Solver
A solver is an independent trading firm admitted to the SODAX marketplace that decides, prices and executes how a cross-network action is carried out, drawing on SODAX liquidity wherever it operates. SODAX coordinates routing and settlement and does not itself act as a solver or take custody.
What it is
Solvers are independent trading firms, admitted to the SODAX marketplace, responsible for execution planning and coordination of cross-network actions. When an application submits an intent, such as swapping assets or adjusting a position across networks, a solver determines how that action can be completed under current conditions. Its responsibility is to turn intent into a concrete execution plan that downstream systems can carry out.
What it does inside SODAX
Within the system, solvers evaluate possible execution paths across networks and liquidity sources. They consider factors such as liquidity availability, fees, gas costs, and execution constraints. Based on this, a solver selects an execution plan and initiates the process that delivers the user’s destination asset as quickly and reliably as possible. At the same time, a solver accounts for how its liquidity is redistributed across networks after execution.
Why it exists
Cross-network actions are difficult to coordinate because liquidity is fragmented and execution steps often span multiple networks with different costs and timing characteristics. Without solvers, applications would need to embed complex routing and execution logic themselves.
Solvers exist to handle these decisions so cross-network actions can be planned coherently instead of treated as a series of disconnected steps.
In broader DeFi terminology, this role is part of an emerging solver network (sometimes called decentralized solvers in crypto contexts): specialized firms that plan and execute optimal paths on behalf of users. On SODAX, solvers are admitted rather than ranked. They draw on SODAX liquidity, the DAO-managed liquidity inventory plus addressable local liquidity on each network, and can deploy it inside the SODAX System or on external venues where they operate.
What this means for users and partners
With solvers in place, users benefit from faster and more predictable cross-network actions, while builders interact with a simpler and more consistent execution surface. The system focuses on completing the intended outcome first, while managing liquidity movements in the background. This does not imply guaranteed execution, but it does reduce unnecessary complexity and failure modes for applications built on SODAX.