[Swap/Bridge] Integration of Bungee Refuel & Incognito Mode into BIM Exchange (TEMP CHECK)

Proposals
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Author: @LP17
Date: 20/03/2026

Summary of the Proposal:

This TEMP CHECK aims to gather community sentiment on integrating two additional Bungee features directly into BIM Exchange:

  • Bungee Refuel

  • Bungee Incognito Mode

The objective is to significantly improve the bridging experience on BIM Exchange by reducing user friction, improving onboarding, and expanding available use cases.

Since BIM already uses Bungee as its liquidity and routing aggregator, this proposal does not introduce a new infrastructure layer. Instead, it would extend the current integration with two complementary features that improve UX and functionality.

If community feedback is positive, a formal governance proposal will be submitted for Snapshot vote to approve implementation.

Context:

BIM Exchange continues to position itself as an omnichain DeFi platform, allowing users to buy, sell, swap, bridge, cross-swap, stake, bond, and soon lend and borrow assets across multiple ecosystems.

As the platform grows across chains, the bridging experience becomes increasingly important. Today, one of the most common pain points for users bridging to a new blockchain is arriving on the destination chain without the native token required to pay gas fees.

This creates immediate friction:

  • Users cannot perform follow-up transactions

  • They must separately acquire the native gas token

  • Bridging very small native token amounts is often inefficient or impractical

  • It adds complexity to the onboarding flow

At the same time, some users are increasingly looking for better privacy when moving assets across chains or between wallets. Standard bridge and swap flows usually create a direct on-chain link between the sending and receiving wallets, which may not always be desirable.

Bungee already offers solutions to both of these issues through:

  • Refuel, which provides destination-chain gas

  • Incognito Mode, which removes the direct on-chain link between source and destination wallets

Because BIM already integrates Bungee, adding these features would be technically coherent, operationally efficient, and aligned with our product strategy.

Proposal Details:

1. Integration of Bungee Refuel

What is Refuel?
Refuel is an optional feature that ensures users receive a small amount of the native token required for gas fees on the destination chain when bridging assets.

This allows users to arrive on the target chain ready to act immediately.

How Refuel Works

Refuel operates in two possible modes:

Manual Mode

  • A small amount of native token from the source chain is sent alongside the bridged asset

  • This amount is delivered as native gas on the destination chain

Auto Mode

  • A small portion of the input amount is automatically allocated to provide native gas on the destination chain

  • No additional native input is required from the user on the source chain

Refuel does not charge protocol fees. The only deducted amount corresponds to destination-chain gas costs.

Why Refuel Would Be Valuable for BIM

Reduced User Friction
Users bridging assets into BIM-supported ecosystems would immediately be able to:

  • Swap

  • Stake

  • Provide liquidity

  • Interact with dApps

  • Continue using BIM features without facing the “no gas” issue

Improved Onboarding
A smoother first transaction improves the overall user experience and reduces friction at entry.

Higher Conversion and Retention
Cross-chain drop-off often happens when users arrive without gas. Refuel directly addresses this problem.

Strategic Consistency
Since BIM already uses Bungee for liquidity routing, adding Refuel would be a natural extension of the current infrastructure.

2. Integration of Bungee Incognito Mode

What is Incognito Mode?
Incognito Mode is an optional feature allowing users to swap or bridge tokens without a direct on-chain link between the sending wallet and the receiving wallet.

It works like an “incognito mode” for cross-chain transfers: users activate the option, choose a route, and provide a separate receiving wallet address.

How Incognito Mode Works

  • The user toggles Incognito Mode on

  • The user selects source and destination chains and tokens

  • The user enters a receiving address different from the sending address

  • The transaction is routed in a way that breaks the direct on-chain link between the two wallets

Under the hood, Incognito Mode is powered by Houdini Swap. Transactions are routed through regulated centralized exchanges to unlink source and destination wallets, subject to applicable legal and compliance requirements.

This is not:

  • encryption,

  • zero-knowledge infrastructure,

  • or an on-chain mixer.

It is a practical privacy layer based on transaction routing.

Key Features of Incognito Mode

  • One-click activation

  • No special token required

  • No change to the normal user flow

  • Works across 25+ chains and 100+ tokens

  • No KYC under normal circumstances

  • Compliance screening still applies and KYC may be triggered depending on jurisdiction

Why Incognito Mode Could Be Valuable for BIM

Enhanced Privacy for Users
Some users want to bridge or swap assets without exposing a direct on-chain relationship between wallets.

