Decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregators are rapidly emerging as pivotal players in the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. With over $500 billion in trading volume processed and growing, 1inch — one of the leading DEX aggregators — is at the forefront of this transformation. In an exclusive conversation during Paris Blockchain Week, co-founder Sergej Kunz shared insights into how 1inch is redefining cross-chain interoperability, enhancing user experience, and positioning itself for long-term dominance in both crypto and traditional finance.
The Rise of DEX Aggregators in Modern DeFi
DEX aggregators have evolved from niche tools into essential infrastructure within DeFi. By sourcing liquidity across multiple decentralized exchanges, they optimize trade execution, reduce slippage, and minimize fees — delivering better outcomes for users. As of February 2025, the total trading value across DEX aggregators reached $2.03 billion, signaling strong market confidence and adoption.
1inch, launched in May 2019 by Sergej Kunz and Anton Bukov, began as a hackathon project focused on trade optimization. Today, it operates across 13 blockchains and integrates with hundreds of DEXs, offering seamless token swaps powered by smart contracts and advanced routing algorithms.
“We’re building a future where DeFi matches the usability of centralized exchanges — but with full non-custodial control and atomic execution,” said Kunz.
This vision hinges on making complex multi-DEX, cross-chain trades feel simple and instantaneous — a critical step toward mass adoption.
Atomic Execution: The Backbone of Trustless Trading
At the heart of 1inch’s technology is atomic execution, a mechanism that ensures transactions either complete fully or revert entirely. In the fragmented world of DeFi, where liquidity is spread thin and market conditions shift rapidly, partial executions can lead to losses or failed trades.
With atomic execution:
- A trade involving multiple hops across different DEXs is treated as a single transaction.
- If any leg fails (e.g., price impact exceeds threshold or liquidity dries up), the entire swap is canceled.
- Funds remain in the user’s wallet — no exposure to failed intermediaries or sandwich attacks from MEV (Miner Extractable Value) bots.
This level of reliability not only protects users but also enhances trust in automated trading systems, especially as institutional interest grows.
👉 Discover how next-gen trading platforms are leveraging atomic execution for secure, seamless swaps.
Fusion+: Powering Smarter Cross-Chain Swaps
To address inefficiencies in cross-chain trading, 1inch introduced Fusion+, an upgraded version of its Swap Engine. Fusion+ leverages intent-based architecture — allowing users to declare what outcome they want without specifying how to achieve it — while minimizing reliance on traditional bridging mechanisms.
Key advantages of Fusion+ include:
- Better pricing through deeper liquidity aggregation across chains.
- Reduced front-running risk via advanced encryption and timing controls.
- Lower latency by streamlining settlement paths between non-EVM and EVM-compatible networks.
Since its beta launch in September 2024, Fusion+ has facilitated over $200 million in cross-chain volume, with integrations like ZKsync enhancing performance and security. As more users demand frictionless movement between ecosystems like Ethereum, Solana, and Bitcoin, Fusion+ positions 1inch as a unified gateway to Web3 liquidity.
Bridging the Gap: Integrating Bitcoin and Solana
Despite their popularity, Bitcoin (BTC) and Solana (SOL) present unique challenges for DeFi integration due to their non-EVM architectures. While EVM chains dominate DeFi’s $100+ billion total value locked (TVL), BTC holders still face significant barriers when accessing yield-generating protocols like Aave or Compound.
Currently, most solutions rely on wrapped assets like WBTC or tBTC — introducing counterparty risk and fragmentation. 1inch aims to change this by enabling direct interoperability without wrapping, using advanced routing and verification layers that maintain decentralization and security.
Kunz emphasized that expanding support for Bitcoin and Solana isn’t just about adding more chains — it’s about creating a truly interoperable financial layer where capital flows freely across ecosystems.
“The future isn’t multi-chain silos — it’s one interconnected network. We’re building the plumbing for that reality.”
Why Cross-Chain Interoperability Matters
Interoperability unlocks several transformative possibilities:
- Institutional investors can deploy BTC into DeFi without relying on custodial wrappers.
- Developers gain access to broader liquidity pools for building dApps.
- Retail users enjoy lower costs and faster execution across ecosystems.
