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Ulysses Review 2026: Omnichain Liquidity With Tiny TVL

Ulysses is an omnichain liquidity protocol in the Maia DAO ecosystem, listed as a bridge on DefiLlama across 12 chains. Its TVL is very small, and public detail is limited.

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By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated Nov 4, 2026

DappsAtlas score

5.0/10

Mixed

Visit Ulysses

Our verdict on Ulysses

5.0/10

Ulysses suits experienced DeFi users who follow the Maia DAO ecosystem and want to explore omnichain liquidity. Its main strength is the broad 12-chain footprint and a clear aim of reducing liquidity fragmentation, backed by two listed audits. The main caveat is size: TVL of roughly $27K, little published detail on fees and mechanics, and a homepage showing only the Hermes Protocol name. Treat it as experimental and use small amounts.

Score breakdown

How Ulysses scores

Security: 5.0/10
Ease of use: n/a
Fees: n/a
Features: 5.5/10

Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.

What is Ulysses?

Ulysses Protocol is described as a decentralized and permissionless omnichain liquidity protocol owned by the community. It targets fragmented liquidity in DeFi by supporting cross-chain asset deployment. DefiLlama classifies it as a Bridge.

The official URL points to the Maia DAO app, whose homepage is titled Hermes Protocol and says users can swap or provide liquidity. That suggests Ulysses sits inside a broader Maia DAO ecosystem, though the project does not explain the relationship in detail.

DefiLlama lists it across 12 chains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Avalanche, Polygon, Sonic and Berachain, since September 2024. TVL is about $27,407, up 3.1% over seven days, which is small for a multi-chain protocol. Two audits are listed, and no native token is shown.

How Ulysses works

Ulysses is described as an omnichain liquidity protocol. Liquidity is usually split across blockchains, which makes cross-chain transfers and deployment less efficient. The protocol aims to let capital be used across chains without being fragmented.

The project does not detail the contracts, messaging layer or validation model, so how assets move between chains cannot be described precisely. In general, cross-chain systems rely on smart contracts on each chain plus a messaging layer to coordinate state, and the security of that setup determines how safe user funds are.

The linked app is titled Hermes Protocol and describes swapping and providing liquidity. Hermes appears to be a related product in the same ecosystem, but the project does not spell out how the two connect.

5 features

Key features

Omnichain liquidity

The protocol is described as an omnichain liquidity layer meant to make liquidity usable across multiple chains instead of being split between them.

Broad chain coverage

DefiLlama lists 12 networks, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Avalanche and Polygon, plus newer chains such as Sonic and Berachain.

Permissionless and community-owned

The description says the protocol is permissionless and owned by the community, with no mention of a central operator.

Capital-efficient deployment

The protocol aims for capital-efficient cross-chain asset deployment, so liquidity providers can put assets to work on several chains.

Part of Maia ecosystem

The linked app, titled Hermes Protocol, offers swapping and liquidity provision, which suggests Ulysses is part of a wider Maia DAO product suite.

Pros and cons

What we like

Wide chain coverage, with 12 networks listed on DefiLlama
Described as permissionless and community-owned
Two audits are listed on DefiLlama
Focuses on a real problem, fragmented cross-chain liquidity
Listed since September 2024, so it has some public track record

Watch out for

TVL is very small at about $27,407, which points to limited usage and thin liquidity
No fee schedule is published
No token is listed for the protocol itself, so incentive and governance details are unclear
The official site text is minimal and shows only the Hermes Protocol name, with little documentation to confirm how Ulysses is used
Cross-chain liquidity designs carry smart-contract risk across many chains at once
Only two audits are listed, and their scope, auditors and dates are not public

Ulysses fees

Fees are not published publicly available for this review. No swap, bridge or liquidity fee schedule is stated.

Users should expect network gas costs on each chain and check any protocol fees in the app before confirming a transaction.

Is Ulysses safe?

DefiLlama lists two audits for Ulysses, but the project does not name the auditors, dates or findings. No hacks or incidents are mentioned publicly, though that does not prove none have occurred. Readers should review the audit reports directly.

Cross-chain protocols expose users to smart-contract and messaging risk on every supported chain. Low TVL can also mean thin liquidity and less market scrutiny. The protocol is described as permissionless and community-owned, and regulatory status is not stated. Never deposit more than you can afford to lose.

6 steps

How to get started with Ulysses

1
Open the official Maia DAO app and confirm the URL matches the one listed by DefiLlama.
2
Read the documentation and audit reports for Ulysses to understand how omnichain liquidity works.
3
Connect a self-custody wallet that supports the chain you want to use.
4
Start with a small test amount, since TVL is low and liquidity may be thin.
5
Check the quoted fees, slippage and gas costs before approving any transaction.
6
Review any positions regularly and withdraw if conditions or risks change.

Open Ulysses

Who Ulysses is for

Ulysses is for experienced DeFi users who already use Maia DAO products and are comfortable with smart-contract risk. It is not well suited to beginners or anyone who needs deep liquidity and clear published documentation.

Ulysses FAQs

What is Ulysses Protocol?

Ulysses Protocol is described as a decentralized, permissionless omnichain liquidity protocol owned by the community. It aims to address fragmented liquidity across chains by enabling cross-chain asset deployment. DefiLlama files it under the Bridge category.

Which blockchains does Ulysses support?

DefiLlama lists Ulysses on Ethereum, Metis, Optimism, BNB Chain, Base, Avalanche, Sonic, Arbitrum, Berachain, Fraxtal, Swellchain and Polygon. Which chains are available in the app at any time should be checked on the official site.

Does Ulysses have its own token?

No token is listed for Ulysses. DefiLlama shows token as none, so any token tied to the wider ecosystem should be confirmed on official channels.

Has Ulysses been audited?

DefiLlama lists two audits, but the auditors, dates and scope are not included publicly. Audits reduce risk but do not remove it, so read the reports before depositing funds.

What are the fees?

The project does not state fees. Users would see network gas costs and any protocol charges in the app before confirming a transaction.

Why does the Ulysses link show Hermes Protocol?

The official URL leads to an app whose homepage is titled Hermes Protocol, with the description to swap or provide liquidity. The project does not explain the relationship in detail, but both appear to sit in the Maia DAO ecosystem.

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