bridge
A service that moves cryptocurrency from one blockchain to another.
A bridge is a service that transfers cryptocurrency tokens between different blockchains. Because blockchains are separate systems that don’t naturally communicate, a bridge acts as an intermediary, converting tokens from one chain into wrapped versions on another chain.
Bridges exist because users and developers want to access tokens and services across multiple blockchains, but moving value directly between chains is technically impossible. When you see a bridge in headlines, it usually means either a new connection between blockchains is launching, or a security problem has been discovered in an existing one. Bridge hacks have been high-profile incidents because they control large amounts of user funds and represent centralized weak points in otherwise decentralized systems.
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Written once as a plain-English reference, not as advice. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell anything.