Across Bridge is a cross-chain bridge built for one common problem: moving crypto from one chain to another without waiting around, guessing which route is safe, or paying more than you meant to. If you have assets on Ethereum but need them on Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, Polygon, zkSync, or another supported L2, a bridge is the tool that moves value between those networks.

The tricky part is that blockchains do not naturally talk to each other. Ethereum cannot simply hand tokens to Base the way one bank app sends money to another bank. A bridge coordinates that movement, checks that the source-chain deposit happened, and makes assets available on the destination chain.

Across Bridge is different from a traditional lock-and-mint bridge because it uses an intents-based design. In plain English, you say what you want: “I have this token on this source chain, and I want it on that destination chain.” Relayers compete or act to fill that request quickly on the destination side, then get reimbursed later through optimistic settlement. That is why the transfer can feel fast even though final settlement behind the scenes takes longer.

What You'll Need Before Using Across Bridge

Before you bridge, get the basics right. Most expensive bridge mistakes are not advanced technical failures. They are simple setup errors.

You will need:

• A non-custodial wallet such as MetaMask.
• Funds on the source chain, such as Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, or zkSync.
• The correct destination chain added or available in your wallet.
• The token you want to bridge.
• A little crypto for gas fees on the source chain, and sometimes funds on the destination chain for follow-up activity.
• A clear reason for bridging, such as using an app, providing liquidity, claiming funds, or moving assets to a cheaper L2.

Do not bridge just because a route looks popular. Bridge because you know where the funds need to arrive and what you plan to do after they land.

How Cross-Chain Transfers Work

A normal crypto transfer stays inside one blockchain. You send ETH from one Ethereum address to another Ethereum address, and the Ethereum network records that transaction.

A cross-chain transfer is different. The asset starts on one network and ends up represented or delivered on another. Older bridge designs often use a lock-and-mint model: tokens are locked on the source chain, and a related token is minted or released on the destination chain. Canonical bridges, especially those connected to L2 ecosystems, may prioritize security and official settlement paths, but they can be slower or less convenient depending on the route.

Across Bridge uses intents-based bridging instead. The user creates an intent: the desired outcome of the transfer. A relayer fills the user on the destination chain using available liquidity. Later, the protocol verifies and reimburses the relayer after optimistic settlement.

That sequence matters:

• You deposit on the source chain.