi space.
The Significance of 1inch's Unichain Integration
1inch boasts a DeFi TVL exceeding $4 billion and supports more than 12 different blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, and BNB. The addition of Unichain to this expanding ecosystem represents a strategic enhancement to its multi-chain capabilities.
The integration makes Unichain accessible through various 1inch interfaces:
- The 1inch dApp (decentralized application)
- 1inch Wallet
- 1inch API services
This development offers several substantial benefits to users:
- Access to optimal swap rates across multiple chains
- Enhanced protection against Miner Extractable Value (MEV) through double safeguards
- Connection to deep liquidity pools
- Cross-chain trading capabilities
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With this integration, 1inch users can now exchange Unichain tokens directly on the network or move liquidity between Unichain and other EVM-compatible chains. Additionally, users can securely store and monitor Unichain assets using 1inch Wallet and track their performance through 1inch Portfolio.
All Uniswap balances and positions are now automatically displayed on the 1inch Portfolio dashboard, providing users with a comprehensive overview of their assets in a single interface.
Additional Network Characteristics
Unichain has demonstrated particular strength in stablecoin trading volumes. From March to June 2025, the total market capitalization of stablecoins on Unichain grew to $344.2 million, with over 51% of these assets issued natively on the network.
The integration extends to the 1inch developer portal, where developers and partners can now access Unichain through various 1inch APIs, including:
- Swap (Fusion, Fusion+, Classic Swap, Orderbook)
- Balance tracking
- Spot price information
- Transaction history
The protocols currently supported on Unichain via 1inch include WETH, Uniswap V2, Uniswap V3, and Uniswap V4.
Sergej Kunz, co-founder of 1inch, commented on the integration:
"Unichain fits perfectly with our vision of a fully integrated cross-chain DeFi. With almost instant swaps, native MEV protection, and the deep liquidity of Unichain, now accessible via 1inch, we are expanding the boundaries of multi-chain trading. We offer users the best execution across all ecosystems, all in one convenient platform."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main benefit of 1inch integrating Unichain?
The integration provides 1inch users with access to Unichain's high-speed, low-cost trading environment while maintaining the security and optimal pricing that 1inch offers. Users can now execute cross-chain swaps between Unichain and other supported networks with enhanced MEV protection.
How does Unichain improve transaction speed and cost?
Unichain operates as a Layer-2 solution on Ethereum using optimistic rollup technology. This architecture processes transactions off-chain before bundling them for Ethereum mainnet settlement, resulting in faster confirmation times and significantly reduced gas fees.
Can I track my Uniswap assets through 1inch after this integration?
Yes, the integration enables automatic display of all Uniswap balances and positions on the 1inch Portfolio dashboard. This provides a unified view of your assets across multiple platforms in a single interface.
What trading options are available on Unichain through 1inch?
Users can execute token swaps directly on the Unichain network, move liquidity between Unichain and other EVM-compatible chains, and access various trading protocols including Uniswap V2, V3, and V4 through the 1inch interface.
Is Unichain compatible with other Ethereum-based networks?
Yes, Unichain maintains full compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), meaning it can interact seamlessly with other Ethereum-based networks and applications.
How does the double MEV protection work?
1inch implements multiple layers of protection against Miner Extractable Value, including its own safeguards combined with Unichain's native MEV protection mechanisms. This dual approach significantly reduces the risk of front-running and other forms of transaction manipulation.