Definition
A bridge is a system that transfers assets, messages, or representations of value between blockchain environments. One common asset design locks coins on an origin network and creates corresponding tokens elsewhere; another destroys a representation before releasing the original asset. The precise mechanism varies, and the destination token is not automatically identical to native coins on its source chain. Bridges may rely on custodians, signer groups, smart contracts, external validators, or cryptographic verification. Each design introduces different assumptions about who can authorize transfers and what happens during failures. A secure underlying blockchain does not remove weaknesses in the bridge connecting it to another system. Relevant risks include contract errors, compromised signing keys, false messages, unavailable liquidity, and suspended redemption. Evaluating a bridged asset therefore requires understanding both chains and the mechanism responsible for maintaining and returning its backing.
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