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Best Crypto Bridges

Best Crypto Bridges

Explore our expert analysis of leading crypto bridges, focusing on security, liquidity, and user experience for optimal cross-chain transactions.

Summary: Choosing the appropriate cryptocurrency bridge is vital for efficient asset transfers across diverse networks. A reliable platform must be rigorously audited and user-focused to guarantee seamless asset movement. It should support both Layer 1 and Layer 2 bridges and be compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and non-EVM blockchains.

To guide users through complex cross-chain transactions, we have curated a top 5 list of crypto bridges, based on a thorough analysis of bridge security, network compatibility, liquidity, fee structures, and user experience quality. This ensures our recommendations are reliable, focusing on user needs in the dynamic world of DeFi.

  1. Across Protocol - Best Overall Crypto Bridge
  2. Rhino.fi - Best Alternative for EVM Chains
  3. Stargate Finance - Best for Alternative EVM Layer 1's
  4. Portal Bridge - Best for Non-EVM Chains (e.g. Solana)
  5. Gravity Bridge - Best Cosmos Ecosystem Bridge
Best Overall Crypto Bridge
5.0 out of 5.0 by Datawallet
Across Protocol stands out as the best crypto bridge due to its efficient, unified liquidity pool, no-slippage fee model, and robust security underpinned by UMA's optimistic oracle.
Supported Chains
Ethereum, zkSync, Base, Arbitrum, Polygon and more.
Supported Tokens
WETH, ETH, USDC, USDT, DAI, WBTC and more.
Total Value Transferred
Facilitated over $4.4 Billion in cross-chain transactions.

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Best Crypto Bridges for Cross-Chain Swaps

Our thorough review evaluated over 15 crypto bridge protocols, emphasizing their aptness for both Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks. Key aspects of our analysis were liquidity assessment, cross-chain compatibility, ecosystem support, clarity of fee structures, and security robustness. This comprehensive evaluation pinpointed five standout crypto bridge platforms, each notable for significantly enhancing interoperability in the blockchain ecosystem.

Exchange
Supported Chains
Bridging Fees
Total Volume
Transaction Speed
Across
Ethereum, Arbitrum, zkSync, Base, Polygon & more
0.06% Fee and 0.01% Slippage
$4.5 Billion
Under 1 Minute
Rhino.fi
Ethereum, BNB, Avalanche, Linea & 15 more
0.12% Fee and 0.1% Slippage
$2.35 Billion
Under 1 Minute
Stargate
Ethereum, Mantle, METIS, Kava, Fantom & 4 more
0.06% Fee and 0.2% Slippage
$3 Billion
2-5 Minutes
Portal Bridge
Solana, Sui, NEAR, Aptos, Sei, Algorand & 15 more
0.1% Fee and 0.1% Slippage
$1.5 Billion
2-5 Minutes
Gravity Bridge
Cosmos, Sei, Osmosis, Celestia & 10 more
0.08% Fee and 0.09% Slippage
$2 Billion
4-6 Minutes

1. Across Protocol

Across Protocol emerges as the best and capital-efficient cross-chain bridge, having managed over $4.5 billion in transactions. Its efficiency stems from a unified liquidity pool and a no-slippage fee model, making it a favorite for Layer 2 solutions and rollups, underpinned by UMA's optimistic oracle for security. The platform's liquidity pool design, combined with an interest rate fee model, reduces costs for users and increases yields for providers.

Key features include third-party relayers for rapid transaction completion, and UMA’s optimistic oracle for transaction validation. Across also maintains funds on their original chain, with automatic rebalancing every 4-8 hours. These innovations, coupled with strong security, make Across Protocol a leading choice in the cross-chain bridge sector, especially for the Ethereum network.

  • Supported Chains: Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, zkSync and more.
  • Supported Tokens: WETH, DAI, USDT, USDC, WBTC, BAL, ACX and more.
Across Protocol

2. Rhino.fi

Rhino.fi excels as a notable decentralized cross-chain bridge, specializing in efficient Ethereum asset transfers across diverse blockchains. It leverages Layer 2 technology for rapid token movement on platforms like Ethereum, Arbitrum, Starknet, Linea, Polygon zkEVM, and others. The platform is known for its speedy transactions, often less than 60 seconds, and its support for over 500 tokens, enhancing liquidity and lowering fees for users.

Differing from traditional cross-L1 bridges, Rhino.fi uses layer 2 solutions to avoid Ethereum mainnet's congestion and high fees while maintaining strong security. Its advanced 'roll up' technology, which batches transactions, significantly speeds up processing times. Rhino.fi's commitment to DeFi accessibility is evident in its integration of over 15 blockchains, with plans to expand further, making it a comprehensive platform for various DeFi operations.

  • Supported Chains: Ethereum, Arbitrum, Linea, Polygon zkEVM, Base, opBNB, Optimism, Scroll, zkSync, and others.
  • Supported Tokens: Includes a wide array of over 500 tokens, emphasizing versatility and choice for users.

3. Stargate Finance

Stargate Finance secures the third best position as a community-driven decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) building the first fully composable native asset bridge, and the first dApp built on LayerZero. Primarily supporting EVM-based chains like Ethereum, BNB Chain, Avalanche, and others, Stargate's vision is to make cross-chain liquidity transfer a seamless, single transaction process. With over $50 million in daily cross-chain trades, users can swap native assets like USDC on Ethereum for USDT on BNB.

What sets Stargate apart is its innovative approach to solving the bridging trilemma, offering instant guaranteed finality, native asset swaps, and unified liquidity across multiple chains. These features, coupled with community-owned unified liquidity pools and new APY opportunities through yield aggregators, solidify Stargate's position as the best overall bridge in the market, enhancing interoperability and efficiency within the blockchain technology landscape.

