BridgeRadarKnowledge base
Moving crypto between blockchains, explained simply
Short guides on how transfers between networks work and where the risks are, plus a glossary of every term you meet on this site.
Underlined words on route and project pages show a short explanation when you hover over or tap them.
Guides
How moving coins between blockchains works
Blockchains cannot see each other, so coins never really travel. Here are the three basic ways value gets from one chain to another.
3 min readRead guide02Wrapped tokens vs the real coin
A wrapped token is an IOU for a coin held somewhere else. Learn what backs it, why its price can slip, and how to get back the original.
3 min readRead guide03How fast "intent" transfers work
With intent bridges you state what you want, a solver pays you on the other chain from their own funds, and gets repaid later.
3 min readRead guide04Who you are trusting when you bridge
Every bridge relies on someone: a custodian, a signer group, a validator network or code. Here is how to tell who, and how to judge the risk.
3 min readRead guide05What a transfer really costs
A cross-chain transfer can include network fees on both chains, a protocol fee, a spread and price impact. Here is how to see the real total.
3 min readRead guide06Why Bitcoin, Monero and some other coins have no simple bridge
Chains without smart contracts, or with built-in privacy, cannot run a normal bridge. Here is why, and what your real options are.
3 min readRead guide07Your first cross-chain transfer, step by step
A calm checklist for moving coins to another network: send a test amount, check the address and memo, keep fee money, and know what to do if it stalls.
3 min readRead guide08Moving stablecoins between networks
USDC and USDT each have an official way to move between networks. Learn how CCTP and USDT0 work, why look-alike tokens matter and what to check before you send.
2 min readRead guide09Layer 2 withdrawal times explained
Moving funds from Ethereum to a layer 2 takes minutes, but the official way back can take up to a week. Here is why, how long each network takes, and when a fast bridge makes sense.
2 min readRead guideGlossary
57 terms, each explained in a sentence or two, with more detail if you want it.
- Canonical bridgeThe official bridge built by a network's own team, such as the Arbitrum or Base bridge to Ethereum.
- Liquidity bridgeA bridge that keeps pools of the same coin on several chains and pays you from the pool on the other side.
- IntentA request that says what you want ("100 USDC on Base") and lets a professional payer figure out how to deliver it.
- SolverA professional trader who pays you on the destination chain from their own funds, then gets repaid from your deposit.
- RelayerA service that carries messages or payments from one chain to another. In some bridges, relayers also front the money.
- Messaging protocolA system that lets programs on different blockchains send verified messages to each other. Bridges are built on top of it.
- Cross-chain swapTrading a coin on one blockchain for a different coin on another, for example BTC on Bitcoin for SOL on Solana, in one step.
- Atomic swapA direct trade between two people on two chains where either both sides complete or both get their coins back.
- AggregatorA tool that compares many bridges and swaps at once and shows you the best route for your transfer.
- LiquidityHow much money is available to trade a coin. More liquidity means you can buy or sell more without moving the price.
- Liquidity poolA pot of two or more tokens held by a smart contract that people can trade against. The price comes from the balance between them.
- SlippageThe difference between the price you were quoted and the price you actually get, because the market moved before your trade went through.