Metamask has introduced new cross-chain bridges, made possible through the implementation of the Connext protocol.
Users who want to move tokens across chains can now select Connext Network Bridges from Metamask’s Bridge Aggregator.
From Metamask Bridge, users can now see Connext quotes for bridge requests. Connections through Ethereum Mainnet, Polygon, BNB Chain, Optimism and Arbitrum are all included.
First launched in November 2022, Metamask Bridges allows users to perform cross-chain trading directly from their wallets.
Besides Connext, participating bridge providers include Hop, Celer cBridge, and Polygon. When users want to trade tokens on one blockchain for their equivalents on another, they receive quotes from every available bridge. They can then choose their preferred option.
As multi- and cross-chain technologies have exploded in recent years, bridging solutions such as those provided by Connext have become essential enabling technologies. But unfortunately, a series of high profile hacks have exposed security vulnerabilities in many bridges.
Metamask’s solution to the security challenges faced by cross-chain bridges is to offer its users a choice of bridge vendors. In addition to verifying the different technologies available, the company also gives users more choice as to whom to trust by offering different options.
Connext sees an increase in cross-chain activity
He might not be the most established player in the space. But in a short time, Connext has attracted a notable community of users and developers.
In a press release announcing the close of a US$7.5 million funding round that values the company at $250 million, Connext said more than 1.2 million cross-chain transactions have passed through its network.
Since the launch of its V2 in February, the network has grown rapidly. Alongside Metamask, Connext now counts Planet IX and DODO among companies building with its technology.
Decentralized exchanges embrace bridges
With a growing range of blockchain sharding solutions now available, wallet providers aren’t the only ones exploring different bridging options.
While exploring its multi-chain possibilities, decentralized exchange Uniswap has also investigated different bridging solutions. And the Uniswap Foundation recently released a report that approves two bridge vendors for potential cross-chain deployments.
The Uniswap Bridge Review Board was created following heated debate among stakeholders in the run-up to the rollout of the exchange on the BNB channel.
The proposal to do so using Wormhole eventually passed, but not with a strong majority. There were about 56,000 votes for against, about 28,000 against.
As the committee’s report explains, “The discussion leading up to the vote made it clear that cross-chain messaging and the protocols that enable it occupy a nascent and complex design space.”
Uniswap Approves Wormhole and Axelar Bridges
After evaluating the merits of the various bridging solutions, the dedicated committee concluded that “Wormhole and Axelar bridges are currently suitable for DAO use [in] future cross-chain deployments.
However, he advises the community to keep reviewing them and other bridge vendors on an ongoing basis.
Finally, other decentralized exchanges, such as Pancakeswap, are also adopting multi-chain deployments. And going forward, cross-chain transport and messaging protocols are increasingly critical to the DeFi ecosystem.
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