--- title: Bridge url: "https://www.unknowngravity.com/en/glosario/bridge" site: Unknown Gravity published: "2025-06-11T06:47:12+00:00" modified: "2026-07-15T10:51:27+00:00" language: en-US description: "Bridge blockchain is a cryptographic and programmatic infrastructure that allows transfer of assets, data or instructions between two or more independent blockchains, thus facilitating…" section: "Home > Bridge" --- # Bridge GLOSSARY · BLOCKCHAIN & WEB3 A bridge moves tokens and data between chains that cannot talk: it locks on one side and mints on the other. It is also one of the most attacked components. WHAT IS IT? · FOR DUMMIES A **bridge** in blockchain is like a gateway that connects two different networks. Imagine that you have money in one country and you want to use it in another that has a different currency. The bridge helps you “cross” and use your money from the first country to the second, without having to change it manually. In blockchain, this allows you to move cryptocurrencies or information between different blockchains, such as Ethereum and Bitcoin, automatically and securely. WHAT IS IT? · PRO **Bridge blockchain** is a cryptographic and programmatic infrastructure that allows **transfer of assets, data or instructions** between two or more independent blockchains, thus facilitating interoperability between ecosystems that cannot natively communicate with each other. This mechanism is key for the operation of decentralized multichain applications and for the mobility of capital across different environments such as Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, Solana or Bitcoin. The most common way in which a bridge operates is through a system of **locking and minting (lock-and-mint)** or **burn and unlock (burn-and-release)**. For example, when transferring an asset from Ethereum to another network, the bridge **Blocks** the original tokens in a smart contract on Ethereum and **issue a wrapped token** equivalent in the destination network. This token represents the value of the original, allowing it to be used without physically moving the funds. There are different types of bridges: **Custodial** (managed by a centralized entity) and **non-custodial** (decentralized through smart contracts and oracles), as well as **bidirectional or unidirectional**, depending on its architecture. Although they are essential for interoperability, they also represent one of the most critical vectors of security in Web3, since they concentrate large volumes of liquidity and have been the target of multiple attacks. Modern bridges, such as LayerZero, Axelar, Wormhole or Chainlink CCIP, seek to improve this layer with **secure cross-chain messaging, distributed validators, and cryptographic tests** advanced such as ZK Proofs or multi-party consensus. In short, bridges are a strategic component for scaling and connecting the global blockchain infrastructure. ## 01 / Key points - Allows you to transfer tokens or data between different blockchains - Uses mechanisms for locking, coining, burning or releasing assets - Essential for achieving interoperability between decentralized networks - It can be custodial (centralized) or non-custodial (decentralized) - Emerging technologies seek to make bridges safer and more efficient ## 02 / Advantages - **Facilitates the use of multichain** of dApps and DeFi protocols - **Increase liquidity** when connecting users and assets from different networks - **Improves scalability** when distributing transactions between several blockchains - **Boosts interoperability**, key to mass adoption of Web3 - **It allows you to make the most of each network** depending on your costs, speed or functionality ## 03 / Disadvantages - **High vulnerability to attacks**: have been the target of million-dollar hacks - **Technical complexity** to ensure safety without sacrificing efficiency - **Dependency on external oracles or validators** in non-native solutions - **Centralization risks** on custodial or poorly designed bridges - **Lack of universal standardization**, which makes integrations between certain networks difficult RELATED CONCEPTS [Interoperability](/en/glosario/interoperabilidad) [Blockchain](/en/glosario/blockchain) [Smart contract](/en/glosario/smart-contract) [Token](/en/glosario/token) [Layer 1](/en/glosario/layer-1-capa-1) [Layer 2](/en/glosario/layer-2-capa-2) KEEP LEARNING [Interoperability between blockchains: Why is it important?](/en/articulos/la-interoperabilidad-en-la-blockchain) [DeFi: What decentralized finance is and how does it work](/en/articulos/defi-que-son-como-funcionan-finanzas-descentralizadas) [Which blockchain suits me? A clear comparison of Ethereum, Arbitrum and Base](/en/articulos/que-blockchain-me-conviene-comparativa-clara-entre-ethereum-arbitrum-y-base) [Comparison of smart contracts programming languages](/en/articulos/lenguajes-programacion-smart-contracts) [Optimism (OP): What is it and how does it work?](/en/articulos/optimism-op-que-es-y-como-funciona) RELATED SERVICES [Blockchain protocol development](/en/servicios/desarrollo-de-protocolos-blockchain) [DeFi protocols](/en/servicios/protocolos-defi) [Web3 Development](/en/servicios/desarrollo-web3) [Development for Ethereum (EVM)](/en/servicios/desarrollo-para-ethereum-evm) [Voting and Governance](/en/servicios/blockchain-para-votaciones-y-gobernanza) [Full glossary](/en/glosario) This entry is informative. It is not legal, tax or investment advice. The rules cited change: check the current version on [BOE](https://www.boe.es) and [EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu).