Avax Bridge Bridge FAQ

Avax Bridge Bridge is a decentralized, non-custodial cross-chain bridge that lets you move digital assets between Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the Avalanche network quickly and securely. Developed by Ava Labs and integrated directly into the Core wallet ecosystem, Avax Bridge Bridge provides one of the most trusted and widely used bridging solutions in the blockchain space.

Unlike centralized exchanges, Avax Bridge Bridge operates through smart contracts and cryptographic proofs, ensuring that you always remain in control of your funds throughout the transfer process. There is no intermediary holding your assets at any point during the bridge.

The bridge is accessible through the Core web application at core.app/bridge and is compatible with the Core browser extension and mobile wallet.

Using Avax Bridge Bridge is straightforward. Follow these steps to transfer your assets:

• Step 1: Visit the Avax Bridge Bridge at core.app/bridge and connect your wallet (Core Wallet, MetaMask, or another compatible wallet).
• Step 2: Select the source network (e.g., Ethereum) and the destination network (e.g., Avalanche C-Chain).
• Step 3: Choose the token you wish to bridge and enter the amount.
• Step 4: Review the estimated fees and transfer time displayed on screen.
• Step 5: Confirm the transaction in your wallet and wait for the bridge to complete the transfer.

Most transfers complete within a few minutes. You will receive a confirmation and can track the status of your transfer directly in the Avax Bridge interface.

Avax Bridge Bridge currently supports transfers between the following networks:

• Avalanche C-Chain — the primary EVM-compatible chain on Avalanche
• Ethereum Mainnet — the leading smart contract platform
• Bitcoin (BTC) — the original cryptocurrency, bridged as BTC.b

Transfers are supported in both directions — you can move assets from Ethereum to Avalanche or from Avalanche back to Ethereum. Bitcoin transfers result in BTC.b, a wrapped representation of BTC on the Avalanche network that is backed 1:1.

Ava Labs continues to expand the list of supported networks and tokens over time. Check the official Avax Bridge app for the most up-to-date list of available networks.

Avax Bridge Bridge fees depend on network conditions at the time of your transfer. There are two main components:

• Network (gas) fees: Paid to the validators of the source and destination networks. These vary with network congestion and are not collected by Avax Bridge itself.
• Bridge fee: A small fee charged for the bridging service, displayed clearly before you confirm the transaction.

Transfer times are typically very fast compared to other bridges:

• Ethereum → Avalanche: Approximately 2–10 minutes depending on Ethereum finality.
• Avalanche → Ethereum: Approximately 2–15 minutes.
• Bitcoin → Avalanche (BTC.b): Approximately 15–60 minutes depending on Bitcoin block confirmation times.

All estimated fees and times are shown in the Avax Bridge Bridge interface before you submit your transaction.

Yes. Avax Bridge Bridge is built with security as a top priority. It is fully non-custodial, meaning you retain control of your private keys and funds at all times. The bridge uses Intel SGX (Software Guard Extensions) trusted execution environments on the Ethereum side to ensure secure and tamper-proof relay of cross-chain messages.

Key security features of Avax Bridge Bridge include:

• Smart contracts audited by leading blockchain security firms
• Intel SGX enclaves for secure key management and message relaying
• Open-source code available for public review
• Operated by Ava Labs, a reputable team with a strong track record
• No single point of failure — decentralized relayer architecture

As with any smart contract interaction, we recommend exercising standard Web3 security hygiene: verify URLs, use hardware wallets for large transfers, and never share your seed phrase with anyone.

If your bridge transaction appears stuck or has been pending longer than expected, here are the recommended steps:

• Wait for network confirmation: During periods of high congestion on Ethereum or Bitcoin, transactions may take longer than usual. Check the estimated time displayed in the Avax Bridge interface.
• Check the transaction on a block explorer: Copy your transaction hash and look it up on Etherscan (for Ethereum) or Snowtrace (for Avalanche) to see the current status.
• Refresh the Avax Bridge Bridge page: Sometimes the UI needs a refresh to reflect the latest on-chain state.
• Check your wallet: Ensure you have enough AVAX or ETH in your wallet to cover gas fees on the destination network.
• Contact support: If the issue persists after 60 minutes, reach out to the Core support team via Telegram or the official support channels with your transaction hash.

Note: Funds sent via Avax Bridge Bridge are protected by smart contracts and cannot be lost due to a stuck transaction — they will either complete or remain on the source chain.

Yes, Avax Bridge Bridge enforces minimum transfer amounts to ensure that transfers are economically viable after fees. The minimums vary by token:

• ETH and ERC-20 tokens: Minimum amounts are set to cover estimated gas costs on both the source and destination networks, ensuring you receive a meaningful amount after fees.
• Bitcoin (BTC): There is a minimum BTC amount to account for Bitcoin transaction fees. The exact minimum is shown in the Avax Bridge interface.

There is no hard maximum for most transfers, though very large transfers may take slightly longer to process. For institutional or very large transfers, it is advisable to contact Ava Labs directly or consult the official documentation.

All limits are displayed clearly in the Avax Bridge Bridge application before you initiate a transfer.

Avax Bridge Bridge supports a growing list of tokens. The most commonly bridged assets include:

• ETH — Ether, the native token of Ethereum
• WETH — Wrapped Ether
• USDC — USD Coin (Circle)
• USDT — Tether USD
• DAI — MakerDAO stablecoin
• WBTC — Wrapped Bitcoin (ERC-20)
• BTC.b — Native Bitcoin bridged to Avalanche
• LINK — Chainlink
• UNI — Uniswap governance token
• And many more ERC-20 tokens listed in the app

The full and most current list of supported tokens is available directly in the Avax Bridge Bridge application. New tokens are added regularly as the ecosystem grows.

Avax Bridge Bridge works with a wide range of Web3 wallets. Officially supported wallets include:

• Core Wallet (browser extension and mobile) — the native wallet for the Avalanche ecosystem, offering the most seamless Avax Bridge experience
• MetaMask — the most popular Ethereum browser extension wallet
• Coinbase Wallet
• WalletConnect — compatible with hundreds of mobile wallets including Trust Wallet and Rainbow
• Ledger and other hardware wallets when connected via MetaMask or Core

For the best experience with Avax Bridge Bridge, we recommend using the Core Wallet, which is purpose-built for Avalanche and offers native support for all bridge features including Avalanche X-Chain and P-Chain interactions.

Avax Bridge Bridge enables native Bitcoin to be transferred to the Avalanche network as BTC.b — a 1:1 Bitcoin-backed token that can be used across Avalanche DeFi protocols.

Here is how the Bitcoin bridging process works:

• You send BTC from your Bitcoin wallet to a dedicated bridge deposit address generated by Avax Bridge.
• The Avax Bridge Bridge infrastructure, secured by Intel SGX enclaves, monitors the Bitcoin network for your deposit and verifies the required number of confirmations.
• Once confirmed, an equivalent amount of BTC.b is minted on the Avalanche C-Chain and sent to your specified Avalanche wallet address.
• To redeem, you burn BTC.b on Avalanche and Avax Bridge releases the original BTC back to a Bitcoin address you control.

BTC.b maintains a 1:1 peg with Bitcoin and can be used in Avalanche-native DeFi applications including lending protocols, DEXes, and yield strategies. This makes Avax Bridge one of the most important infrastructure pieces connecting Bitcoin liquidity to the Avalanche ecosystem.