In Web3, a bridge is a protocol that allows digital assets or data to move between different blockchains.

When you bridge a token, the original asset is locked on its home chain, and a wrapped representation (a new version) is minted on the destination chain. When you send it back, the wrapped version is burned, and the original is released.

Bridges expand liquidity and interoperability across ecosystems, allowing users to access DeFi opportunities on multiple chains. However, they also depend on the security of the smart contracts and validators that hold the locked assets—making bridge design a critical part of the cross-chain ecosystem.