London, January 27, 2026 — Bazaars today launched ORC-55, a breakthrough that solves one of cryptocurrency's most expensive problems: the $2.9 billion lost to bridge hacks in 2024 alone. The company's BZR utility token is now the first to use this technology, working seamlessly across 10 major blockchains without needing risky third-party bridges.

The problem is simple but costly. When someone wants to move cryptocurrency from one blockchain to another—say, from Ethereum to Polygon—they typically need a "bridge." These bridges act like money changers at an airport: they take your original tokens, lock them up, and give you substitute versions on the other blockchain. According to Hacken's 2024 Web3 Security Report, hackers stole over $2.9 billion by targeting these bridges last year.
ORC-55 eliminates the need for bridges. Instead of creating substitute tokens, BZR becomes the first coin to implement ORC-55 and operate natively on all 10 blockchains at once: Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, zkSync Era, Optimism, Cronos, and Mantle. Think of it like having the same bank account accessible from 10 different ATM networks—no currency exchange needed.
"We're not just improving bridges, we're offering an alternative that makes them unnecessary," said Raja Al-Khatib, Co-Founder and CEO of Bazaars. "A seller can accept payment on Polygon and immediately spend those exact same tokens on Ethereum. No waiting, no bridge fees. BZR proves this works right now with real transactions happening every day."
This matters especially for online commerce. Sellers can now accept payments on whatever blockchain their buyer prefers—choosing the fastest or cheapest option at that moment—without worrying about conversion fees or delays. For example, a merchant in Singapore getting paid on Polygon can instantly use those funds on Ethereum to pay a supplier in Brazil. The technology works seamlessly.
ORC-55 includes four built-in protections that address crypto's biggest security problems. Nobody can create new tokens or freeze accounts after launch, stopping the "exit scams" that have stolen billions from investors. The total token supply can only go down through public burns, never up—protecting against hidden inflation. It blocks timing attacks where hackers steal during the split-second between approval and execution, a trick that's drained millions from other platforms. And all information lives permanently on the blockchain itself, not on websites that can disappear.
The technology arrives as blockchain interoperability becomes a billion-dollar market. Research firm MarketsandMarkets projects this sector will grow from $0.3 billion in 2023 to $1.0 billion by 2028, driven by demand for seamless cross-chain transactions and the explosion of blockchain-based commerce.
BZR launched on ORC-55 today across all 10 blockchains. The token is already trading on MEXC, BitMart, and Coinstore exchanges, and works with Trust Wallet, MetaMask, Trezor, and Ledger—covering both mobile apps and hardware security devices. Additional exchange listings and wallet integrations are in discussions, with announcements coming in the next few months.
Bazaars plans to release ORC-55 as open-source in Q2 2025, letting any project adopt the technology. This could establish a new standard for how tokens operate across the multi-chain future of cryptocurrency.

About Bazaars
Bazaars operates a blockchain-powered marketplace where people buy and sell directly without banks or payment processors taking cuts. The platform uses BZR tokens for transactions across 87 countries.