A solver is an entity, typically a bot, market maker, or specialized service, that takes a user’s intent and turns it into an executed blockchain transaction. An intent expresses what the user wants, such as swapping tokens, bridging to another network, or repaying a loan, without requiring the user to specify every step, route, and contract interaction.
How solvers work in intent-based systems
In intent-based execution, the user signs a message describing desired outcomes and constraints, for example a minimum amount received, a deadline, or a maximum fee. Solvers then compete to satisfy that intent by proposing an execution plan. The plan might involve routing through one or more decentralized exchanges, sourcing liquidity from multiple pools, batching actions into a single transaction, or using private order flow to reduce the chance of harmful front-running.
Depending on the protocol, solvers may submit bids in an auction, quote an expected result, or commit to a specific execution. The winning solver is the one that best meets the user’s constraints, often optimizing for price, speed, gas efficiency, or reliability. Some systems also require collateral or reputation to discourage failed or dishonest executions.
Practical examples and where you see solvers
Solvers show up in decentralized exchange aggregation and RFQ-style trading, cross-chain bridging, and smart wallet flows such as account abstraction, where a user might want gas sponsorship or a bundled sequence of actions. For instance, a user could express an intent to “swap Token A to Token B and deposit into a lending protocol,” and a solver can package the steps and execute them efficiently.
This concept matters because solvers can make crypto apps simpler and more competitive, while shifting complexity to specialized executors and introducing new design tradeoffs around trust, censorship resistance, and fair execution.