How to Bridge Crypto Between Blockchains
Learn how to bridge crypto between blockchains using Stargate, Across, and Wormhole. Step-by-step guide covering bridge risks and best practices for
How to Bridge Crypto Between Blockchains
Move your assets seamlessly across different blockchain networks
As the crypto ecosystem has expanded across dozens of blockchains, the need to move assets between networks has become a daily reality for many users. Bridging is the process of transferring tokens from one blockchain to another, enabling you to access DeFi protocols, lower fees, or trade on different networks.
This guide explains how blockchain bridges work, walks you through the bridging process step by step using popular protocols like Stargate, Across, and Wormhole, and covers the important security considerations you need to keep in mind. Bridges are incredibly useful but also carry unique risks.
What You'll Need
- A Web3 wallet like MetaMask with the source and destination networks already added
- Tokens on the source blockchain that you want to bridge
- Enough native tokens on both the source chain for the bridge transaction and the destination chain for subsequent transactions
- Basic familiarity with switching networks in MetaMask
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1
Understand How Blockchain Bridges Work
A blockchain bridge locks your tokens on the source chain and mints equivalent tokens on the destination chain, or it uses liquidity pools on both sides to swap your tokens across chains. Different bridges use different trust models ranging from fully decentralized to more centralized validator sets.
Lock-and-mint bridges create wrapped versions of your tokens on the destination chain. Liquidity-based bridges like Stargate and Across use pools of native tokens on each chain, which often results in receiving native rather than wrapped assets. This distinction affects both security and usability.
Step 2
Choose the Right Bridge for Your Needs
Stargate Finance is a popular cross-chain bridge built on LayerZero that supports major stablecoins and ETH across many chains with unified liquidity pools. Across Protocol focuses on speed and low fees, particularly for Ethereum Layer 2 transfers. Wormhole supports the broadest range of chains including Solana.
Use bridge aggregators like Li.Fi or Bungee to compare fees, speed, and routes across multiple bridges simultaneously. These aggregators often find the cheapest or fastest path for your specific transfer by splitting across multiple protocols or routing through intermediate chains.
Step 3
Connect Your Wallet to the Bridge
Navigate to the official bridge website. For Stargate, go to stargate.finance. For Across, go to across.to. For Wormhole, go to portalbridge.com. Always verify the URL carefully and use bookmarks to avoid phishing sites that imitate bridge interfaces.
Click Connect Wallet and approve the connection request in MetaMask. Make sure your wallet is on the correct source network before proceeding. The bridge interface should detect your connected network automatically and display your available token balances.
Step 4
Configure Your Bridge Transfer
Select the source chain and token you want to bridge from, then select the destination chain. Enter the amount you want to transfer. The bridge will display the estimated output amount, fees, and transfer time. Review these details carefully before proceeding.
Pay attention to the slippage settings, which control the maximum price difference you will accept. For stablecoins, a slippage of 0.1% is usually sufficient. For volatile assets, you may need 0.5% or more. Also check the minimum receive amount to ensure you are comfortable with the worst-case output.
Step 5
Approve and Execute the Bridge Transaction
If this is your first time bridging a specific token, you will need to approve the bridge contract to spend your tokens. Click Approve and confirm the transaction in MetaMask. Once the approval is confirmed, click the Bridge or Transfer button to execute the actual bridge transaction.
Confirm the transaction in MetaMask, paying attention to the gas fee. Some bridges require you to claim your tokens on the destination chain in a separate transaction, while others deliver tokens automatically. The bridge interface will tell you which process applies.
Step 6
Track Your Bridge Transfer
After submitting, you will see a transaction hash and a progress indicator on the bridge interface. Bridge times vary significantly: Across can complete in under 2 minutes, Stargate typically takes 1 to 5 minutes, while Wormhole transfers may take 15 minutes or more depending on the chains involved.
You can also track your transfer on blockchain explorers for both the source and destination chains. If the transfer seems delayed, do not panic. Bridge transfers can occasionally take longer during periods of high network congestion. Check the bridge Discord or status page for any known issues.
Step 7
Verify Receipt on the Destination Chain
Switch MetaMask to the destination network and verify that your tokens have arrived. If you bridged a token that is not in your default token list, you may need to add it manually by importing the contract address. The bridge interface usually provides the correct token address for the destination chain.
Once your tokens arrive, you are ready to use them on the destination network. Make sure you also have some native gas tokens on the destination chain for future transactions. If you bridged to a chain where you have no native tokens, some bridges offer a gas refuel feature that sends a small amount of native tokens along with your transfer.
Tips & Best Practices
- Always do a small test transfer first before bridging large amounts to confirm the bridge works as expected and tokens arrive correctly.
- Use bridge aggregators like Li.Fi or Bungee to compare fees and speeds across multiple bridges and find the optimal route for your transfer.
- Bridge stablecoins when possible instead of volatile assets to minimize slippage and avoid price movement during the transfer process.
- Keep native gas tokens on every chain you use. Some bridges offer gas refueling services that send a small amount of gas tokens along with your bridged assets.
- Bookmark the official URLs of every bridge you use and never click bridge links from social media or direct messages.
Important: Blockchain bridges have historically been the largest targets for exploits in DeFi, with billions of dollars lost to bridge hacks. Only use well-established bridges with strong security track records and active audits. Never bridge more than you can afford to lose in a single transaction, and spread large transfers across multiple smaller ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to bridge crypto between chains?
Transfer times vary by bridge and network. Fast bridges like Across can complete in under 2 minutes. Stargate typically takes 1 to 5 minutes. Bridges involving chains with longer finality times like Ethereum mainnet may take 15 to 30 minutes. During high congestion, times can increase further.
How much does it cost to bridge crypto?
Bridge costs include the gas fee on the source chain, a bridge protocol fee typically between 0.05% and 0.5%, and any slippage on the transfer. Layer 2 to Layer 2 bridges are usually the cheapest, while bridging from Ethereum mainnet costs more due to higher gas fees.
What should I do if my bridge transfer gets stuck?
First, check the bridge interface for a status update and verify the source chain transaction was confirmed. Most delays resolve within 30 minutes. If the transfer is stuck for over an hour, check the bridge protocol Discord channel for known issues and contact their support team with your transaction hash.
CryptoTakeProfit Research Team
Our team of analysts and traders covers the crypto market daily. We combine on-chain data, technical analysis, and fundamental research to bring you actionable insights.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk. Always do your own research and never invest more than you can afford to lose. This article may contain affiliate links.