Expanded Product Offering
Adding optional privacy-focused routing would differentiate BIM Exchange from more standard DeFi interfaces.

Better UX Through Optionality
Users who do not need this feature can ignore it. Users who value privacy gain an additional tool directly inside BIM Exchange.

Alignment with Omnichain Vision
As BIM expands across ecosystems, users increasingly expect not only efficient execution, but also optional privacy-preserving tools.

3. Strategic Benefits for BIM Exchange

The integration of Refuel and Incognito Mode could provide the following advantages:

  • Better bridging UX

  • Lower onboarding friction

  • Higher cross-chain completion rates

  • Better retention after bridging

  • Stronger product differentiation

  • More advanced omnichain feature set

  • Stronger alignment with BIM’s objective of becoming a full-stack DeFi platform

These features would reinforce BIM Exchange as more than a standard swap interface, by offering a more complete and user-centric cross-chain experience.

4. Risks and Considerations

Before any implementation, the following points should be considered:

For Refuel

  • UI clarity is required so users understand how much gas is being allocated

  • Need to ensure destination-chain gas amounts are sufficient but optimized

For Incognito Mode

  • Compliance implications must be clearly understood

  • Jurisdiction-specific restrictions may apply

  • Users must understand that Incognito requires a different receiving wallet

  • Clear communication is needed regarding order tracking and Order ID handling

In both cases, the final implementation should maintain BIM’s usual product standards in terms of UX, transparency, and risk communication.

Next Steps:

If the community sentiment is positive:

  • A formal BIP proposal will be drafted

  • The proposal will be submitted to Snapshot

  • Technical, legal, compliance, and UX considerations will be detailed before final implementation

Discussion:

The community is invited to provide feedback on:

  • The usefulness of Refuel inside BIM Exchange

  • The relevance of Incognito Mode for BIM users

  • UX considerations for both features

  • Compliance and legal considerations

  • Any alternative suggestions or implementation ideas

All feedback is welcome before moving to a formal Snapshot vote.

4 Likes
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Executive Summary

The proposed integration represents a significant shift from a standard liquidity aggregator model toward a comprehensive intent-centric user experience. By addressing the dual barriers of gas-stalling and on-chain transparency, BIM Exchange is positioned to capture a higher percentage of cross-chain flow and improve user retention.

1. Mitigation of Onboarding Friction (Bungee Refuel)

One of the most persistent inefficiencies in the omnichain thesis is the Cold Start problem—where users bridge assets to a destination chain but lack the native gas tokens to execute subsequent transactions.

• Operational Efficiency: Leveraging Bungee’s existing infrastructure allows BIM to offer Manual and Auto refuel modes without introducing new architectural risks.

• Conversion Optimization: By ensuring users arrive on-chain ready to act, the protocol likely reduces the drop-off rates currently seen between bridging and the first destination-chain swap or stake.

2. Privacy and Institutional Alignment (Incognito Mode)

The inclusion of a privacy-preserving routing layer via Houdini Swap is a sophisticated addition to the BIM suite.

• Privacy via Routing: Unlike on-chain mixers or zero-knowledge (ZK) infrastructure, which can carry significant regulatory scrutiny, this practical privacy layer breaks the direct link between source and destination wallets through regulated exchange routing.

• Market Differentiation: Offering a One-click privacy toggle differentiates BIM from standard DeFi interfaces, appealing to privacy-conscious retail users and power users who manage multiple wallet strategies.

3**. Strategic Coherence**

Because Bungee is already the foundational liquidity and routing aggregator for BIM, these features are technically coherent extensions rather than superfluous bloat. The implementation strengthens the existing partnership while expanding the platform’s utility as a full-stack DeFi hub.

Critical Considerations for Implementation

To ensure the highest standards of transparency during the formal Snapshot phase, I suggest the following be clarified:

1. UI/UX Guardrails: For Refuel, will there be a real-time notification if gas prices on the destination chain exceed the small amount allocated, to prevent users from still being stuck?

2. Latency Expectations: For Incognito Mode, it would be beneficial to provide users with an estimated Privacy Latency metric, as routing through Houdini Swap may involve longer confirmation times than standard bridges.

3. Compliance Transparency: Clear documentation regarding the Compliance Screening mentioned in the proposal will be vital for users operating in highly regulated jurisdictions.

