Best Crypto Bridges for Cross-Chain Swaps

Crypto bridges enable efficient asset transfers across blockchains, but selecting the best solution depends on factors like speed, fees, security, and network compatibility.

Bridge architectures vary significantly, from traditional lock, mint, and burn models to innovative intents-based protocols, each with distinct tradeoffs.

The table below compares our top 7 crypto bridges, covering leading EVM Layer 1 and Layer 2 platforms, plus prominent non-EVM networks like Solana, Cosmos, and Sui, to help you choose the right bridge for secure cross-chain transactions.

1. deBridge – Best Overall Crypto Bridge

deBridge is crypto’s premier cross-chain protocol, using decentralized validators to securely bridge assets without relying on locked liquidity pools. Its innovative "intents" model facilitates instant cross-chain transfers, data messaging, NFTs, and governance actions, empowering builders and traders.

With over $9.96 billion settled and a median transaction time of just 1.96 seconds, deBridge delivers unmatched speed and reliability. Its zero-TVL liquidity network ensures ultra-low spreads (4 bps) and protects users from common bridge exploits.

Trusted by top DeFi platforms, deBridge maintains a flawless 100% uptime record, backed by over 26 security audits. Its robust design positions it as the safest and most efficient choice for cross-chain interoperability.

Platform Highlights:

• Supported Chains: Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Solana, BNB Chain, Base, Fantom, Optimism, Polygon, Gnosis, Linea, Metis, Sonic, Hyperliquid, Berachain, Story Protocol, and more.
• Supported Tokens: ETH, USDC, USDT, WBTC, DAI, and 1,000+ tokens.
• Platform Fees: 0.001 ETH Flat Fee.

2. Rhino.Fi – Popular Bridge & DeFi Aggregator

Rhino.fi is a DeFi aggregator designed for fast, cost-effective token bridging across multiple blockchains. Utilizing StarkEx’s Layer-2 technology, Rhino.fi batches transactions off-chain with zk-proofs, ensuring sub-second deposits, instant withdrawals, and frictionless trading across Ethereum, Layer 2s, and non-EVM chains like Solana, Tron & ZetaChain.

Since 2020, Rhino.fi has facilitated over $4.45 billion in secure transfers, offering an unmatched 60-second median settlement time via collateralized liquidity outposts. Users benefit from self-custodial bridging without holding native gas tokens or risking locked liquidity.

Security remains paramount, backed by regular PeckShield audits and zero custody risk. Its intuitive collateralized model, trusted by over 700,000 users, provides the fastest and most secure multi-chain bridging available.

Platform Highlights:

• Supported Chains: Ethereum, Arbitrum, ZetaChain, Avalanche, Solana, BNB Chain, Base, Optimism, Polygon, Linea, Mantle, zkSync, TON, Tron, Blast, Sonic, Unichain, Scroll, Manta Pacific Berachain, Story Protocol, and more.‍
• Supported Tokens: Over 500 tokens, including ETH, USDC, USDT, WBTC, and DAI.
• Platform Fees: 0.12% swap fee.

3. Across Protocol – Best Layer 2 Bridge

Across Protocol is the fastest and lowest-cost Layer 2 bridge, powered by an innovative “intents” model. Unlike legacy bridges relying on locked liquidity, Across leverages competitive relayers who fulfill user orders instantly, allowing frictionless cross-chain transfers.

With over $20 billion transferred and 14 million transactions completed, Across achieves an average settlement time under 1 minute and charges the industry's lowest fees (under $1 per ETH bridged). Its modular design, featuring competitive relayers and a secure escrow settlement layer, provides capital efficiency, eliminating slippage and traditional bridge risks.

Trusted by top DeFi applications like Uniswap, MetaMask, Balancer, and OKX, Across Protocol’s intents-based approach sets a new benchmark in Layer 2 interoperability. Developers benefit from easy REST API integration, enabling users to effortlessly interact across L2 ecosystems without complexity.

Platform Highlights:

• Supported Chains: Optimism, Polygon, Arbitrum, Base, zkSync, Linea, Scroll, Blast, Mode, Ethereum Mainnet, Hyperliquid, and more.
• Supported Tokens: WETH, DAI, USDT, USDC, BAL, ACX, and 50+ tokens.
• Platform Fees: 0.1% swap fee.

4. Rango Exchange – Best Bridge for Most Chain Integrations

Rango Exchange is the leading multi-chain DEX and bridge aggregator, enabling efficient token swaps across 70+ blockchains. Leveraging 100+ DEXs, 24 bridges, and decentralized messaging protocols (GMP, LayerZero, IBC), Rango identifies the fastest, safest, and lowest-cost routes from one interface.

With over $3.74 billion traded across 3.8 million swaps, Rango delivers deep liquidity for EVM chains, Cosmos, Solana, Bitcoin, StarkNet, and more. Its advanced routing engine dynamically evaluates thousands of paths, eliminating slippage and maximizing transaction efficiency.

