Cross-Chain Bridge
A cross-chain bridge is a protocol or tool that enables the transfer of digital assets, data, or smart contract interactions between different blockchain networks. It works by locking or burning assets on the source chain and minting or unlocking equivalent assets on the destination chain, often using mechanisms like wrapped tokens or relayers. This technology is essential for interoperability in the decentralized ecosystem, allowing users to leverage features across multiple blockchains.
Developers should learn cross-chain bridges when building decentralized applications (dApps) that require multi-chain functionality, such as DeFi protocols needing liquidity from various networks or NFT projects expanding to new ecosystems. They are crucial for enabling asset portability, reducing network congestion, and accessing specialized features (e.g., low fees on one chain, security on another), making them key for scalable and user-friendly blockchain solutions.