In a strategic move to bolster its infrastructure for decentralized finance (DeFi), oracle network Chainlink (LINK) has acquired the Atlas intellectual property and key personnel from FastLane Labs. The acquisition, finalized in early 2025, brings sophisticated order-processing and transaction sequencing technology under Chainlink's control to enhance its Smart Value Recapture (SVR) system.
The primary goal is to expand SVR's reach to new blockchain ecosystems, including Arbitrum, Base, BNB Chain, Ethereum, and Hyperliquid's HyperEVM. Atlas will now exclusively support Chainlink SVR, discontinuing its previous support for competing oracle provider RedStone.
Chainlink's SVR system is designed to combat Maximal Extractable Value (MEV)—profits extracted by third parties through transaction reordering during events like liquidations. Specifically, it helps DeFi lending protocols recover value that would otherwise be lost to external searchers when crypto-backed loans are liquidated due to insufficient collateral. The system uses a dual-path mechanism where price updates flow through both a standard feed and an order flow auction, allowing searchers to bid for liquidation rights while the lending protocol receives verified pricing and a share of the recovered value.
According to Chainlink, the SVR system has already processed over $460 million in liquidations and recovered more than $10 million for integrated protocols. The recovered value is split between the DeFi protocols and the Chainlink Network.
Johann Eid, Chief Business Officer at Chainlink Labs, stated the acquisition creates "an effective value recovery system that increases revenue for DeFi through expansion to new blockchain networks." Alex Watts, CEO of FastLane, noted that Chainlink is positioned to lead the oracle value recovery market, where it competes with projects like API3 and Pyth Network.
Major DeFi lending platforms, including Aave and Compound, have already adopted SVR. Chainlink secures approximately 70% of the DeFi ecosystem by value and has enabled over $27 trillion in transaction value. FastLane will continue to operate independently as a strategic partner following the deal.
