> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ravn.exchange/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How It Works

> One quote across every venue, delivered as the canonical asset.

RAVN is a **cross-chain execution layer**. You send one request, RAVN finds the best route
across every connected venue, and it returns exactly what your user needs to sign or send. The
user always receives the **canonical asset** on the destination: the real token, never a
wrapped copy (only one they picked, like WBTC).

## The flow

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
  Q["Your one request"] --> R{{"RAVN races every eligible\nvenue in parallel"}}
  R --> N["One normalized quote\n+ opaque quoteToken"]
  N --> X{{"Branch on\nexecutionType"}}
  X --> S["User signs or sends\ndirectly, non-custodially"]
  S --> C["Solver delivers the\ncanonical asset"]
```

<Steps>
  <Step title="Smart order routing">
    On every quote, RAVN queries all eligible venues in parallel (RFQ market makers, intent
    networks, and cross-chain solvers) and picks the best real output for the pair, amount, and
    route.
  </Step>

  <Step title="One normalized response">
    The winning quote comes back in a single shape, with an opaque `quoteToken`. You never deal
    with per-venue formats.
  </Step>

  <Step title="One field to act on">
    Execution resolves to one of three values of `executionType`: `TRANSACTION`, `SIGNATURE`, or
    `DEPOSIT`. Your integration branches on that one field. See
    [Execution Types](/execution-types).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Non-custodial settlement">
    The user signs or sends directly to the venue. RAVN never takes custody of funds. Solvers
    fill and deliver the canonical asset on the destination chain.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What about bridges?

Traditional cross-chain routes lock your asset on one chain and leave you holding a wrapped copy
on another. RAVN never leaves you with one. You always receive the real token, never a wrapped
copy (only one you picked, like WBTC). RAVN runs no bridge of its own. NEAR Intents moves coins
in and out through its own bridge, so on its routes your deposit is held as a matching token on
NEAR for the minutes the swap takes. Every quote names the winning venue.

## What you integrate once

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Every chain" icon="link">EVM, Solana, and native Bitcoin through one API.</Card>
  <Card title="Every venue type" icon="layer-group">RFQ, intents, and solvers behind one contract.</Card>
  <Card title="Every execution model" icon="code-branch">Three execution types, one branch.</Card>
  <Card title="Best price" icon="trophy">Parallel routing picks the best real output.</Card>
</CardGroup>


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