Blockchain Bridge: How Cross-Chain Transfers Work and Why They Matter

When you send ETH from Ethereum to Solana, you’re not actually moving the coin—you’re using a blockchain bridge, a system that locks assets on one chain and mints equivalent tokens on another. Also known as cross-chain bridge, it’s the invisible pipeline that lets you use your Bitcoin in a DeFi app built on Avalanche or trade tokens between Polygon and BSC without going through a centralized exchange. Without these bridges, each blockchain would be a walled garden—useful on its own, but locked off from the rest of the crypto world.

Blockchain bridges rely on smart contracts and often use trusted validators or decentralized oracles to confirm transactions. Some, like Wrapped Bitcoin, a tokenized version of BTC on Ethereum, are simple lock-and-mint systems. Others, like LayerZero, an omnichain interoperability protocol, use complex message-passing tech to sync data across chains. These aren’t just tech toys—they’re critical infrastructure. Over $20 billion in crypto has moved through bridges since 2020, fueling DeFi liquidity, enabling cross-chain yield farming, and letting users escape high gas fees on Ethereum by shifting to cheaper networks.

But here’s the catch: bridges are also the most targeted attack surface in crypto. In 2022, the Ronin Bridge lost $625 million because hackers compromised just five of its 12 validators. A single point of failure can wipe out years of user trust. That’s why many users now check if a bridge is audited, decentralized, and backed by real economic security—not just code. The best bridges don’t just move tokens; they mirror the security of the chains they connect.

You’ll find posts here that show how Russia uses crypto bridges to bypass sanctions, how DePIN networks rely on cross-chain data feeds, and why tokens like WINkLink need oracle bridges to connect real-world events to smart contracts. Some bridges are thriving. Others vanished overnight. This collection cuts through the noise to show you what’s real, what’s risky, and what’s just hype.