Overview
Mayan Finance is a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform focusing on cross-chain interoperability through an innovative auction mechanism. Launched in mid-2023, it quickly gained prominence by addressing key pain points of liquidity fragmentation and asset mobility across blockchains. Mayan’s protocol allows users to swap tokens between different blockchain ecosystems—such as Ethereum, Solana, and various EVM-compatible chains like Polygon, Avalanche, and Optimism—via a streamlined, auction-based process.
Technology and Mechanism
Mayan’s core infrastructure revolves around the Wormhole message-passing protocol, which enables the transfer of assets and data between blockchains. It offers multiple swap methods, including Swift and the Mayan-Circle Transfer Protocol (MCTP), each optimized for specific trade-offs in speed and price. The protocol’s auctions are conducted on Solana, leveraging its fast settlement times. Drivers—liquidity providers participating in the auctions—compete to fulfill trades at the best possible rates, ensuring transparency and efficiency for users.
Features and Integrations
Mayan offers several tools to facilitate adoption and integration, such as an open-source SDK and pre-built widgets. These tools enable websites and dApps to incorporate cross-chain swap capabilities easily. In addition, Mayan has integrated with platforms like Drift, Backpack, and MarginFi, further embedding itself into the broader DeFi ecosystem. The protocol plans to expand support for NFTs, solidifying its place within both token and non-fungible asset markets.
Funding and Roadmap
Mayan secured $3 million in a seed funding round led by 6th Man Ventures and Borderless Capital, with additional participation from Solana Ventures and other prominent investors. The funds will accelerate the protocol’s expansion, enhance the auction model, and support the move toward fully permissionless swaps. With over $470 million in transaction volume achieved within its first year, Mayan aims to become a leading solution for cross-chain transactions by simplifying processes and minimizing costs.
