Cross-chain transactions today are broken. Bridging assets takes 10-60 minutes. Gas fees, bridge fees, and slippage add up to $1-50+ per transaction. Users need multiple wallets, different tokens for gas, and must understand which chain they’re on. Mass adoption is impossible under these conditions.
RP1’s Velocity Layer changes this: sub-second cross-chain transactions, near-zero fees, one universal account.
How It Works
The Velocity Layer unifies Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Solana, and Cosmos. Users don’t need to know which chain they’re on. It just works.
Core Components
Velocity Virtual Machine (VVM) — Custom execution environment optimized for cross-chain operations. Processes transactions optimistically: assumes success, executes instantly, settles in the background.
Cross-Rollup Message Protocol (CRMP) — Sub-second messaging between any supported chain. No bridges, no waiting. Messages are validated by the Velocity Validator Network.
Native Liquidity Mesh — Pre-positioned liquidity across major trading pairs eliminates bridging delays entirely. Assets are already where they need to be.
Universal Account Layer — One identity, one balance, every chain. Users see a single account regardless of which underlying chain their assets are on.
Why It’s Fast
Traditional blockchains follow: Validate → Execute → Confirm (slow).
RP1 follows: Execute → Confirm → Validate in background (instant UX).
We assume transactions will succeed and process them immediately. Fraud proofs and economic security handle the rare edge cases. Users get instant confirmation while settlement happens behind the scenes.
Security Model
Economic Security:
- Velocity Validator Network with staked RP1 tokens
- 7-day fraud proof challenge period for disputes
- Slashing for validator misbehavior
Additional Safeguards:
- Protocol-owned insurance fund for edge cases
- Multi-sig controls for critical operations
- Automatic circuit breakers for anomalies
The Numbers
| Metric | RP1 Velocity Layer |
|---|---|
| Cross-Chain Finality | ~200ms |
| Throughput | 100K+ TPS |
| Transaction Cost | <$0.001 |
Where We Are Now
We’re currently wrapping up DevNet, with Testnet launching in the first two weeks of February 2026.
What’s Working:
- VVM Core executing cross-chain operations
- CRMP handling chain communication
- Universal Account Layer unified identity system
What’s Next:
- Testnet launch (early February)
- External security audits (February-March)
- Mainnet launch (late February/March 2026)
We’re not building another blockchain. We’re building the invisible infrastructure that makes all blockchains work together seamlessly.