Detailed Instructions

Before initiating a bridge transaction, you must have a non-custodial wallet (like MetaMask, Rabby, or WalletConnect) configured for both the source and destination networks. First, ensure your wallet is connected to the source blockchain (e.g., Ethereum Mainnet). You must hold the stablecoin you wish to bridge (e.g., USDC) and enough of the network's native gas token (like ETH) to pay for transaction fees. For example, bridging from Ethereum to Polygon might require 0.01 ETH for gas. Add the destination network (Polygon) to your wallet's network list using the correct RPC endpoint and Chain ID (137 for Polygon).

• Sub-step 1: Open your wallet extension and verify it's connected to the source network (e.g., Ethereum).
• Sub-step 2: Check your wallet balance for the specific stablecoin (e.g., USDC) and the native gas token.
• Sub-step 3: Add the destination network details manually if not preset. For Polygon, you would add RPC URL https://polygon-rpc.com and Chain ID 137.

Tip: Always use official RPC endpoints from the blockchain's documentation to avoid phishing. Ensure you have at least 10-20% more gas than the estimated fee to account for network congestion.

Detailed Instructions

Canonical bridges are operated by the core development teams of the blockchains involved. You must locate the official bridge portal, such as the Polygon PoS Bridge (bridge.polygon.technology) for Ethereum to Polygon, or the Arbitrum Bridge (bridge.arbitrum.io). Never use third-party links from unofficial sources. Once on the correct site, use the connect wallet button to link your Web3 wallet. The interface will typically detect your current network and prompt you to switch if necessary. You will see two network selectors: one for the source (where your funds are) and one for the destination. The interface will show the bridge contract address (e.g., 0xA0c68C638235ee32657e8f720a23ceC1bFc77C77 for Polygon) for verification.

• Sub-step 1: Search for the official bridge URL using the blockchain's official documentation or trusted aggregators like ChainList.
• Sub-step 2: Click "Connect Wallet" and authorize the connection in your wallet pop-up.
• Sub-step 3: Verify the selected networks match your intent (e.g., From: Ethereum, To: Polygon).

Tip: Bookmark the official bridge URLs. Before connecting, check the browser's SSL certificate and URL carefully to avoid impersonation scams.

Detailed Instructions

This step involves two on-chain transactions. First, specify the amount of stablecoin to bridge (e.g., 100 USDC). The bridge will request an ERC-20 approval transaction, granting the bridge contract permission to move your tokens. This is a separate transaction requiring a gas fee. After approval is confirmed, you can initiate the main deposit transaction. This locks your tokens in the source chain's bridge contract and signals the destination chain to mint a canonically wrapped version. The transaction will include a bridge fee, which is often minimal or zero for canonical bridges. Monitor the transaction hash in a block explorer like Etherscan.

javascriptCopy
// Example: Interacting with a bridge contract's deposit function
// This is illustrative; the bridge UI handles this.
// Function signature often resembles:
function depositFor(
    address user,
    address rootToken,
    bytes calldata depositData
) external;

• Sub-step 1: Enter the stablecoin amount and review the exchange rate (should be 1:1 for stablecoins).
• Sub-step 2: Sign the "Appve" transaction in your wallet. Wait for 1-2 confirmations.
• Sub-step 3: Click "Bridge" or "Transfer" and sign the main deposit transaction. Save the Transaction ID.

Tip: Do not close the browser tab until the first transaction is fully confirmed. High gas fees on the source chain are the primary cost.

Detailed Instructions

Bridge transfers are not instantaneous. After your deposit transaction is confirmed on the source chain, you must wait for block finality and the state root to be relayed to the destination chain. This can take from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the networks involved. The canonical bridge's UI usually provides a progress tracker. Once the process is complete, you must switch your wallet network to the destination chain (e.g., Polygon) to see your new tokens. They will be the canonical bridged version (e.g., USDC on Polygon, contract address 0x2791Bca1f2de4661ED88A30C99A7a9449Aa84174). Always verify the token contract address on the destination chain against official lists.

• Sub-step 1: Use the provided transaction hash to monitor progress on the source chain's block explorer.
• Sub-step 2: Switch your wallet to the destination network after the estimated wait time.
• Sub-step 3: Check your wallet balance and add the token contract address manually if it doesn't appear automatically.

Tip: If funds don't appear after a long delay, use the bridge's "Claim" function on the destination chain interface or check its support portal. Never send funds to anyone claiming to help "unstick" your transaction.

