Easy Guide to Understanding the Relay Bridge

The Relay Bridge is like a super-fast and cost-effective highway that helps you move your money or digital items (like NFTs) between different chains, such as Ethereum and other blockchains. It’s kind of like having a magic wizard helping you teleport your stuff from one place to another!

How Does it Work?

When you want to move something using the Relay Bridge, you connect with a special helper called a "relayer." This relayer gives you a price for the transfer. Once you agree to this price, you send your items to the relayer, who then makes sure everything gets safely to the destination chain. It’s like passing a note to your friend who then delivers it to the right person for you.

Why is it so Fast?

Unlike traditional bridges that need the approval of many actors before making a move, the Relay Bridge works super quickly because a single relayer is in charge. This relayer uses their own resources to make sure your item reaches the other side fast. Think of it like a personal courier delivering your package straight to your door without waiting for a long approval process.

Why is it so Cheap?

The Relay Bridge saves you money by cutting unnecessary costs. Instead of handling everything on expensive chains like Ethereum, the Relay Bridge does most of the work on more affordable chains. This way, you don’t have to pay extra fees for different services. It’s like finding a cheaper route for your delivery that still gets the job done perfectly.

Which Chains are Supported?

The Relay Bridge is flexible – it can work on many different chains without needing a complicated setup. All it needs is a helpful relayer ready to operate on a specific chain. This makes it easy to use the Bridge on various blockchains without a lot of hassle.

Is it Trustless?

While the Relay Bridge isn’t completely trustless yet, efforts are underway to make it even more secure. Currently, it is powered by a reliable entity called Reservoir, which ensures that your orders are processed correctly. There are safety measures in place to protect your funds in case something goes wrong during the transfer. In the future, there are plans to make it even more secure and decentralized.

In a nutshell, the Relay Bridge is like having a swift and efficient delivery service for your digital assets, making it easy to move them between different blockchains quickly and affordably.