Bridges are the quiet workhorses of multi-chain DeFi. They move assets across chains, enable composability, and — when they work well — let you chase yield without sweating the underlying rail. But „cheapest“ isn’t a single number. It’s a blend of fees, slippage, time, and risk. This guide walks through how to evaluate cost in practice, compares common bridge types, and highlights where Relay Bridge can fit into a low-cost strategy.
Start with the basics: moving an ERC‑20 from Chain A to Chain B can involve gas on the origin chain, a relay or relayer fee, bridging protocol fees, and sometimes wrapped-token mint/burn costs on the destination chain. Those add up fast, and they’re often non-obvious until you actually make the transfer. I’ll break down each component and give practical tips to minimize expense without sacrificing security.
FAQ
What’s the single best way to minimize bridge costs?
Plan and simulate. Get a full quote including gas, avoid unnecessary hops, and consolidate transfers. There’s no single universal cheapest; tooling and timing make the difference.
Are cheaper bridges less secure?
Sometimes. Lower fees can imply centralized relayers or lower payouts for validators, which may correlate with higher counterparty risk. Evaluate audits, timelocks, and economic incentives before assuming low cost equals safe.
When should I use Relay Bridge?
When you need a balance of speed and reasonable fees and want an option that integrates with standard DeFi tooling. Examine live quotes and liquidity for your specific token pair on the relay bridge official site before committing.