Detailed Instructions

Begin by researching and selecting a trusted third-party liquidity bridge such as Stargate, Across, or Synapse. These platforms aggregate liquidity to facilitate asset transfers. Navigate to the bridge's official website and connect your non-custodial Web3 wallet (like MetaMask or WalletConnect). Ensure you are on the correct site to avoid phishing scams. Once connected, the interface will detect your current network and wallet address.

• Sub-step 1: Verify the bridge's security: Check audit reports from firms like CertiK or Quantstamp and review the total value locked (TVL) as a health indicator.
• Sub-step 2: Prepare your wallet: Ensure it holds the stablecoin you wish to bridge and enough native currency (e.g., ETH for gas on Ethereum) to pay transaction fees on the source chain.
• Sub-step 3: Network selection: Use the bridge's UI to select the source blockchain (e.g., Ethereum) and the destination blockchain (e.g., Polygon).

Tip: Bookmark the official bridge URL and consider using a hardware wallet for large transfers to enhance security.

Detailed Instructions

In the bridge interface, select the specific stablecoin you intend to transfer, such as USDC or USDT. Be aware that some bridges support native assets while others use bridged representations. Enter the exact amount you wish to send. The interface will typically display an estimated exchange rate, bridge fee, and estimated arrival time. Crucially, verify the destination receive address. By default, this is your connected wallet address, but you can change it to send to another address if needed.

• Sub-step 1: Amount specification: Enter the amount (e.g., 1000). Note any minimum or maximum transfer limits imposed by the bridge.
• Sub-step 2: Fee review: Examine the breakdown of costs, which may include a bridge protocol fee and an estimated destination chain gas fee.
• Sub-step 3: Recipient address confirmation: Double-check the destination address. For most users, leaving it as the connected wallet's address on the destination chain is correct. An example destination address format is 0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e90d1f713aF.

Tip: Perform a small test transaction first to verify the entire process before moving large sums.

Detailed Instructions

This step involves two on-chain transactions. First, you must grant the bridge's smart contract spending approval for your stablecoins. This is a standard ERC-20 allowance operation. After approving, you initiate the main bridge deposit transaction. Your wallet (e.g., MetaMask) will prompt you to confirm each transaction, showing the expected gas fee in the native token of the source chain.

• Sub-step 1: Token approval: Click "Approve USDC" or similar. Your wallet will pop up. Confirm the transaction. You can check the approval status on a block explorer.
• Sub-step 2: Initiate bridge: Click "Bridge," "Transfer," or "Send." Review the transaction details in your wallet pop-up carefully.
• Sub-step 3: Transaction confirmation: Wait for the deposit transaction to be confirmed on the source chain. The bridge UI will update, providing a transaction hash like 0xabc123.... Save this for tracking.

Tip: To save on future gas, after the first approval, you can approve an infinite amount (via type(uint256).max), but understand the associated smart contract risk.

javascriptCopy
// Example ERC-20 approval call data
approve(
  spender: '0xBridgeContractAddress',
  amount: 1000000000 // Amount in token's smallest unit
)

Detailed Instructions

After your source transaction confirms, the bridge's relayers or liquidity providers will work to fulfill the transfer on the destination chain. This process can take from a few minutes to several hours depending on network congestion and the bridge's design. Use the provided transaction hash or the bridge's dashboard to monitor progress. Some bridges require a final "claim" transaction on the destination chain, while others deliver funds automatically.

• Sub-step 1: Monitoring: Use the bridge's progress tracker or paste your source TX hash into a cross-chain explorer like LayerZero Scan or the destination chain's block explorer (e.g., Polygonscan).
• Sub-step 2: Claiming (if required): If the bridge uses a "lock-and-mint" model, you may need to sign a final transaction on the destination chain to mint the bridged tokens. Your wallet will prompt you to pay a small gas fee in the destination chain's native token (e.g., MATIC on Polygon).
• Sub-step 3: Verification: Once complete, check your wallet balance on the destination network. The stablecoin should appear, often as a bridged version (e.g., USDC.e on Avalanche).

Tip: If funds do not arrive within the estimated time, check the bridge's support channel or status page with your transaction ID. Do not respond to unsolicited DMs offering help.

bashCopy
# Example command to check a transaction on Polygonscan via CLI (conceptual)
curl 'https://api.polygonscan.com/api?module=transaction&action=getstatus&txhash=0xYourTxHash&apikey=YourApiKey'