See it as a translator between two different languages. When you send your token to the bridge, it doesn’t literally move it to the new blockchain. Instead, the original token gets locked on its native chain, and a wrapped version — basically a copy — is created on the destination chain. So, if you bridge ETH from Ethereum to BNB Chain, your ETH gets locked while you receive wrapped ETH (wETH) on BNB.

It’s not rocket science, but it’s smart engineering. The bridge keeps track of what’s locked and minted so that when you’re ready to move back, it burns the wrapped token and releases your original. Whereas this sounds simple, the real challenge is maintaining trust and security between both chains. Some bridges rely on centralized custodians, while others use smart contracts and decentralized validators to ensure transparency.

Bridging is crucial for interoperability — the ability of different blockchains to communicate and share value. It’s what allows DeFi, NFTs, and cross-chain swaps to exist seamlessly. But it’s also a high-risk zone; poor coding or weak security can lead to massive hacks.

In short, crypto bridges are the unsung heroes of blockchain connectivity, making sure digital assets can flow freely across networks.