Universal

Bridge

Universal is a wrapped asset protocol that brings any token, on-chain or off-chain, to any supported blockchain, enabling seamless, cross-chain trading and access. By solving liquidity fragmentation and UX complexity, it offers instant minting, redeeming, and secure custody for wrapped assets across DeFi.

Risk Rating
Average
Protocol Code Quality
Protocol Maturity
Protocol Design
What is Universal?
What we like
Universal solves one of DeFi’s core UX challenges—cross-chain asset fragmentation—by enabling wrapped assets like BTC, SOL, and DOGE to be traded anywhere. Its merchant-attestation minting model offers a novel approach to secure wrapped asset issuance.
What we like less
The protocol relies on centralized custody (a Coinbase Prime account) and requires strong trust in the attestation service and merchant coordination. While security practices are solid, ownership and mint permissions are still managed via multisig.
What it means for you
Universal offers a powerful way to access tokens across chains without manual bridging, but users are exposed to centralized custody and governance risks that must be weighed against the UX benefits.

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Information
Exploit/Hacks
Unknown
Info
Key Metrics
Risk Assessment
Average
Protocol Code Quality
  • Code not reviewed by any experienced auditors
  • Public team promotes accountability
  • No documented protocol hacks since launch
Protocol Maturity
  • Latest protocol version launched in 2024; maturity over six months reduces technical risk as smart contracts are moderately battle-tested
  • Top 20% by total value locked slightly reduces risk
  • Multisig wallet controls protocol upgrades
  • Multisig consists of less than 4 signers, which makes the protocol more susceptible to centralization risks
  • No timelock exists or no information documented, which mean a malicious actor could approve upgrades without any delay
  • No governance token and/or contracts are fully immutable
Protocol Design
  • Universal is a wrapped asset protocol designed to enable trading for any token, on any chain.
Things to know about Universal

What is Universal?

Universal is a wrapped asset protocol designed to make any token tradable on any chain. It removes the need for users to hold native tokens or manage bridging across networks. Instead, it introduces uTokens—ERC-20 representations of underlying assets like BTC or SOL—that are minted and redeemed through a merchant-attestation process. Merchants transfer the real assets to a custodial account, and Universal’s attestation service verifies receipt before authorizing minting on-chain. This model supports fast, secure, and permissioned issuance of synthetic assets.

How uAssets work and how they're secured

Each uAsset (e.g., uBTC, uSOL) is minted only after two parties sign off: a merchant who deposits the real asset and an attestation service that confirms the asset was received in custody. These assets are backed 1:1 and the minting logic is enforced by smart contracts onchain. The collateral is held in a centralized custodial account, and all uToken contracts are owned by a Safe multisig controlled by the team. Proof of reserves is published on-chain and off-chain: Universal posts attestation events publicly and is actively developing more transparent and verifiable proof-of-reserve systems.

Where you can use uAssets in DeFi

Currently, uAssets like uBTC, uSOL, and uAPT are live on Aerodrome on the Base network, where they can be used to provide liquidity and earn trading fees and emissions. Since uAssets are standard ERC-20 tokens, they’re designed to be integrated across DeFi protocols. As adoption grows, Universal intends to expand uAsset support to lending platforms, aggregators, and other onchain venues.

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