Wormhole bridge is a message-passing protocol that links high-value blockchains and promotes ecosystem interoperability. The messaging layer is safeguarded by 19 guardians, and enables cross-chain communication between tokens, NFTs, dApps, oracles, governance decisions, and more. The bridge offers significant concessions for developers and users, including lowered transaction costs, cross-chain access, and token conversion capabilities.

The wormhole network consists of hand-picked, highly trusted validator nodes that monitor activity on each of the chains. These are known as ‘guardians’ and include some of the largest staking providers in the world as well as Certus One, the developer behind wormhole. When a transfer is requested, the guardians confirm it by signing a transaction on their chain. They then lock the corresponding amount of the target chain’s native tokens in a smart contract on their blockchain. This is called the 'wrapping' of the tokens. The wrapped tokens are then released when the transfer is finalized on the target chain.

Token transfers are completed in just seconds, and there is a very low failure rate. The wormhole network is also secure and uses numerous security measures to protect user funds. In addition, it is subject to regular audits and a $10 million bug bounty (via Immunefi) to guarantee that vulnerabilities are reduced to the lowest possible level.

Aside from speed and reliability, a big reason why wormhole bridge has become such a popular choice for blockchain developers is its ability to link chains that wouldn’t otherwise be compatible. The wormhole bridge is currently capable of transferring assets between 21 blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, Aptos, Sui, Binance Smart Chain, Fantom, Polygon, Oasis, and many others.

As the number of dApps and other projects using wormhole continues to grow, so does its popularity among investors. Jump Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in emerging cryptocurrency companies, recently announced that it had invested $320 million into the wormhole project, demonstrating its conviction in the potential of this new technology.

The wormhole bridge is powered by the Guardian Network, which is made up of a group of hand-picked validator nodes that monitor activities on each of the connected blockchains. The guardians are paid a fee in the native tokens of the network they’re monitoring in exchange for their services. The Guardians care about their reputation and will take action if they notice any malicious behaviour, such as collusion. Guardians are not bonded or slashed, so they have no incentive to collude with each other and steal user funds.

Aside from the Guardian Network, the wormhole also uses relayers to ensure that VAAs reach their destination chains. Specialized relayers handle VAAs for a specific protocol or xDapp, which results in lower gas costs for those protocols. Generic relayers, on the other hand, deliver any message requested on-chain. The wormhole also has plans to introduce a dApp that will allow it to use the Ethereum blockchain as its backend, a move which will help reduce the number of steps required for users to transfer their assets across networks.

Wormhole bridge is a message-passing protocol that links high-value blockchains and promotes ecosystem interoperability. The messaging layer is safeguarded by 19 guardians, and enables cross-chain communication between tokens, NFTs, dApps, oracles, governance decisions, and more. The bridge offers significant concessions for developers and users, including lowered transaction costs, cross-chain access, and token conversion capabilities.

The wormhole network consists of hand-picked, highly trusted validator nodes that monitor activity on each of the chains. These are known as ‘guardians’ and include some of the largest staking providers in the world as well as Certus One, the developer behind wormhole. When a transfer is requested, the guardians confirm it by signing a transaction on their chain. They then lock the corresponding amount of the target chain’s native tokens in a smart contract on their blockchain. This is called the 'wrapping' of the tokens. The wrapped tokens are then released when the transfer is finalized on the target chain.

Token transfers are completed in just seconds, and there is a very low failure rate. The wormhole network is also secure and uses numerous security measures to protect user funds. In addition, it is subject to regular audits and a $10 million bug bounty (via Immunefi) to guarantee that vulnerabilities are reduced to the lowest possible level.

Aside from speed and reliability, a big reason why wormhole bridge has become such a popular choice for blockchain developers is its ability to link chains that wouldn’t otherwise be compatible. The wormhole bridge is currently capable of transferring assets between 21 blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, Aptos, Sui, Binance Smart Chain, Fantom, Polygon, Oasis, and many others.

As the number of dApps and other projects using wormhole continues to grow, so does its popularity among investors. Jump Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in emerging cryptocurrency companies, recently announced that it had invested $320 million into the wormhole project, demonstrating its conviction in the potential of this new technology.

The wormhole bridge is powered by the Guardian Network, which is made up of a group of hand-picked validator nodes that monitor activities on each of the connected blockchains. The guardians are paid a fee in the native tokens of the network they’re monitoring in exchange for their services. The Guardians care about their reputation and will take action if they notice any malicious behaviour, such as collusion. Guardians are not bonded or slashed, so they have no incentive to collude with each other and steal user funds.

Aside from the Guardian Network, the wormhole also uses relayers to ensure that VAAs reach their destination chains. Specialized relayers handle VAAs for a specific protocol or xDapp, which results in lower gas costs for those protocols. Generic relayers, on the other hand, deliver any message requested on-chain. The wormhole also has plans to introduce a dApp that will allow it to use the Ethereum blockchain as its backend, a move which will help reduce the number of steps required for users to transfer their assets across networks.