CoW Protocol Monthly Update - December 2023

CoW Protocol has implemented the **Solver7702Delegate feature** following a security audit by ChainSecurity. **Key improvements:** - Solvers can now participate in multiple auctions simultaneously - Faster settlement times for trades - Increased competition among solvers - Better pricing outcomes for users This update builds on a previous enhancement from April that introduced **blind bidding**, where solvers compete without seeing competitors' bids until the auction deadline.

June saw three separate bridge exploits, each with different technical vulnerabilities but sharing a common underlying issue. **Key Points:** - Three distinct bridge hacks occurred in June - Each exploit used different attack vectors - All three share a fundamental root cause - Cross-chain bridges remain a primary target for exploits Bridge vulnerabilities continue to represent a significant security challenge in web3, with historical data showing they account for nearly 40% of all hacked value in the ecosystem. [Read the full analysis](https://cow.fi/learn/bridge-hacks-explained-why-cross-chain-is-exploited)

**CoW Swap has introduced a new bridge aggregator feature**, allowing users to move tokens between different blockchain networks directly within the platform. **Key features:** - Users can now bridge tokens across chains without leaving CoW Swap - The feature integrates seamlessly with CoW Swap's existing cross-chain capabilities - Follows recent addition of EVM to Solana swapping functionality The bridge aggregator simplifies the process of transferring assets between networks, eliminating the need for multiple platforms. [Try the new feature](http://swap.cow.fi)

CoW Protocol has introduced **Atomic Bundles**, a reusable smart contract template enabling developers to execute complex, multi-step DeFi operations atomically in a single settlement. **Key capabilities include:** - Loop-borrow-redeposit strategies - Repay debt with collateral - Flashloan-enabled executions - Atomic open/close flows for perpetuals - Multi-step payment and treasury operations All executions maintain CoW Protocol's core features: solver competition, MEV protection, and surplus generation. **For builders**, Atomic Bundles simplify development across lending (one-click looping, collateral swaps), perpetuals (atomic open/close flows), and payments (multi-step flows with zero mid-execution risk). Previously, developers needed to write custom wrapper contracts from scratch for each use case. Now they can fork the template, add their logic, and plug into CoW Protocol's solver network. Read more: [Introducing Atomic Bundles](https://cow.fi/learn/intents-can-now-do-more-introducing-atomic-bundles)

**CoW Swap is now live on Linea**, Ethereum's L2 network, bringing gasless trading and advanced order types to the platform. **Key features on Linea:** - Gasless swaps by default - no ETH needed for gas - Limit and TWAP orders - Swap & Send functionality - Upcoming Swap & Bridge feature **How it works:** CoW Protocol's solver network competes to find the best prices across DEXs while protecting users from MEV attacks. **Expanded Aave integration** also launched, powering more DeFi operations: - Collateral swaps - Repay-with-collateral transactions - Debt swapping All operations are **gas-optimized and MEV-protected**. The integration uses intent-based transactions - users specify what they want, and solvers find the optimal execution path. **Benefits include:** - Solver-routed execution for better prices - Shared liquidity across $10B+ monthly volume - Simplified user experience with fewer approvals Try CoW Swap on Linea: [swap.cow.fi](https://swap.cow.fi/#/59144/swap/WETH/0x176211869cA2b568f2A7D4EE941E073a821EE1ff) Learn more about the Aave integration: [aave.com/blog/aave-cow-swap](https://aave.com/blog/aave-cow-swap)