Polygon Portal is a cross-chain bridge developed by Polygon Technology. Its main purpose is to facilitate easy token transfers between Ethereum and Polygon zkEVM and PoS, and vice versa. The bridge operates on a “Lock and Mint” mechanism: Any token transferred from Ethereum to Polygon is locked, and an equivalent amount is minted on the Polygon network as pegged tokens.

Similarly, when tokens are bridged back to Ethereum from Polygon, the pegged tokens are burned, and the corresponding tokens on Ethereum are unlocked. Polygon Portal offers two modes—Pro and Lite—designed for both beginner and advanced users. Although the bridge supports a limited number of networks, its compatibility with multiple third-party bridges expands its functionality. Additionally, users can choose a custom destination address and utilize the “Refuel Gas” feature, allowing them to receive POL tokens directly for gas fees on the Polygon PoS network, avoiding the need for extra transactions.

BNB Chain Bridge is a cross-chain bridge, officially introduced by the BNB Chain Web3 ecosystem in October 2024. The project was created in collaboration with protocols such as Celer, deBridge, Meson, and Stargate, allowing users to select the most suitable routes for cross-chain exchanges. BNB Chain Bridge marks a significant advancement for BNB Chain, improving the user experience, boosting liquidity, and enabling fast asset transfers, all while providing competitive rates for bridging to the BNB Chain.

THORSwap is a multi-chain decentralized exchange that enables seamless trading across various blockchain networks. Initially launched as BEPSwap in the summer of 2020 on THORchain’s single-chain chaosnet (SCCN), it transitioned in April 2021 into a cross-chain DEX built on THORchain’s multi-chain chaosnet (MCCN).

What sets THORSwap apart is its well-designed, user-friendly interface, which can be customized to suit individual preferences, providing all necessary information for cross-chain trading. The platform supports 16 networks and over 5,000 tokens, offering users the ability to adjust slippage and gas fees to optimize transaction speed. Additionally, THORSwap features its native token, THOR, which, when staked, provides holders with discounts on trading fees. Furthermore, the project takes security seriously and has undergone multiple audits by renowned firms such as HALBORN and PeckShield.

CORE is a native non-custodial wallet for Avalanche, featuring an integrated cross-chain bridge that allows seamless swaps between EVM-compatible networks, Avalanche, and Bitcoin. What sets the project apart is its availability as a web version, browser extension, and mobile app for both Android and iOS. Since the bridge is embedded within the CORE ecosystem, users can make swaps directly within the wallet while also enjoying other benefits like staking, portfolio tracking, and interaction with other dApps. The bridge uses Intel SGX technology to ensure funds can only be released with a corresponding transfer, and no one has access to the keys controlling the funds.

CORE Bridge supports 27 networks and is regularly updated. Additionally, the community has access to detailed guides for using the platform, and users who transfer over $75 from Ethereum or Bitcoin to the Avalanche network can receive an airdrop of the native AVAX token.

Arbitrum Bridge is a cross-chain bridge developed by the team behind Arbitrum, an Ethereum Layer-2 solution. The product was created to facilitate the exchange of ERC-20 tokens from the Ethereum mainnet to Arbitrum One and vice versa. The bridge supports 28 different EVM-compatible chains and features a user-friendly interface. Users can easily select the desired exchange option, with brief descriptions of each supported network available for convenience. The bridge also allows specifying the destination address and completing the transfer seamlessly.

Stargate is one of the most popular cross-chain bridges, enabling native token transfers across multiple chains. Officially launched in 2021, it was built on and powered by the LayerZero protocol. Stargate features a unique operational model that addresses the “Bridging Trilemma”, a core issue for cross-chain bridges. This trilemma highlights the challenge of simultaneously providing three key factors: unified liquidity, guaranteed transaction finality, and the exchange of only native assets. By removing the need for synthetic or wrapped tokens, Stargate ensures seamless swaps of native assets with unified liquidity, where liquidity pools are interconnected across all supported chains. 

Stargate offers a broad selection of swap routes, supporting transfers across EVM-compatible networks, Solana, and Tron, enhancing its functionality. With the launch of Stargate V2, users can now choose their Transfer Type, opting for a faster, more expensive route or a slower, more cost-effective one. Additionally, Stargate provides advanced settings with slippage control and a special feature that allows users to instantly receive gas tokens on the destination chain, when needed, eliminating the need for extra swaps.

Synapse Bridge is a cross-chain bridge launched by Synapse Protocol in the second half of 2021. Originally known as Nerve, the first stableswap AMM on Binance Smart Chain (BSC), the project was rebranded and expanded into Synapse Protocol to become a comprehensive cross-chain communication network. Synapse Bridge is a decentralized application that allows users to transfer cryptocurrency seamlessly between different blockchain networks.

The project supports over 20 blockchains for exchanges within EVM-compatible networks and includes a dedicated bridge for transfers between Solana and EVM chains. Known for its high speed and low fees, Synapse stands out in the competitive cross-chain space. In June 2024, the Synapse team conducted a detailed analysis of over 60 exchange routes across Synapse, Stargate, and Across. The study revealed that Synapse offered lower fees in 45 out of 60 routes, delivering over 80% cost savings on average. With a user-friendly interface, the platform clearly shows the exact amount users will receive on the destination chain, enhancing transparency. Additionally, slippage protection ensures a predictable transaction process.

Portal is a cross-chain bridge built on the Wormhole protocol, enabling the transfer of crypto assets across different networks. The process works by locking the origin token in a smart contract and minting a new Portal-wrapped token on the destination chain, allowing for seamless asset transfers across diverse networks.

Portal supports a wide variety of networks for token transfers, with transaction fees currently below a cent. Additionally, it offers the ability to transfer NFTs between chains. The project also features a special function called “Token Origin Verifier,” which allows users to identify the origin token contract code and the target contract address of tokens sent through the bridge.