Fig is the pseudonymous co-founder of Squid, a cross-chain interoperability protocol designed to simplify transactions between different blockchains. Known online by the handle ecdsafu, he is a prominent advocate for chain and cross-chain abstraction, focusing on building infrastructure that hides the complexity of multi-chain interactions from end-users and developers. ^{[1] [2]}

Career

Early Interests and Education

Fig's early career path began in medicine, where he attended medical school. His interest in the field stemmed from a fascination with elaborate, intricate systems and a motivation to have a positive impact on people's lives. However, he eventually transitioned away from medicine, citing the field's stringent oversight and regulatory environment as a constraint on his creative drive. ^{[2] [3]}​

Following his departure from medicine, Fig moved to New York and explored a variety of creative and technical pursuits. During this period, he taught himself how to code, took on User Experience (UX) design projects, and performed as a musician, developing a multidisciplinary skill set. ^[2]​

Transition to Web3

Fig's entry into the blockchain industry was preceded by a role as a finance analyst, which served as his first introduction to the technology. He formally entered the Web3 space in 2020, drawn by what he saw as its potential to automate and solve inefficiencies present in traditional finance. The industry's combination of complex technical systems and creative freedom aligned with his interests, and he identified with its decentralized ethos, which values meritocracy and permissionless innovation. ^{[2] [3]}​

Before co-founding Squid, Fig was an early employee at Axelar, a cross-chain communication network. At Axelar, he worked on the developer ecosystem and contributed to the architecture of its core interchain communication protocol. This experience provided him with deep insights into the mechanics of cross-chain interactions and the need for a more user-friendly application layer to make the technology accessible. ^{[1] [4]}​

Founding of Squid

In 2021, Fig and his co-founders, including Christina Rud, began building Squid. The project originated from within the Axelar ecosystem to act as a user and developer-friendly layer on top of Axelar's infrastructure. ^{[2] [5]} Squid was designed to leverage Axelar's General Message Passing (GMP) to enable more than just asset bridging, allowing for complex, single-click cross-chain actions like swaps, staking, and purchases. The founding mission was to address interoperability challenges and make cross-chain liquidity and functionality easily accessible for developers to integrate into their applications. ^{[1] [5]}​

Philosophy and Vision

Fig is a vocal proponent of several core concepts related to the future of blockchain interoperability.

Cross-Chain Abstraction

His central philosophy is that for Web3 to achieve mass adoption, the underlying complexity of its multi-chain architecture must be hidden from the end-user. He calls this "cross-chain abstraction," a state where users can interact with any decentralized application (dApp) on any chain without needing to understand bridges, manage assets on different networks, or hold multiple native gas tokens. ^[4] This vision is centered on creating a frictionless user experience. As Fig stated in a 2024 interview:

"With Squid v2, we let you use Solana like it’s a Polygon app, or use Osmosis like it’s an Ethereum app... The goal is that using any blockchain feels like using one blockchain." ^[5]

Decentralizing Decentralization

Fig has used the phrase "decentralizing decentralization" to describe the evolution of the blockchain ecosystem from a monolithic, single-chain environment (where innovation was concentrated on one network) to a multi-chain one. In this paradigm, value and applications are distributed across many sovereign networks. He sees the role of protocols like Squid as providing the "connective tissue" that makes this fragmented landscape feel whole, unified, and accessible to the average user. ^[3]​

Composability and Developer Experience

He argues that the ultimate goal of interoperability is not merely moving assets between chains but enabling developers to "compose" functionalities from different chains into a single, cohesive application. ^[1] For example, a user could leverage collateral on one blockchain to borrow an asset on another, all from a single interface. A key part of his vision for Squid is providing developers with a simple Software Development Kit (SDK) and API, allowing any application to integrate cross-chain functionality with minimal effort. ^[4]​

Media Appearances and Public Engagement

As a public-facing co-founder, Fig frequently represents Squid at industry events and in media interviews.

In July 2023, he and the Squid team attended EthCC and other side events in Paris, where they engaged with the broader Ethereum and cross-chain developer communities. ^[6] He has also been a speaker at events such as the Blockworks Digital Asset Summit. ^[5]​

One of his most in-depth interviews was on Episode 50 of The Smart Economy Podcast, published in late 2023. In the episode, titled "Decentralizing Decentralization: The Evolution of Multi-Chain Infrastructure with Fig from Squid," he discussed the origins of Squid, its relationship with Axelar, and his vision for a simplified, interconnected multi-chain future. The conversation covered the importance of abstracting complexity to improve the Web3 user experience and drive wider adoption. ^{[7] [3]}​

Interviews

Cross-Chain Routing Overview #01

This interview, published on February 28, 2024, on the YouTube channel “Bare Metal Podcast,” presents Fig’s account of the development and design approach behind Squid, a cross-chain routing platform.

In the interview, Fig describes the initial motivation for Squid as addressing operational challenges associated with transferring assets across multiple blockchain networks. These challenges include multi-step processes, varying transaction times, and the requirement to manage gas tokens on different chains. His experience interacting with multiple networks informed the development of a system intended to reduce these operational steps.

Fig explains that Squid enables token swaps between different blockchains within a single transaction flow. The system is built on Axelar’s interoperability infrastructure, including its General Message Passing protocol, which supports communication between chains. The platform provides developer tools such as APIs, SDKs, and interface components for integration into external applications.

The interview also outlines a feature referred to as “Boost.” According to Fig, this mechanism uses liquidity providers to supply assets on the destination chain prior to the completion of the bridging process. This approach reduces the time required to complete cross-chain transactions. He describes the mechanism as a form of collateral-backed liquidity coordination, with measures intended to address execution risks.

Gas management is presented as another functional component. Fig states that transaction fees can be handled on the source chain, while execution costs on the destination chain are managed through Axelar’s infrastructure. This structure is intended to remove the need for holding multiple native tokens across different networks.

In discussing future development, Fig references planned expansions to additional blockchain ecosystems, including support for networks such as Bitcoin and Solana, as well as further work on transaction routing and liquidity handling.

The interview reflects Fig’s perspective on cross-chain systems as infrastructure designed to facilitate interaction between otherwise separate blockchain environments. ^[8]

Fig Interview on Cross-Chain Interoperability #02

This interview, published on May 2, 2024 on the YouTube channel TEACHMEDEFI, features Fig discussing the Squid protocol and its approach to cross-chain functionality.

Fig states that Squid was developed to address operational complexity in cross-chain transactions within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The protocol is described as enabling cross-chain swaps, token transfers, and related operations through a single interface, reducing the need to interact with multiple bridges, wallets, and decentralized exchanges.

According to Fig, Squid utilizes Axelar’s general message passing infrastructure to facilitate communication across more than 65 blockchain networks, including EVM-compatible chains, Cosmos-based networks, Solana, Polkadot, and Bitcoin. This infrastructure supports both asset transfers and the execution of instructions across different chains.

The discussion also addresses technical constraints associated with multi-chain support, including variations in gas systems, transaction formats, and wallet integrations. Fig indicates that Squid applies a modular architecture to manage these differences and to enable the addition of new blockchain networks.

Regarding security, Fig states that Squid’s design avoids the use of wrapped assets by converting tokens into native assets on the destination chain. He also references Axelar’s validator-based network as part of the system supporting cross-chain communication.

Fig describes the protocol as integrating with external services such as wallets and decentralized exchanges, and notes the inclusion of revenue-sharing mechanisms within its network model.

The interview concludes with references to planned expansion into additional ecosystems, including Polkadot, and identifies interoperability and reduced dependence on individual blockchain environments as part of the protocol’s intended direction. ^[9]