  • Supported Chains: Ethereum, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Polygon, METIS, zkSync and more.
  • Supported Tokens: ETH, USDC, USDT, MAI, STG, BTC.B, DAI, FRAX, and more.

4. Portal Bridge

Portal Bridge stands out as the fourth-best cross-chain bridge and a standout choice for non-EVM chains like Solana and Cosmos. Built on top of Wormhole, Portal Bridge locks the origin token in a smart contract and mints a new Portal wrapped token on the target chain, allowing users to swap those for other or native tokens on the target chain.

What makes Portal unique is its support for both ERC721 and SPL NFTs, enabling transfers between supported chains. The bridging fees are sub-cent, with gas fees being the most expensive aspect of the transaction. The Portal's approach to bridging, including the ability to register new tokens on a chain, and its support for various non-EVM chains, positions it as a leading solution for those looking to bridge tokens across diverse blockchain ecosystems.

  • Supported Chains: Ethereum, Solana, Celo, Sui, NEAR, Moonbeam, Injective, Fantom and 10 more.
  • Supported Tokens: WETH, USDC, USDT, WBTC, SOL, SUI, NEAR and DAI.
Portal Bridge

5. Gravity Bridge

Gravity Bridge is a leading choice for Cosmos-SDK based chains like Osmosis, Evmos, Canto, and Kujira, providing a seamless and decentralized bridge between Ethereum and Cosmos ecosystems. It facilitates the transfer of assets, particularly ERC20 tokens such as DAI and USDC, utilizing the Interblockchain Communication (IBC) protocol. This integration allows Cosmos-based projects to access Ethereum assets efficiently.

Notably decentralized and permissionless, Gravity Bridge operates with a comprehensive validator set, distinguishing it as one of the most decentralized bridges available. It supports Ethereum and USDC transfers, with plans to broaden its ERC-20 token range following the Cosmos SDK's Polaris update. Security is a cornerstone of the Gravity Bridge, underscored by its rigorous testing on decentralized testnets and validation through three in-depth audits.

  • Supported Chains: Ethereum, Cosmos, Osmosis, Terra, Fetch.ai, Canto, Secret and more.
  • Supported Tokens: WETH, ETH, USDC, USDT, DAI, WBTC, ATOM, OSMO and more.
Best Cosmos Bridge

What is a Crypto Bridge?

A crypto bridge, also known as a blockchain bridge, serves as a conduit enabling the transfer of tokens and/or data across different blockchain ecosystems. This connection can occur between two distinct blockchains, like Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain, or between separate layers of the same blockchain, such as Ethereum and its Layer 2 solutions. Here's an overview of how a typical crypto bridge operates:

  • Locking Mechanism: In a crypto bridge process, the initial step involves locking the tokens you wish to transfer in a smart contract on the source blockchain. This action temporarily removes the tokens from circulation within that particular blockchain.
  • Token Minting on Destination Chain: Subsequently, an equivalent amount of tokens is created or minted on the destination blockchain. These tokens may either be identical to the original tokens or a wrapped version, representing the original asset.
  • Transfer Validation: The bridge employs various mechanisms to validate the transfer. This often involves validators or relayers, who confirm that the number of tokens locked on the source chain matches the tokens minted on the destination chain.
  • Reversal Process: Should you decide to return your assets to the original blockchain, the procedure is inverted. The tokens on the destination chain are either burned or locked, which then triggers the release or unlocking of the initially locked tokens on the source blockchain.

Cheapest Crypto Bridging Platform

Across emerges as the most cost-effective option in the cross-chain ecosystem, offering significantly lower user fees due to its capital efficiency. Recent data from Q2 2023 shows Across with a median fee of $5.25 for Layer 1 to Layer 2 transfers and $8.77 for Layer 2 to Layer 1, outshining its rivals in cost-effectiveness.

These fee rates highlight Across's affordability, saving users 25-75% in fees compared to other bridges. Key to this cost advantage are its design choices, including a single liquidity pool and an interest rate fee model. This approach not only reduces transaction fees but also positions Across as an attractive choice for Ethereum transfers in the cross-chain domain.

Cheapest Crypto Bridge

Is Bridging in Crypto Safe?

Bridging in cryptocurrency, which involves transferring assets between various blockchains or blockchain layers, is a critical element of the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Nonetheless, this process carries inherent risks.

Our in-depth report on Crypto Bridging Statistics and Trends, indicates that the security of crypto bridging depends significantly on the technology and protocols implemented by the bridge. While many bridges use stringent on-chain security protocols, some have experienced breaches. Notably, in 2022, breaches in bridge security led to over $3 billion in capital losses, primarily due to critical vulnerabilities.

It is vital for users to have a thorough understanding of a bridge's underlying technology and to be cognizant of the risks involved. Opting for well-established bridges that place a high emphasis on security, coupled with adhering to the latest security practices and recommendations, can help in significantly reducing these risks.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, our detailed review of cryptocurrency bridges underscores the importance of choosing a platform that not only aligns with your specific needs for asset transfer across different networks but also upholds the highest standards of security and efficiency. From analyzing liquidity to evaluating fee structures and cross-chain compatibility, our top five recommended crypto bridges, Across Protocol, Rhino.fi, Stargate Finance, Portal Bridge, and Gravity Bridge, stand out for their robust security measures and significant contributions to blockchain interoperability.

These platforms exemplify the ideal balance between user-centric design and technical excellence, making them reliable choices in the evolving landscape of decentralized finance.

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