Multicoin wallets defined 2021. Standalone apps took over in 2023. Today, in 2025, we see chains interwoven into a living, interconnected system that shares both assets and execution
How bridges grew up
Cross-chain bridges were initially bumpy structures in a messy ecosystem. Assets would be locked on one chain and minted on another, and users relied heavily on the security of keys. Today, bridges operate at real scale: the total value of bridges was ~$19.5 billion as of January 2025, and cross-chain bridges collectively facilitate over $1.3 trillion in annual transfers, contributing to 54% of all DeFi activity.
LayerZero and Axelar have made significant progress in reducing liquidity fragmentation, and Wormhole alone has moved more than $52 billion in lifetime transfers. LayerZero now processes more than $5 billion monthly. Cross-chain transactions, measured in the tens of billions, are now routine.
Why “Omnichain” is important
The term ‘omnichain’ encompasses more than just symbolic movement; it facilitates logical continuity. DeFi strategies can be executed in minutes on Ethereum, settled via Arbitrum, and arbitrated on Solana using cross-chain protocols.
Connectivity creates a composable financial system. Liquidity is no longer gated: a trader on BSC has access to Ethereum’s deep liquidity, and vice versa. Today, a single codebase can span multiple chains. LayerZero processes messages between more than 130 networks, with more than 150 million delivered, and Axelar’s cross-chain business grew 536% in a year. This is how wallets and apps achieve true omnichain flow.
Companies are getting on board
Adoption by companies is growing. For example, USDC has transitioned from primarily an Ethereum ERC-20 token to a globally native stablecoin via CCTP, which includes Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Solana, and Base. Tokenized bonds on one platform can be settled via code on another, and custodians and exchanges are building multi-chain settlement layers. The infrastructure parallels traditional financial messaging systems, but in a cryptographically verified, near-instantaneous form.
Security: the elephant in the room
Bridges are complex software. Historically, more than $2.8 billion has been stolen from bridge exploits, approximately 40% of all crypto hacks. Centralized points of failure exist in trusted operator models (such as CCTP’s custody) and semi-decentralized validator sets. Bridges face a trade-off between speed and decentralization, often relying on small, fast switches that are vulnerable to collusion. Even “decentralized” bridges rely on off-chain oracles or governance, which can freeze funds. Reliance on a single bridging network remains a systemic risk.
Mitigation requires careful key management, diversified trust, and a better user experience to prevent blind transfers. LayerZero’s decentralized oracles and Axelar’s multi-chain validator sets are examples of solutions that address these risks.
Regulators come into the chat
Cross-chain bridges have become a compliance headache. In the first half of 2025 alone, they processed $1.5 billion in stolen funds for money laundering, a scale that is impossible for regulators to ignore. However, modern bridges can embed compliance logic: token transfers can include provenance, whitelists, and limits. For example, Circle’s CCTP is completely transparent to issuers. By working together on standards, chains can communicate and still remain compliant.
The innovation horizon
The innovation is happening. Proposals include repurposed validator services to speed settlement and ZK proofs for reliable cross-chain transfers. Startups are prototyping ZK-based bridge designs and “intent networks” that abstract routes and rely on solution markets for optimal execution.
Although the infrastructure is not yet perfect, the alternative, fragmented ecosystems are inefficient. Cross-chain applications are expected to become seamless, supporting faster development and smoother user experiences.
The Omnichain Future
ChangeNOW observes this evolution every day. Customers exchange assets across more than 110 chains without having to think about the bridge itself. Demand is growing, even in volatile markets. The industry is transitioning from curiosity-driven experimentation to core plumbing, with omnichain interoperability gradually becoming the standard.
2026 could mark the point where “multichain” is considered the baseline and “omnichain” becomes the norm. Tools that enable seamless cross-chain development and wallet interoperability will make the underlying chain largely invisible to users. Regulators can perpetuate older paradigms, but markets drive efficiency and interoperability.
Interoperability isn’t just growing; it scales up almost vertically. With bridges already powering most DeFi transactions, we are on a clear path to a unified ecosystem. Soon, today’s scattered infrastructure will seem like a distant memory.
By means of Pauline ShangettCSO at ChangeNOW
Pauline Shangett is CSO at ChangeNOW, a non-custodial crypto exchange with a monthly trading volume of over $1 billion. She brings over 7 years of blockchain experience, combining marketing, growth and strategy across multiple stages of product and market development.
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