BridgeRadar

Knowledge base · 2 min read

How to move Bitcoin to other networks and back

Bitcoin cannot leave its own network. To use BTC on Ethereum, Solana or an L2 you either hold a wrapped version such as cbBTC, WBTC or tBTC, or swap native BTC directly with a cross-chain swap service.

Two ways to move BTC

Real BTC only exists on the Bitcoin network. Every BTC you see on another network is either a backed by real BTC held somewhere, or the result of a swap that sells your BTC and gives you something else.

services take BTC on Bitcoin and pay out on the other network, and the reverse. Wrapped BTC lets you keep BTC exposure inside DeFi apps.

Wrapped BTC options

The main versions differ in who holds the real BTC:

  • cbBTC: issued by Coinbase, which holds the BTC. Available on Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Solana and other networks.
  • WBTC: the oldest wrapped BTC on Ethereum, held by BitGo together with BiT Global.
  • tBTC: issued by Threshold, with BTC held by a decentralized group of signers instead of a single company.

Native cross-chain swaps

These services let you send BTC from a normal Bitcoin wallet and receive tokens on another network, or the reverse, without an exchange account:

  • Chainflip: swaps BTC with Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana and others through its own .
  • THORChain: swaps with ETH, BNB Chain and other networks through its .
  • NEAR Intents: compete to fill your BTC swap to many networks.
  • Garden: fast BTC swaps to networks and Solana.

Exchanges

Exchanges remain a simple option: deposit BTC and withdraw BTC or wrapped BTC on another network if they support it. You trust the exchange while it holds your funds and may need to pass identity checks.

Things to watch

Bitcoin moves slower than other networks:

  • Swaps wait for Bitcoin , often 10 to 30 minutes or more.
  • Bitcoin rise when the network is busy; check them first.
  • Use the correct address type: a Bitcoin address for BTC, a 0x or Solana address for the other side.
  • Check which wrapped BTC an app accepts before you .
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