CCIP
Chainlink CCIP - Best for ERC20 tokens with larger callback payloads (up to 30KB). Higher security through Chainlink’s oracle network. Note: waits for source chain finalization.
CCTP
Circle CCTP v2 - Native USDC burn/mint across chains. Fast Transfer
(sub-15s) or Standard + Forwarding Service. No callbacks.
Relay
Relay - Best for flexible bridging with dynamic amounts. No callback data
limit, supports native tokens.
Stargate
LayerZero Stargate - Best for native token bridging and LayerZero
ecosystem. Tight callback limit (~9.5KB).
Mixed Protocols
Stargate + CCIP - Combine multiple bridges for complex crosschain workflows with nested callbacks across chains.
When to Use Each Bridge
| Protocol | Best For | Callback Limit | Native Token | Token Coverage | Finalization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCIP | Large callback payloads, high security | ~30KB | No | ERC20 (whitelisted) | Waits for source chain finality |
| Relay | Dynamic amounts, flexible routing | Unlimited | Yes | ERC20 + native | Fast |
| Stargate | LayerZero ecosystem, native bridging | ~9.5KB | Yes | OFT-enabled tokens | Fast |
| CCTP | Native USDC across chains | No callback support | No | USDC only | Fast (where available) or wait for finality |
CCIP finalization: CCIP waits for source chain finalization before
executing callbacks. Timing varies by chain (sub-second to hours). See
Chainlink’s Finality By
Blockchain
for current times. Consider this for time-sensitive swaps with slippage
protection on slower chains.
CCTP transfer modes: Every CCTP transfer is auto-relayed by Circle’s
Forwarding Service — receivers never need destination gas. Fast Transfer
attests after a few confirmations (sub-15s typical) and pays a small protocol
fee on top of the forwarding fee; Standard waits for full source-chain
finality and pays the forwarding fee only. The bundle action silently falls
back to Standard when Fast is unavailable on the source.
Discovery APIs
- CCIP: Use
GET /ccip/routerto get the CCIP router address - Stargate: Use
GET /layerzero/poolto get the OFT pool address - Relay: Use the token address directly as
primaryAddress - CCTP: Use
GET /cctp/bridge/tokenmessengerv2to get the CCTP token messenger address
Updated