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Discover the Top 10 Cross-Chain Bridges in 2025 powering blockchain interoperability, token transfers, and DeFi connectivity.
Author: Akshat Thakur
Cross-chain bridges are the backbone of blockchain interoperability. The Top 10 Cross-Chain Bridges in 2025 are helping users transfer tokens, data, and smart contracts across Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, BNB Chain, and more.
Without them, Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, BNB Chain, and others would remain isolated silos, each competing for liquidity and users. With them, we get a truly multi-chain future.
This article explores what cross-chain bridges are, why interoperability matters so much for blockchain’s growth, and the top 10 bridges in 2025 that are shaping DeFi.
Cross-chain bridges act like digital highways between blockchain networks. They lock assets on one chain and mint wrapped or synthetic versions on another, letting users move value seamlessly. Some bridges are one-way, but most major ones today are bi-directional, supporting back-and-forth transfers.
They are more than just token transfer portals. Bridges also allow dApps to interact across chains, give developers access to liquidity in new ecosystems, and let users benefit from lower fees or faster transaction speeds elsewhere. In short, bridges expand the possibilities of blockchain by breaking down barriers.
Web3 isn’t going to be dominated by a single chain. Ethereum is rich in developers, Solana is fast, Avalanche is cheap, Cosmos is modular, and Bitcoin is secure. Each has its strengths. But without interoperability, users would be forced to choose just one and remain locked in.
Cross-chain bridges solve this by letting liquidity and users flow wherever opportunities exist. Investors can chase yields across chains, developers can build dApps that span multiple ecosystems, and businesses can access global liquidity.
In this guide, we’ll explore the Top 10 Cross-Chain Bridges that are driving DeFi adoption and making multi-chain systems more efficient.
Portal is one of the biggest multi-chain bridges, originally launched on Solana and Ethereum but now connecting seven major networks. It powers liquidity movement across Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, and more.
Its scale, low cost, and broad integrations make it a core part of the DeFi landscape.
Binance Bridge is a straightforward tool to move assets between Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain (BSC), along with select others like DOT and XRP. It’s free to use aside from gas fees and doesn’t require a Binance account.
Its ease of use makes it a favorite for retail users entering BSC.
The Avalanche Bridge connects Avalanche and Ethereum, supporting both ERC-20 tokens and NFTs. It relies on relayers who validate transfers via a voting process for extra security.
It is one of the safest and most trusted ways to bring assets onto Avalanche.
The Wrap Protocol connects Ethereum and Tezos, letting users bring ERC-20 and ERC-721 tokens into Tezos’s FA2 format. It expands Tezos by importing liquidity and NFTs.
This bridge makes Tezos more accessible and relevant within DeFi and NFT markets.
Synapse is both a cross-chain bridge and a stablecoin AMM, letting users move assets and swap stablecoins across networks like Arbitrum, Polygon, BNB Chain, and Avalanche.
It has quickly become a backbone for liquidity movement in stablecoins.
Looking at the first half of our list, it’s clear the Top 10 Cross-Chain Bridges don’t just move tokens they unlock liquidity, enable cross-chain dApps, and expand the DeFi ecosystem.
While bridges unlock interoperability, they’ve also been responsible for some of crypto’s biggest hacks. Wormhole lost $325M, Ronin $625M, and Poly Network over $600M. Bridges are complex systems, connecting chains with very different languages and consensus rules. This complexity creates vulnerabilities.
The industry is now working toward safer designs using validator networks, multi-party computation, and zero-knowledge proofs. But users must remain cautious: bridges are essential, but they’re also prime attack targets.
SmartBCH is an Ethereum-compatible sidechain for Bitcoin Cash, and its bridge lets users instantly convert BCH into SmartBCH for DeFi.
Though niche, it shows how older chains like BCH can join the DeFi world.
AnySwap powers asset transfers between Ethereum, Fantom, Avalanche, and BNB Chain. It relies on liquidity pools to facilitate swaps.
It was central to Fantom’s DeFi expansion.
Cosmos’s Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol is one of the most advanced interoperability systems. It connects dozens of blockchains in the Cosmos ecosystem and beyond.
Cosmos pioneered the vision of an “Internet of Blockchains.”
Polygon’s Proof-of-Stake bridge connects Ethereum and Polygon, supporting both ERC-20 and ERC-721 tokens. Billions in assets have been bridged since launch.
It remains one of the busiest and most important bridges today.
Poly Network connects over 20 blockchains and supports token and contract transfers. Despite its $600M hack in 2021, it remains active.
Poly Network illustrates both the promise and the risks of interoperability.
Cross-chain bridges are the backbone of blockchain interoperability. They break down silos, unlock liquidity, and allow developers to build dApps that span multiple chains. Without them, DeFi would be far more fragmented. From Portal and Binance Bridge to Cosmos IBC and Polygon PoS Bridge, each has carved a role in connecting ecosystems.
But bridges are also crypto’s weak point. Some of the largest hacks in history came through them, and their complexity makes them difficult to secure. That’s why new designs, validator models, and cryptographic solutions are so important. Security will define the next generation of bridges.
Looking ahead, bridges won’t just move tokens. They will enable cross-chain data sharing, governance, and identity systems, creating a truly unified blockchain ecosystem. In short, bridges are not just tools of today—they’re the foundation of Web3’s future.
