What is bridging in crypto?

As crypto grows, more blockchains are emerging — Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, XRPL, and many others. But these chains don’t naturally “talk” to each other. That’s where bridging comes in.

Bridging is the process of transferring crypto assets from one blockchain to another. It allows users to move tokens like ETH, USDC, or XRP across different networks to access new apps, cheaper fees, or unique opportunities.

Think of a bridge like a tunnel between two separate cities — it lets your assets travel from one chain to another, often by locking them on the original chain and minting a version on the destination chain.

How Does Bridging Work?

Most bridges follow a basic pattern:

1. You send your token (e.g. ETH) to a bridge on Chain A
2. The bridge locks or escrows that token
3. It then mints or releases a version of the token (often called “wrapped”) on Chain B
4. You can now use that token on Chain B

When you're done, you can usually bridge it back.

Is Bridging Safe?

Bridging can be powerful, but it comes with risks:

• Smart contract bugs
• Centralized bridge operators
• High fees or delays on some networks
• Fake bridge sites (phishing is common)

Why bridge with Squid?

Squid is decentralized and non-custodial, and has been audited numerous times and continuously given security checks by internal and external experts. Squid is powered and secured by Axelar, along with other highly reputable interoperability protocols.

Axelar is built on proof-of-stake, the battle-tested approach used by Ethereum, Polygon, Cosmos, and more. Learn more about Axelar’s rigorous security layers here.

Squid does not ever take control of your assets, but finds the safest, fastest, and most efficient routes for each transaction across 80+ chains.