Trusted by top wallets including Trust Wallet, Exodus, and Binance Web3 Wallet, Rango maintains strict security standards with multiple audits and zero exploits. Its intuitive, non-custodial design ensures seamless bridging across the crypto ecosystem.

Platform Highlights:

• Supported Chains: Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Stargaze, Linea, Scroll, Avalanche, Solana, Bitcoin, Cosmos, Osmosis, StarkNet, Tron, TON, Polygon zkEVM, Mode, Blast, Berachain, Zora, Doge, Neutron, Kava, OKTC Chain, Injective and 50+ more.
• Supported Tokens: 1,000+ tokens including ETH, USDC, USDT, WBTC, and DAI.
• Platform Fees: 0.1% swap fee.

5. Orbiter Finance – Best Bridge for Bitcoin L2s

Orbiter Finance is a decentralized cross-rollup bridge optimized for Ethereum, ETH L2s (e.g. Base & Fraxtal) and Bitcoin-native assets across Layer 2 networks. Its lightweight, trustless model avoids common bridge vulnerabilities through direct EOA transactions and dynamic fees, significantly reducing transfer costs.

Specializing in Bitcoin-focused L2s like BOB, Bitlayer, BSquared, BEVM, and Merlin Chain, Orbiter delivers rapid transaction settlements within 10–20 seconds. Its unique Identification Code system precisely routes assets between chains, ensuring simplicity and accuracy.

Orbiter's Arbitration Mechanism allows users to challenge invalid or delayed transfers using zero-knowledge proofs, bolstering security alongside Ethereum’s Layer-2 framework. This approach provides reliable, low-risk bridging ideal for Bitcoin Layer 2 ecosystems.

Platform Highlights:

• Supported Chains: Ethereum, Bitlayer, Fraxtal, BSquared, BEVM, zkLink, Merlin Chain, zkSync Era, StarkNet, Arbitrum, Optimism, Scroll, Base, Linea, Polygon zkEVM, Solana, Sui, TON, Mantle, Zora, opBNB, ImmutableX, and 50+ more.
• Supported Tokens: ETH, Bitcoin-native assets, major stablecoins, and leading blue-chip tokens.
• Platform Fees: 0.03% swap fee.

6. Skip Protocol - Best Bridge for Cosmos Chains

Skip Protocol is the best interoperability protocol for Cosmos chains, enabling token swaps, cross-chain transfers, and integrated app workflows via its intents-based Skip Go API. Instead of simple transfers, Skip composes multi-hop routes across Cosmos, Ethereum, and L2 networks.

Leveraging decentralized messaging standards (IBC, Hyperlane, Axelar), Skip supports Osmosis, Neutron, Celestia, dydx, Noble, and 50+ Cosmos-native chains. Developers use Skip’s unified API to build intuitive cross-chain interactions, ensuring efficient routes, fast execution, and competitive fees averaging just a few basis points per swap.

Integrated into leading wallets like Keplr and Leap, Skip provides near-instant cross-chain transfers secured by Cosmos consensus. Its intents-driven architecture streamlines complexity, offering users precise outcomes, optimized costs, and frictionless bridging across Cosmos ecosystems.

Platform Highlights:

• Supported Chains: Cosmos Hub, Osmosis, Neutron, Noble, Celestia, dydx, Keplr, Leap, Stargaze, Secret, Oraichain, OKTC Chain, Kava, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, Base, zkSync, Merlin, Injective, Sei, and 50+ more.
• Supported Tokens: ATOM, OSMO, USDC, USDT, ETH, and major Cosmos ecosystem tokens.
• Platform Fees: Varies depending on route from 0.02% - 0.09% per swap.

7. Portal Bridge – Popular for Non-EVM Chains

Portal Bridge, powered by Wormhole, is a leading cross-chain solution connecting popular non-EVM blockchains like Solana, Aptos, Sui, Algorand, and Injective with major EVM networks including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Base, and Arbitrum. Assets locked on the origin chain are minted as wrapped tokens on the target chain, supporting deep liquidity across ecosystems.

Transfers are secured by a trusted network of Guardian validators, enabling fast, low-cost transactions (approximately $0.0001 per transfer). Guardians independently validate transactions, ensuring reliable cross-chain bridging. 

However, users should note that Portal suffered a significant hack in February 2022, losing roughly $320 million in wrapped ETH. Security has since been substantially improved with comprehensive audits from tier-1 firms like Open Zeppelin. 

Platform Highlights:

• Supported Chains: Solana, Aptos, Sui, Algorand, Injective, Ethereum, BNB Chain, Base, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Polygon, Optimism, Fantom, Celo, Near, Oasis, Moonbeam, Klaytn, Karura, Aurora, and more.
• Supported Tokens: ETH, SOL, USDC, USDT, WBTC, DAI, NFTs (ERC721, SPL), plus hundreds of popular tokens.
• Platform Fees: 0.1% swap fee.

