Bridge
What and why
Blockchains typically operate in isolated environments, which prevents them from naturally trading and communicating with one another. Consequently, despite substantial activity and innovation within a single ecosystem, this potential is constrained by the need for more connectivity and interoperability with other ecosystems.
A bridge in blockchain refers to a protocol that enables the transfer of data, assets, or tokens between two separate blockchain networks, such as between different Layer 1 (L1) blockchains (e.g., U2U and BSC/ETH) or between a Layer 1 and a Layer 2 network (e.g., Ethereum and Arbitrum). Bridges are critical for interoperability, allowing users to leverage features or benefits of one blockchain on another.
Bridges offer a way for isolated blockchain environments to connect with each other. They establish a transportation route between blockchains where tokens, messages, arbitrary data, and even smart contract calls can be transferred from one chain to another.
How do bridges work
Although numerous bridge design methodologies exist, three prominent approaches to enhance the cross-chain transference of assets are particularly noteworthy:
Lock-and-Mint Mechanism:
On the source blockchain, tokens are locked in a smart contract.
An equivalent representation of those tokens is minted on the destination blockchain.
Burn-and-Release Mechanism:
When users want to move their assets back to the original chain, the minted tokens on the destination chain are burned, and the original tokens are released on the source chain.
Relayers and Validators:
Bridges rely on relayers or validators to monitor transactions on the source chain and facilitate the transfer to the destination chain.
Validators may include trusted entities or decentralized networks.
Benefits of Bridges
For users:
Enhanced Access to Ecosystems
Cost Savings
Improved Liquidity and Investment Opportunities
Cross-Chain Flexibility
Multi-Chain Asset Management
Access to Multi-Chain dApps
For developers:
Data and assets transfer
Collaboration with different blockchain ecosystems
Attraction of users and communities
U2U's Official Bridge Partnerships
Owlto Finance: Owlto Finance is a very concise cross-rollup bridge, and cross-rollup transfers are also very simple. At the same time, Owlto also has unique features and a very user-friendly experience.
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