What is a Cross-Chain Bridge?
The short answer
A tool that lets crypto or data move between two different, otherwise incompatible blockchain networks.
Bridges have historically been a common target for large thefts due to flaws in their code, making them one of the higher-risk categories of DeFi infrastructure.
Related terms
Full glossaryConsensus
The process by which a decentralised network agrees on which transactions are valid, without a central authority.
DEX (Decentralized Exchange)
A crypto exchange that runs on smart contracts rather than a company matching buyers and sellers.
Seed Phrase
A set of 12 or 24 words that is the master key to a crypto wallet — anyone…
NFT (Non-Fungible Token)
A token representing unique ownership of a specific digital (or sometimes physical) item, unlike a coin where every…
Token
A cryptocurrency built on top of another blockchain, rather than having its own independent network.
Blockchain
A shared, tamper-evident record of transactions, copied across many independent computers instead of one company's private database.
Still unclear? That is worth knowing — tell us and we will rewrite this entry.