Cross-Chain Bridges: Moving Assets Between Blockchains
Learn how cross-chain bridges work, the different types of bridging solutions, and how to safely move assets between networks.
What Are Cross-Chain Bridges?
Cross-chain bridges are protocols that enable the transfer of assets and data between different blockchain networks. Since blockchains are isolated systems that cannot natively communicate with each other, bridges provide the critical infrastructure for a multi-chain world.
Types of Bridges
- Lock and Mint: Assets are locked on the source chain and equivalent tokens are minted on the destination chain
- Burn and Mint: Tokens are burned on the source and minted on the destination
- Liquidity Networks: Use liquidity pools on both chains to facilitate instant swaps
- Relay-based: Verify source chain transactions on the destination chain through relayers
Bridge Security Considerations
Bridges have historically been targets for major exploits. The Ronin Bridge ($625M), Wormhole ($325M), and Nomad ($190M) hacks highlight the security challenges. Key risks include compromised validator sets, smart contract bugs, and oracle manipulation.
How Relay Works
Relay takes a liquidity network approach, providing fast cross-chain swaps without the typical bridging risks. By using solver networks and competitive quoting, Relay ensures users get optimal execution across 75+ chains.
Best Practices
- Use established, audited bridge protocols
- Start with small amounts to test
- Verify the destination address and network
- Use aggregators like Alkizen that route through trusted infrastructure