Detailed Instructions

Official Source Verification is critical. Never use a contract address from an unofficial source like social media or a random blog post. Always retrieve the contract address from the official project documentation or website. For example, the official Arbitrum bridge contract on Ethereum mainnet is 0x8315177aB297bA92A06054cE80a67Ed4DBd7ed3a. Cross-reference this address on a block explorer like Etherscan to confirm its legitimacy and check for a verification badge.

• Sub-step 1: Navigate to the official project documentation. For layer-2s or cross-chain protocols, this is typically found under 'Bridge' or 'Getting Started' sections.
• Sub-step 2: Copy the contract address directly from the source code or verified link on the docs. Do not manually type it.
• Sub-step 3: Paste the address into the relevant block explorer. Check the 'Contract' tab to ensure the code is verified and the contract name matches the official bridge (e.g., 'Arbitrum: L1 Gateway Router').

Tip: Bookmark the official documentation page for your most-used bridges to avoid phishing sites that appear in search results.

Detailed Instructions

Network and Address Validation prevents the most common and costly user errors. A transaction sent to the wrong network is often irrecoverable. Before initiating any bridge transaction, double-check that you have selected the correct source and destination chains in the bridge interface. Furthermore, verify that the destination address (your wallet on the target chain) is correct. Most bridges automatically use the same address, but some advanced features may allow custom recipients.

• Sub-step 1: Visually confirm the source and destination network names and icons in the bridge UI. For example, from 'Ethereum' to 'Arbitrum One'.
• Sub-step 2: Check the destination address field. If it's editable, ensure it matches your wallet's address on the target chain exactly. You can find this by connecting your wallet to the target network in your wallet extension.
• Sub-step 3: Perform a small test transaction. If bridging a significant amount, first send a minimal amount (e.g., 0.001 ETH) to confirm the process works end-to-end before committing large sums.

Tip: Use wallet address book features or ENS/domain names for your own addresses to reduce copy-paste errors.

Detailed Instructions

Transaction Parameter Scrutiny protects you from excessive fees and failed transactions. Before signing, the bridge interface will present a summary. Pay close attention to the bridge fee, estimated gas cost on both source and destination chains, and the minimum received amount (which accounts for slippage). Understanding these values ensures you are not overpaying and sets correct expectations for the final amount.

• Sub-step 1: Locate and note all fee breakdowns. This often includes a protocol bridge fee and two network gas estimates. Ensure you have enough native token (e.g., ETH for Ethereum) to cover the source chain gas.
• Sub-step 2: Check the slippage tolerance or minimum output. A very high slippage setting (e.g., >5%) could result in a poor exchange rate. For stablecoin bridges, this should typically be 0.1-0.5%.
• Sub-step 3: Review the estimated completion time. Some bridges may take 10-20 minutes, while others using optimistic rollups can take 7 days for full withdrawal. Plan accordingly.

Tip: For large transactions, consider splitting them into smaller batches to manage risk and potentially get better average rates.

Detailed Instructions

Secure Signing Context is your final defense against malicious transactions. A bridge interaction often requires multiple signatures—one to approve the token spend and another to initiate the bridge. Always verify the details in your wallet's pop-up signing request. Malicious sites can spoof interfaces, but they cannot alter the data in your wallet's native signing window.

• Sub-step 1: Inspect the wallet connection. Ensure you are connected to the correct wallet and network before starting. Disconnect from any unused dApps.
• Sub-step 2: Read the signing request details carefully. Your wallet (e.g., MetaMask) will show the contract address you are interacting with and the function being called, like depositETH or swapAndBridge. Verify these match the official bridge.
• Sub-step 3: Never sign an 'increase allowance' transaction to an infinite amount. Instead, approve only the exact amount you intend to bridge. You can set a custom spend limit in the approval transaction.

codeCopy
// A safe, specific approval transaction data example
// Function: approve(spender, amount)
// spender: 0x8315177aB297bA92A06054cE80a67Ed4DBd7ed3a (Official Bridge)
// amount: 1000000000000000000 (1 ETH in wei)

Tip: Use a hardware wallet for all bridge transactions involving substantial value, as it requires physical confirmation.

Detailed Instructions

Bridge verification is your first line of defense. Only use bridges with a strong, audited reputation. Check the official project website and social channels to ensure you are not on a phishing site. Manually verify the destination chain contract address on a block explorer; never copy it from an untrusted source. For example, the official Wormhole bridge portal is portalbridge.com.

• Sub-step 1: Search for the bridge's official links via its verified Twitter or GitHub repository.
• Sub-step 2: On the bridge interface, locate the receiving chain's contract address. Cross-reference this address with the one listed in the project's official documentation.
• Sub-step 3: Use a block explorer like Etherscan or Solscan to confirm the contract is legitimate and has significant value locked.

Tip: Bookmark the official bridge URL to avoid search engine scams. A small test transaction is always recommended.

Detailed Instructions

Properly configuring your transaction gas fees and slippage tolerance is critical. On Ethereum, use a gas tracker to set a competitive base fee and priority fee to avoid a stuck transaction. For bridges, a slippage setting that is too high can lead to significant front-running losses, while too low can cause the transaction to fail. Always set a transaction deadline (e.g., 20-30 minutes) so a pending transaction expires if network conditions worsen.

• Sub-step 1: Check current network congestion and set gas fees 10-15% above the estimated average.
• Sub-step 2: Set slippage to a reasonable level for the asset (e.g., 0.5% for stablecoins, 1-3% for volatile assets). Avoid the 'auto' setting if it's excessively high.
• Sub-step 3: Explicitly set a deadline parameter in the bridge UI or wallet confirmation. In a CLI, it might look like --deadline 1800 for a 30-minute limit.

Tip: Use wallet features like 'Advanced Gas' controls or 'Speed Up' for Ethereum transactions if they get stuck.

Detailed Instructions

After confirming all details, sign the transaction in your wallet. Immediately copy the transaction hash (TXID) from the confirmation pop-up or your wallet's activity tab. Use this hash to track the transaction on the source chain's block explorer. The bridge process typically involves two steps: your funds are locked on the source chain, and then a relayer mints them on the destination chain. You must monitor both.

• Sub-step 1: Paste your TXID into a block explorer (e.g., https://etherscan.io/tx/0x...) to confirm it is confirmed and successful.
• Sub-step 2: Navigate to the bridge's 'Transaction History' or 'Status' page and input your TXID or wallet address to track the bridging progress.
• Sub-step 3: Once the bridge indicates completion, check your destination wallet address on its block explorer (e.g., https://arbiscan.io/address/0x...) to confirm the funds have arrived.

Tip: Bridges can take minutes to hours. Do not initiate a second 'recovery' transaction unless you are certain the first one has definitively failed.

Detailed Instructions

Once funds arrive, your work isn't done. You must verify the received token contract on the destination chain. Bridged assets are often wrapped tokens (e.g., USDC.e on Avalanche) with a different contract address than the native asset. Interacting with a fake token can drain your wallet. Also, consider moving funds to a hardware wallet or a new address for enhanced security after a large bridge.

• Sub-step 1: Click on the token in your wallet (e.g., MetaMask) and 'View on block explorer'. Verify the contract address matches the official bridged token address from the bridge's docs.
• Sub-step 2: If you plan to hold, transfer the assets to a secure cold storage address that was not used for the bridging transaction.
• Sub-step 3: Revoke any unnecessary token approvals you may have granted to the bridge contract during the process. You can use a service like Revoke.cash with your wallet address: https://revoke.cash/address/0xYourAddress.

Tip: Bookmark the correct token addresses for your destination chains. A common scam is fake tokens with similar names airdropped to your address.