Final Recommendation

I strongly advocate for this proposal to proceed to a formal Snapshot vote. The addition of these features aligns perfectly with BIM’s vision of becoming an omnichain leader by prioritizing user autonomy and seamless cross-chain interoperability.

4 Likes
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Thanks, these are very good points.

  1. UI/UX Guardrails: Yes, if Refuel is integrated, the UI should clearly indicate the gas amount provided and warn users if destination-chain gas conditions are too high and the allocated amount may be insufficient.

  2. Latency Expectations: Agreed. If Incognito Mode is added, users should be informed that execution may take longer than a standard bridge, ideally with an estimated processing time and clear Order ID tracking.

  3. Compliance Transparency: Fully agreed. Clear documentation will be needed on compliance screening, potential KYC triggers, and possible jurisdictional restrictions so users understand the framework before using the feature.

    Incognito Mode - Bungee Docs

These points should definitely be included in the implementation requirements before any final Snapshot vote.

3 Likes
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This is a solid direction overall, especially on the UX side.
Refuel feels like a no-brainer tbh. The “no gas on arrival” issue is something almost everyone has experienced at least once, and it’s one of those small frictions that quietly kills user momentum. Fixing that alone could improve how many users actually complete actions after bridging.
On Incognito Mode,I like the optionality but I think the key will be how clearly it’s explained in the UI. A lot of users still don’t fully understand how routing-based privacy works vs mixers/ZK, so simple explanations and maybe a quick tooltip or guide would help avoid confusion or unrealistic expectations.
One thing I think BIM could also consider alongside this:
:backhand_index_pointing_right: Some kind of post-bridge guidance or smart prompts
For example, after a user bridges, showing quick actions like:
“Swap now”
“Stake”
“Provide liquidity”
Right now, even if the bridge is smooth, users can still pause because they’re not sure what to do next. If BIM wants to really improve retention, guiding that next step is just as important as fixing the bridge itself.
Overall though, this fits well with BIM’s direction, less friction, more flow. Curious to see how it evolves if it moves to Snapshot.

1 Like
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Strong move tbh :ok_hand:

Refuel alone solves one of the biggest real problems in bridging landing on a new chain with zero gas is always frustrating.

This will make onboarding smoother and keep users active immediately. Incognito Mode adds another layer of flexibility. Not everyone needs it, but having the option inside BIM makes the product more complete and user-focused.

I fully support this direction

GISTER :writing_hand:

3 Likes
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(Supportive + Strategic Angle)

I strongly support this direction.

Integrating Refuel directly into BIM Exchange would significantly reduce one of the biggest friction points in cross-chain activity — arriving on a destination chain without gas. This small improvement can dramatically increase completion rates, user satisfaction, and retention. Especially for new users, this removes unnecessary onboarding complexity.

As BIM expands its omnichain positioning, seamless bridging is no longer optional — it is foundational.

Regarding Incognito Mode, I see clear value in offering optional privacy routing. Not as a default behavior, but as a user-controlled feature. In today’s DeFi landscape, optional privacy is a competitive differentiator. However, implementation must be very clear in terms of:

Compliance boundaries

Jurisdiction restrictions

UX communication (separate receiving wallet clarity)

If executed properly, these additions would not only improve UX but also elevate BIM from a standard swap interface to a more complete cross-chain DeFi platform.

@jgadeen

1 Like
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Thank you, I fully agree with this view.

Yes, the private swap / Incognito feature would be optional, not enabled by default. The goal is precisely to keep the UX clean, simple, and easy to understand, with a clear toggle for users who want to use it, while preserving the standard flow for everyone else.

For us, the key point is that privacy should remain a user-controlled option, with transparent communication around:

  • compliance boundaries,

  • possible jurisdiction restrictions,

  • and the requirement to use a separate receiving wallet.

If implemented properly, both Refuel and Incognito Mode would clearly strengthen BIM’s omnichain UX while keeping the interface accessible and intuitive.

1 Like
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Clean proposal. This is the kind of upgrade that actually moves the needle.
Refuel solves a real UX problem, bridging without gas is one of the biggest friction points in DeFi. Fix that, and you improve onboarding, retention, and overall flow instantly.
Incognito Mode being optional is key. Adds flexibility for users who want privacy, while keeping things compliant and transparent.
As long as UI communication is clear (especially around gas allocation + routing), this is a net positive for adoption and product depth.
Omnichain only works if the experience is seamless, this pushes BIM in that direction.
Voting: FOR :white_check_mark:

2 Likes