How to Bridge to Avalanche (AVAX)

Bridging Assets to Avalanche

To bridge assets to Avalanche, you can use the Core application, which is the official bridge by Ava Labs. Alternatively, you can opt for third-party bridges like Stargate Finance, where key considerations are liquidity available and the range of tokens available. For convenience, you may choose to use MetaMask, where you can bridge assets from the comfort of your MetaMask wallet, although that includes a small additional fee.

Key Takeaways

• Avalanche is an EVM-compatible blockchain network. It runs on the POS consensus algorithm and features the subnet technology.

• Using bridges, asset owners can move their crypto assets between the network and other blockchain networks including non-EVM networks like Solana.

• When choosing a bridge, key considerations are liquidity, fees, and tokens supported, although it is also important to do your own research on the bridge's security before committing your funds.

• The Avalanche project runs an official bridge, although you can also use other bridging facilities like Stargate Finance, Synapse, and Jumper.

Avalanche network has seen a spike in usage statistics, with data from Artemis showing a four-month high in daily transactions. TVL on the network has also grown by over $10 million between September and October. A significant portion of this growth is being attributed to the launch of Stars Arena, a decentralized social finance application on the Avalanche blockchain. 

Avalanche is an EVM-compatible blockchain with a focus on improving transaction speed and economics, relative to Ethereum. It pursues scalability and efficiency through Subnets, which are sovereign networks that define its own membership and tokenomics rules. A Subnet can validate multiple blockchains, but a blockchain can only be validated by one Subnet. 

If you’re looking to move your crypto assets to the Avalanche network, you’ll likely need to use either decentralized bridges or swap tokens using a centralized exchange. 

What Bridge Should I Use to Bridge to Avalanche?

Having reviewed the different Available bridges for moving your asset to the Avalanche network, I’d recommend the bridge facility provided by Core on the basis of affiliation with the Avalanche team. Core also offers rebates in the form of AVAX airdrops for bridge transactions worth above $75 in any asset. 

However, if you're looking to bridge a wider range of assets, you can also consider Stargate Finance, which is one of the largest bridges by TVL and offers cross-chain asset swaps. It is particularly useful for users who are looking to swap or bridge a large volume of assets, due to its liquidity depth. Also, unlike traditional bridges which utilize siloed pools for distinct tokens where each chain needs to maintain its own liquidity pool, Stargate uses unified liquidity pools and rebalancing fees to ensure that pools are always filled. That said, you can also check on the fees across different bridging options before deciding which bridge to use. 

Now, let’s dive into the different decentralized bridges and how you can bridge assets to Avalanche. 

Official AVAX Bridge

The Core application is released by Ava Labs, the same company that created the Avalanche blockchain. Core is a multi-purpose application with extensive support for the Avalanche network. Core features utilities such as a custodial wallet for holding AVAX and other Avalanche tokens, as well as an interface for other operations including validators staking and delegating to validators on the Avalanche network. 

It also features a selection of tools and decentralized applications on the Avalanche network. Using the Core application, which is available on mobile and browser extensions, you can swap your token and also bridge between Avalanche and other networks, including Ethereum and Bitcoin networks.

Here’s how you can use the Core application to bridge to the Avalanche network.

You can download the Core extension on your device and set up an Avalanche wallet, although the platform works just fine with your MetaMask or any other supported wallets. You can also download the mobile application from your device’s application store.

1. Visit the Core app and click Connect Wallet and select your wallet provider.

2. Navigate to the Portfolio section.

3. Click Bridge from the options on the right corner of your screen

4. Set the network you wish to bridge to Avalanche from.

If you are using MetaMask, you will need to switch to the Ethereum network if you are bridging for Ethereum to Avalanche. Follow the prompt from your wallet to switch networks.

If you're looking to bridge from the Bitcoin network to Avalanche, it is only available on the Core extension.

5. Now you have set up your bridging destination, select the asset you wish to bridge.

6. Enter the amount, and click Bridge Tokens to continue.

Once this is completed the bridged USDC will arrive in your wallet when the transaction is confirmed on both networks.

Apart from the Core app bridge, you can also use these bridges to move your crypto assets to the Avalanche network.

Stargate Finance

Stargate Finance is a bridging platform developed using LayerZero’s interoperability technology, enabling asset owners to move crypto assets across chains in their original form with assured finality. By design, Stargate uses a unified pool system to serve transfer requests across supported chains. Liquidity providers stake their assets on Stargate’s single-asset pool and receive staking rewards in stablecoins, which are generated from fees paid by users bridging assets on the platform.

Stargate is the biggest cross-chain bridge by TVL and the bridge currently supports about 8 networks including Layer 2 scaling solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism. The omnichain technology provides a layer for supported tokens to seamlessly run and move across other chains. Stargate Finance also offers cross-chain swaps as well. Users can send an asset from the source network and receive and receive another asset on the target chain.

Here’s how you can bridge to the Avalanche network with Stargate Finance.

1. Visit Stargate Finance. Click Connect Wallet to connect your wallet to the protocol.

2. Click Transfer from the top menu to navigate to the bridge.

3. Set the direction of your transfer. Choose the source chain and destination chain, as well as the assets you are looking to bridge.

Note that transfer support for some assets is not available on the Avalanche network. You can also opt to receive a different asset on the destination network where supported.

