On this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn welcomes Hart Lambur, co-founder of Across Protocol, back to the show to break down Across’s next big move: live, fast bridging between Solana, Ethereum, and major L2s. Hart explains why true chain interoperability matters for all users and devs, how open intents and a “two-second bridge” are setting new speed standards, and why fragmentation, not maximalism, is the challenge stopping web3’s next phase of growth. You’ll get the inside story on why Across expanded to Solana, the real tradeoffs behind non-EVM integration, cost and speed advantages, and what cross-chain UX should look like in 2025. Hart also gives a candid take on rival bridges, open intents, the path toward unified standards, and why loving your team is the most important lesson in crypto.

This episode is sponsored by Across Protocol.

⏱️ Timestamps

(00:00) - Introduction: Hart Lambur, Across Protocol, and Ethereum to Solana fast bridge

(03:08) - Why bridges matter: fragmentation, interoperability, and user experience

(07:05) - Choosing Solana: user demand, technical lift, and why Solana came next

(14:12) - Two-Second Bridge UX: Solving for speed, no more “wait a minute”

(18:17) - What makes Across different: cost, hooks, and EVM vs Solana smart contracts

(22:15) - The Open Intents Framework: past progress and future standards

(27:28) - Fragmentation vs. unification: where the multi-chain UX breaks down

(30:05) - What seamless cross-chain means for app builders and users

(34:12) - Technical surprises and lessons from bridging EVM ↔ SVM

(36:00) - Macro market trends, Bitcoin, stablecoins, and digital asset sovereignty

(37:50) - Hart’s advice: Love your team, trust each other, and building for the long haul

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Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.