Blockchain Bridge

What is a blockchain bridge?

A blockchain bridge enables the transfer of assets between different blockchains. Since blockchains are isolated systems, a bridge locks assets on one chain and mints equivalent assets on another chain.

How bridges work

1. You deposit USDT on Ethereum into the bridge contract
2. The bridge locks your USDT on Ethereum
3. The bridge mints an equivalent amount of USDT on BSC
4. You now have BSC USDT (BEP-20) in your wallet

To reverse: burn BSC USDT → unlock Ethereum USDT.

Bridge risks

Bridges are the most frequently hacked component of DeFi. Major bridge hacks include:

• Ronin Bridge ($625M, 2022)
• Wormhole ($320M, 2022)
• Nomad Bridge ($190M, 2022)

The risk comes from the bridge contract holding large amounts of locked assets — a high-value target.

How to move USDT to BSC safely

1. Binance — deposit USDT on Ethereum, withdraw as BEP-20 USDT (cheapest, safest)
2. Official BSC Bridge — bridge.bnb.org
3. Multichain/Stargate — third-party bridges (higher risk)

Minimising bridge risk

• Use official bridges or centralised exchanges for large amounts
• Bridge only what you need; don't leave assets in bridge contracts
• Verify bridge contract addresses carefully