4. Once you are done setting up the network and asset, enter the amount of the selected asset you wish to bridge.

6. Review the transaction details and click Transfer to complete.

Synapse Protocol

Synapse Protocol operates via the Synapse Interchain Network (SIN). SIN is an optimistic Proof-of-Stake network developed based on the optimistic Layer 2 scaling solution for the Ethereum network. 

Synapse claims to offer a modularly secure, trustless, and permissionless medium for transferring crypto assets between different blockchain networks. It claims that the modular security system creates an avenue for a flexible security system tailored to each blockchain network. Synapse Protocol claims that its bridge was developed by using this technology to create unified liquidity pools and a connectivity system for different blockchains.

The Synapse Protocol bridge supports over 19 blockchain networks including Avalanche, Ethereum, and Layer 2 networks. it claims that over $42 billion worth of crypto assets have been moved across these networks via its bridge.

Here’s how to bridge to the Avalanche network using the Synapse Protocol bridge.

1. Visit the Synapse Protocol platform and click Connect Wallet to connect your wallet to the protocol.

2. Click Enter Bridge to navigate to the bridge interface.

3. Set up the direction of your bridge by selecting the source network and the destination chain. Click on Switch Network from the top right corner to switch to the source network if needed.

4. Select the asset you wish to bridge and enter an amount.

5. Click Approve [Asset] to enable the protocol to use the asset.

6. Complete the bridging to receive the bridged asset on your Avalanche wallet.

Jumper Exchange

Jumper defines itself as a multi-chain liquidity aggregator with support for about 19 different blockchain networks, 33 decentralized exchanges, and 14 bridges according to information from the official website. 

Jumper claims to tap into supported bridges and package access to these bridges into a single-point API that can be utilized by projects to develop a one-stop bridge on their platform. This is powered by LI.FI, which is able to create a uniform liquidity system for cross-chains through a data mesh of cross-chain liquidity sources, including DEXs, bridges, and lending protocols.

One advantage of using Jumper is that it provides a one-stop solution to bridge and swap tokens at once, where Jumper Exchange maps out the route needed to swap from ETH to AVAX.

Now, let’s look at how to bridge to Avalanche with Jumper Exchange.

1. Visit Jumper.exchange and click Connect Wallet from the top right corner of your screen.

2. Select your wallet provider and follow the prompts to connect your wallet to the platform.

3. Click From to set the network you are bridging from and the crypto asset you wish to bridge.

4. For the destination chain, you can choose to receive an asset different from the one you are bridging from the source network. Click on the To section to set this up.

5. Click Exchange to continue.

6. Click Review Bridge to get the transaction details.

7. Select your preferred bridge options.

8. Click Start Bridging to complete the operation.

Bridge to Avalanche With MetaMask

The MetaMask bridge is also a solid choice for its affiliation with the MetaMask wallet and the ease of use, as you never have to leave the MetaMask platform, although it comes with a small additional fee and options are limited.

You can bridge between networks using the MetaMask bridge feature. The MetaMask bridge executes asset transfers between networks by connecting to other bridges like an exchange or bridge aggregator. The MetaMask bridge supports six networks at the time of writing: Ethereum, Avalanche, BSC, and Polygon networks and Layer 2 networks Optimism and Arbitrum. Supported assets include Ethereum, DAI, USDT, and USDC.

Here’s how to bridge to the Avalanche network using the MetaMask bridge.

1. Click Bridge from your MetaMask wallet dashboard.

2. On the platform, set up the direction you wish to bridge your asset. Select the Source chain in the From this network section and the destination chain in the To this network section. 

3. Select the asset you wish to bridge and set the amount as well. You can set a different route for your bridge. Click Choose a different quote from the right corner to see available options.

4. Approve the selected token for use.

Do note that using MetaMask incurs a 0.875% MetaMask fee.

Using Centralized Exchanges to Swap Assets

If you are looking to swap assets across chains, you can also consider centralized exchanges. Some centralized exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, Kucoin, etc. support withdrawals across multiple networks. You can utilize this feature to deposit from one network and withdraw from another.

Alternatively, you can also purchase the asset directly from the exchange and deposit to a destination network. Centralized exchanges serve in situations where the bridging fees are high for the asset or where it fits users’ convenience.

Final Thoughts

The Avalanche blockchain offers a competitive transaction economy and experience. The relatively cheaper transaction fees and faster transaction speed could be leveraged by cryptocurrency investors. Bridges make this possible and open up pathways for even more interactions between the network and other external networks. In the course of this article, we have explored available bridging facilities for asset transfers between Avalanche and other EVM and non-EVM networks. 

This guide covers the basic operations on these platforms and is not exhaustive of the operations that can be carried out on these platforms. regardless of the direction you wish to bridge your assets, the procedures are similar. However, for operations that go beyond the scope of the article, ensure that you understand the procedures and what they entail. If you’re using MetaMask as your wallet to connect to these networks, you can use MetaMask’s transaction insights Snaps to see the likely outcome of your transaction. 

Also, note that this article is only for educational purposes and not financial advice. Featured bridges only serve to guide users through the basic process and not as a form of recommendation. ‘Recommended’ bridges are only on the basis of favorable bridging conditions like security of assets, charges, and efficiency. Bridges have their own security risk and risk-management strategies are advised.

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Joel Agbo

Joel is deeply interested in the technologies behind cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks. In his over 7 years of involvement in the space, he helps startups build a stronger internet presence through written content. Follow the author on Twitter @agboifesinachi