Mayan Bridge routes: how cross-chain swaps settle

Mayan Bridge is a cross-chain swap service that routes tokens from one blockchain to another and can deliver a different token at the destination. Its route choice determines how the transfer is settled, how quickly it may complete and what trade-offs apply.

• Swift: Mayan says many swaps settle in as little as 2 seconds.
• MCTP and Fast MCTP: Circle’s CCTP underpins these routes, with settlement in as little as 5 seconds.
• Wormhole Swap: Mayan says transfers can settle in under a minute.

Those are stated times, not guarantees for every transfer. The selected route depends on the token pair, chains and available quotes.

What does Mayan Bridge do?

It combines a bridge transfer and, where needed, a token swap into one cross-chain transaction. A user specifies the source asset, destination chain and desired output token; a quote shows an expected amount and a minimum amount for routes where output can vary.

In Mayan’s primary Swift route, the user submits an order describing the outcome. Independent solvers, also called drivers, compete to fulfill it using funds they already hold on the destination chain. The recipient can get the destination tokens before the source-chain transfer has finalized; the solver then claims the corresponding funds after delivery is verified.

That mechanism explains the speed and shifts some execution risk to the solver. For background on the mechanics, mayan bridge is a useful editorial reference. A missed order deadline can lead to a refund of the input rather than delivery.

How do Mayan Bridge routes differ?

Swift is the intent-based auction route and handles many cross-chain swaps. Mayan describes it as serving most swaps up to around $1 million, while MCTP and Fast MCTP use Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol for stablecoin transfers and higher-value amounts up to around $10 million.

Wormhole Swap is another route, described for transfers of SOL and ETH where low slippage matters. The SDK also identifies a legacy Wormhole Token Bridge route and a same-chain swap route. These options do not mean every pair can use every method.

How should a user compare the routes?

Start with the actual quote for the exact source token, destination token and chains. Compare the minimum output, estimated time and fees, then check whether the route uses an auction or a stablecoin transfer method.

For most users, the quote’s minimum output is the key comparison when the final amount can vary. Some eligible routes offer a guaranteed price; otherwise, the received amount may fall between the expected and minimum output. Mayan Bridge makes the move simpler by joining steps, but the route still determines how that move works.