As 1inch deepens its cross-chain capabilities, it moves closer to becoming a universal marketplace for digital assets — regardless of origin chain.
👉 Explore how interoperability is reshaping the future of decentralized trading.
Expanding Beyond Crypto: Targeting Traditional Finance (TradFi)
While DeFi continues to grow, 1inch has set its sights beyond crypto. According to Kunz, the next frontier is traditional finance (TradFi) — not by adapting DeFi to legacy systems, but by inviting TradFi to adopt DeFi-native principles.
“Self-custody and atomic execution are our value propositions,” Kunz stated. “It’s not us who should adapt to TradFi — it’s TradFi that needs to evolve to meet our standards.”
This bold stance reflects a growing trend: financial institutions are beginning to recognize the efficiency, transparency, and automation benefits of blockchain-based systems. By partnering with banks and regulated entities, 1inch aims to facilitate:
- On-chain settlement of securities
- Tokenized asset trading
- Institutional-grade compliance tools
To support this transition, 1inch Labs has developed a security monitoring service that aggregates anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) data. It flags suspicious wallets and blocks API interactions with illicit addresses — helping institutions meet regulatory requirements without sacrificing decentralization.
Real-World Asset Tokenization: The Next Big Wave
One of the most promising frontiers in finance is real-world asset (RWA) tokenization — the process of representing physical assets like stocks, bonds, or real estate on blockchain. According to a joint report by Ripple and BCG, the tokenized asset market could reach **$18.9 trillion by 2033**, up from $600 billion today.
Kunz sees RWA tokenization as a natural extension of 1inch’s mission:
“There’s no single place where you can wait for the best execution on tokenized stocks or bonds. That’s exactly what we’re building.”
By applying its aggregation engine to tokenized securities, 1inch could become the go-to platform for optimal pricing and execution — even for off-chain assets now living on-chain.
Potential applications include:
- Non-custodial trading of tokenized equities
- Cross-border settlement of private credit instruments
- Automated yield strategies using fractional real estate tokens
With no dominant secondary market yet established for these assets, early movers like 1inch have a first-mover advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is a DEX aggregator?
A: A DEX aggregator sources liquidity from multiple decentralized exchanges to find the best possible price for a trade, reducing slippage and fees while maintaining user control over funds.
Q: How does 1inch ensure better trade execution?
A: Through its proprietary routing algorithm and atomic execution model, 1inch combines liquidity across hundreds of DEXs and executes trades as single, indivisible transactions — ensuring safety and efficiency.
Q: Can I use 1inch to swap Bitcoin directly?
A: While Bitcoin isn’t natively compatible with EVM chains, 1inch is developing solutions for direct BTC integration without requiring wrapped tokens — improving security and reducing friction.
Q: Is 1inch working on AI integration?
A: Yes — part of 1inch’s roadmap includes leveraging AI to enhance trade prediction, optimize routing paths, and improve user interface personalization across its platforms.
Q: How does Fusion+ reduce MEV risks?
A: Fusion+ uses encrypted order submission and time-locked execution windows to prevent bots from detecting and exploiting pending transactions — protecting users from front-running.
Q: Will 1inch support tokenized stocks?
A: Sergej Kunz confirmed that RWA tokenization is a key strategic focus. Once regulatory frameworks mature, 1inch aims to become a leading venue for non-custodial trading of on-chain securities.
👉 See how leading platforms are preparing for the tokenized asset revolution.
Final Thoughts: The Road Ahead for DeFi Aggregation
As DeFi matures, DEX aggregators like 1inch are evolving from utility tools into foundational infrastructure. With innovations like Fusion+, cross-chain expansion into Bitcoin and Solana, and ambitions in real-world asset tokenization, 1inch is positioning itself not just as a trader’s tool — but as a next-generation financial operating system.
The convergence of better UX, enhanced security, AI-driven optimization, and institutional readiness suggests that DEX aggregators may indeed represent the future of decentralized finance.
For users, developers, and institutions alike, the message is clear: interoperability, non-custody, and seamless execution are no longer optional — they’re essential.
Core Keywords: DEX aggregator, DeFi, atomic execution, cross-chain swaps, real-world asset tokenization, Fusion+, 1inch, non-custodial trading