What are Crypto Bridges?

Crypto bridges connect blockchain ecosystems, enabling assets, data, and instructions to flow seamlessly across networks. They play a critical role in facilitating liquidity, scalability, and effective cross-chain interactions.

Asset Bridges

Asset bridges transfer cryptocurrencies across chains using methods like lock-and-mint or burn-and-mint, ensuring assets remain consistent between blockchains. These bridges are essential for maintaining liquidity and enabling interoperability among different crypto ecosystems.

Popular examples include Binance Bridge, connecting Binance Smart Chain with other networks, and Wormhole, which enables asset transfers between Ethereum, Solana, and other prominent blockchains.

Intent-Based Messaging Bridges

Intent-based bridges allow users to specify off-chain actions ("intents"), which are then executed on the destination blockchain. By emphasizing intent over immediate transfers, these protocols reduce on-chain load, improve transaction speeds, and boost scalability.

Leading intent-based solutions include Across Protocol, optimized for rapid asset transfers between Ethereum Layer 2 networks, and deBridge, offering advanced intent-driven cross-chain contract interactions and governance.

Data Bridges

Data bridges focus on transmitting information between blockchain networks, powering real-time communication for decentralized applications (dApps). They're essential for cross-chain governance, oracle updates, and state synchronization among different chains.

Notable examples include Chainlink CCIP, providing secure cross-chain data exchanges and decentralized oracle services, and LayerZero, a leading protocol for efficient cross-chain messaging and data transfer.

Rollup-Specific Bridges

Rollup-specific bridges handle transfers between Ethereum Layer 2 rollups or between rollups and Ethereum’s mainnet. Designed to meet rollups' unique scalability requirements, these bridges facilitate rapid and cost-effective transactions.

Key examples include Orbiter Finance, offering streamlined transfers between rollups like Optimism and Arbitrum, and Hop Protocol, specializing in quick asset movements between Ethereum mainnet and Layer 2 solutions.

How to Bridge Crypto Assets: ETH to Base Example 

Here's a quick four-step walkthrough illustrating how straightforward it is to bridge crypto assets between chains. For this example, we’re using deBridge, a trusted cross-chain protocol known for instant settlements and top-tier security.

Step-by-step Ethereum to Base transfer with deBridge:

1. Connect Your Wallet Go to the deBridge app and connect your wallet (MetaMask recommended).
2. Select Your Networks and Asset: Set Ethereum as your source network, choose Base as your target, then select the asset you’d like to bridge (ETH, USDC, etc.).
3. Confirm Your Transfer: Enter your transfer amount, approve the transaction, and confirm it through your wallet.
4. Receive Assets on Base: After confirmation, your tokens will quickly appear on Base, ready to use immediately.

Are Crypto Bridges Safe?

Cross-chain bridges are essential but come with significant security risks. As of 2025, bridge-related hacks have resulted in losses exceeding $2.8 billion, accounting for nearly 40% of all Web3 exploits. Common vulnerabilities include compromised private keys, poorly audited smart contracts, and insecure upgrade processes.

Notable incidents include:

• Ronin Bridge Hack (March 2022): Attackers compromised five of nine validator keys, stealing $625 million.
• Harmony Bridge Exploit (June 2022): Two compromised private keys led to a loss of $100 million.
• Wormhole Bridge Attack (February 2022): Flawed smart contracts allowed attackers to mint 120,000 wETH ($325 million) without proper collateral.

Bridges can be safe if managed carefully, but awareness of these vulnerabilities is crucial.

Tips for Safe Cross-Chain Bridging

To securely bridge crypto assets, follow these best practices:

• Audit and History Checks: Use bridges with thorough smart contract audits and positive security records.
• Decentralized Validators: Prefer bridges backed by decentralized validator sets to reduce centralization risks.
• Transfer Carefully: Only bridge amounts you can afford to lose in unexpected scenarios.
• Implement Rate Limits: Favor bridges offering built-in transaction limits to limit potential damage.
• Avoid Contract Upgrades: Don’t bridge funds during active upgrades or major contract changes.
• Hardware Wallets: Always interact with bridges using hardware wallets (like Ledger) to protect private keys.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Choose bridges with robust transaction tracking and alert systems.

Following these tips significantly reduces risk when navigating the multi-chain ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

Crypto bridging remains fragmented, with each solution tailored to specific blockchain ecosystems. This diversity often complicates the bridging process, requiring careful selection based on individual needs.

For comprehensive, chain-agnostic coverage, platforms like deBridge and Rango Exchange simplify cross-chain interactions. In contrast, specialized options such as Orbiter Finance for Bitcoin Layer 2s or Skip Protocol for Cosmos-based assets deliver targeted efficiency.

The optimal bridge ultimately aligns with your priorities, whether that's security, transaction speed, or cost-efficiency. Fortunately, you can always come back and refer to our guide to match your bridging needs with the most suitable solution.