How CrossSpend Works
Five steps from signature to delivery. No gas tokens needed on either chain.
Connect Your Wallet
Link your Ethereum wallet that holds USDC. CrossSpend reads your USDC balance and prepares the transfer. No private keys are ever stored.
Sign an Authorization
This is an off-chain signature (EIP-3009). You never send a transaction yourself. Your wallet asks you to sign a message authorizing the USDC transfer — no ETH needed.
CrossSpend Relays On-Chain
CrossSpend's relayer submits your authorized USDC transfer to Ethereum and pays the gas. You don't interact with the blockchain directly.
USDC is Bridged via CCTP
USDC is bridged from Ethereum to Solana or Polygon via Circle's Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol. Real USDC is burned on Ethereum and minted natively on the destination chain.
USDC Arrives on Solana or Polygon
USDC arrives in your destination wallet. CrossSpend sponsors Solana or Polygon redemption fees — no SOL or MATIC required on your end.
Gas Abstraction via EIP-3009
CrossSpend uses EIP-3009 (ReceiveWithAuthorization), a feature of Circle's native USDC contract. This lets you authorize a USDC transfer with just a signature — no ETH needed.
CrossSpend's relayer submits the transaction on your behalf, paying the Ethereum gas cost. The relayer fee in your quote covers this cost and is shown transparently.
On Solana or Polygon, CrossSpend sponsors the destination redemption. The result: you move USDC across chains without holding SOL, MATIC, or ETH for gas.
Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol
CrossSpend uses Circle's Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) to move USDC between blockchains. Unlike wrapped token bridges, CCTP burns real USDC on the source chain and mints fresh native USDC on the destination chain.
This means the USDC you receive on Solana or Polygon is the same first-class USDC issued by Circle — not a synthetic, wrapped, or derivative token. It works with wallets and apps that accept native USDC on that chain.
No smart-contract bridge risk. CCTP is operated by Circle, the USDC issuer.
FAQ
How long does a transfer take?
Typical transfers complete within 15-20 minutes. This includes Ethereum confirmation time plus the cross-chain bridging process.
Do I need ETH, SOL, or MATIC to pay for gas?
No. You sign an off-chain authorization and CrossSpend's relayer pays Ethereum gas. Destination fees on Solana or Polygon are also sponsored. You only need the USDC you're sending.
Is the USDC I receive real (native) USDC?
Yes. CrossSpend uses Circle's CCTP, which burns USDC on the source chain and mints fresh native USDC on the destination chain. No wrapped or synthetic tokens.
What are the fees?
A 0.30% platform fee (30 basis points) on the transfer amount, plus a relayer fee that covers Ethereum gas (shown in your quote). Destination fees are sponsored. Everything is shown before you confirm.
What are the transfer limits?
Minimum: 1 USDC. Maximum: 10,000 USDC per transfer. These limits may change as the platform matures.
What happens if a transfer fails?
Failed transfers are flagged and can be retried. Your USDC is never lost — the protocol ensures funds are either delivered or remain on the source chain.
What is EIP-3009?
EIP-3009 (ReceiveWithAuthorization) is a feature of Circle's native USDC contract. It lets you authorize a USDC transfer with just a signature — a relayer then submits the transaction on-chain. This is how CrossSpend achieves gasless transfers.