Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Glossary

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Trustless Bridge

1 min read
Pronunciation
[trust-lis brij]
Analogy
Think of a trustless bridge like sending a notarized document that self-verifies its authenticity at the other end without needing a middleman.
Definition
A cross-chain mechanism that does not require trust in any single operator, relying instead on cryptographic proofs and decentralized verification.
Key Points Intro
Trustless bridges enable secure cross-chain transfers without centralized intermediaries.
Key Points

Verification: uses light-client proofs or multi-signature validation

Decentralization: no single party controls asset transfers

Finality: waits for source-chain finality before minting on destination

Security: depends on consensus assumptions of both chains

Example
A light-client bridge on Polkadot verifies Ethereum block headers on-chain, allowing tokens to be locked on Ethereum and minted on Polkadot without trusted relayers.
Technical Deep Dive
Bridges deploy smart contracts on both chains. The destination contract contains a light-client module that verifies Merkle proofs of source-chain headers. Relayer nodes bundle proofs and submit transactions; the contract checks finality conditions. Challenge periods or fraud proofs may be employed to protect against invalid commitments.
Security Warning
Light-client bridges can fail if the source-chain suffers a 51% attack or unexpected fork.
Caveat
On-chain verification increases gas costs and contract complexity compared to trusted-relayer models.
Related Terms
Relay Bridge
Fraud Proof
Finality

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