How to use acrossbridge to move crypto between chains

If you want to move crypto from one blockchain to another, acrossbridge lets you transfer or swap it in one flow. Choose the asset you have, the chain it is on, and what you want to receive. Check the quote, an estimate of what will arrive and what it will cost, before sending from your wallet.

What does acrossbridge do?

It connects a transfer on one blockchain with a payout on another. A blockchain is a shared record of who owns which assets. Separate chains do not share that record, so sending coins to an address alone cannot move them between chains.

Some bridges hold the asset you send and issue a token backed by it on the destination chain. Other routes exchange your asset for funds already available there. If the asset changes too, that exchange is a swap.

The asset you receive matters as much as the chain. BTC held on Bitcoin is native Bitcoin. A Bitcoin-based token on Arbitrum represents BTC, but it is a different asset with its own rules and risks.

What should you prepare?

You need access to your source funds and an address that can receive the destination asset. A wallet is the app or device that controls your crypto. Check the receiving wallet yourself before starting, especially when the two chains use different address formats.

• The source chain and asset, such as BTC on Bitcoin.
• The destination chain and asset, such as ETH on Arbitrum.
• A receiving wallet that supports that chain and asset.
• Enough of the source chain’s own coin to pay its network fee.

A network fee pays a chain to process a transaction; on some chains, this fee is called gas. If your funds are on an exchange, check which withdrawal network it uses. A matching coin ticker does not mean the network is right.

How do you move or swap crypto step by step?

Start by choosing what you hold and what you want to receive. When you are ready to make that move, acrossbridge lets you transfer or swap assets between blockchains in one flow. This cross-chain bridge step begins with checking that a route exists for your choices.

1. Choose your source. Select the chain where your funds actually sit, then the asset and amount. Suppose you hold 0.01 BTC in a Bitcoin wallet. Selecting BTC on another chain would point the transfer at funds you do not have there.
2. Choose the destination. Pick the chain and exact asset you want to receive. Say you want ETH on Arbitrum and that route is available. If you want to move Bitcoin to another chain, check whether the output is a wrapped token, meaning a token backed by BTC held elsewhere.
3. Enter the receiving address. Copy it from a wallet that supports the chosen chain and asset. Compare the full address with the one shown for the transfer before continuing. A valid address on the wrong chain can leave funds hard to recover.
4. Compare the quote. Read the estimated output, the minimum you may receive, and all stated fees. On a same-asset route, 100 units in and 98.5 out is a 1.5% gap, plus any source fee paid separately. Network traffic and funds available for the route can change the result.
5. Authorize the source transfer. Follow the route’s instructions in your wallet. Some routes first ask for token approval, which gives permission to use that token; others require a send to a deposit address. Check the chain, address, amount, and permission before signing. Never enter your wallet’s recovery phrase.
6. Wait for confirmation. The source transaction must be recorded before the destination payout can finish. Bitcoin blocks average about ten minutes, and a route may require more than one confirmation. Save the transaction ID so you can check its status in a block explorer, a public transaction lookup site.
7. Check the destination wallet. Switch its view to the receiving chain and look for the exact asset. If the payout is confirmed but the balance is hidden, the wallet may need the token added to its display. Check the transaction status before attempting another transfer.

How do you know the transfer is complete?

It is complete when the destination chain shows the expected asset at your receiving address. A completed source transaction proves only that the first part happened. Compare the destination asset and amount with the quote you accepted.

If you plan to use the asset next, you may need the destination chain’s own coin for gas. This is easy to miss when the payout is a token. Check that your wallet shows the asset on the right chain before trying to spend it.

To bridge crypto between blockchains, choose the exact assets and networks, check the quote and receiving address, then authorize the transfer. Verify the result on the destination chain before treating the move as finished.