How to Bridge Crypto Privately: Bridging Using Houdini Swap

The future of blockchain technology is multi-chain. The decentralized nature of Web3 leading to the emergence of a universe of diffuse, separate, and distinct blockchains, points to the next logical evolution of the sector is one where users rely on different chains to perform different tasks.

For instance, you could be gambling on meme coins on Solana while staking on decentralized finance protocols and trading NFTs on Ethereum. However, these blockchains and decentralized applications exist in a vacuum completely their own and completely independent from one another. That means they cannot communicate with each other natively—-and that’s where bridging comes in. 

Blockchain bridges enable you to transfer assets in and between different blockchains, just as you would go to a moneychanger to trade in your currency when you travel to different countries. 

Crypto bridges facilitate a more interconnected, interoperable future, where data and assets between blockchains flow freely. But before we explore how to bridge crypto assets in a private manner using Houdini Swap, let’s first examine what bridges are. 

Understanding the concept of bridging in crypto

In a nutshell, bridging is a process that enables the transfer of assets between different Layer-1 blockchains. 

Bridges serve as a vital part of the blockchain economy because they facilitate interoperability and data/information transfers across different ecosystems. Without bridges to enable the sharing of data, the functionality and goals of blockchain technology remain limited to their own respective little universes. Bridges allow users to conveniently transfer assets between different blockchains by serving as an intermediary to fill in the gaps. 

What are crypto bridges and what do they do?

As mentioned earlier, cryptoassets on a blockchain aren’t typically natively compatible with one another. Crypto bridges enable the creation of derivatives representing an asset from a wholly different and separate blockchain.

For instance, if you use a bridge to send a token on the Optimism Layer-2 blockchain to a wallet address on the Ethereum network, the Ethereum wallet will receive a “bridged” version of the Optimism token that was converted to the Ethereum token standard (ERC-20) to be used on the Ethereum blockchain.

In summary, crypto bridges enable the following:

• Connect separate blockchain networks. Bridges enable the transfer of data and assets between different blockchains that otherwise wouldn’t be capable of interacting.
• Transfer assets. Users can transfer their portfolios from one blockchain to another. 
• Capitalize on other blockchains’ strengths. Bridges enable users to leverage the benefits of different blockchain ecosystems, such as lower gas fees, wider utility, or faster transaction speeds to promote a more interconnected, interoperable crypto ecosystem. 

Crypto bridges are especially useful during times of high congestion. With bridges, it’s easier for a user to transfer their assets from Bitcoin or Ethereum to a faster, lower-cost network like Solana and participate in staking, yield farming, trading, and liquidity provision at a lower, faster cost. 

However, while a myriad of bridging solutions exist, very few bridges are capable of facilitating completely private bridge transactions that maintain the privacy of source and destination addresses—-until the arrival of Houdini Swap. Here’s how Houdini Swap is changing the game in bridging by introducing an unprecedented level of fully compliant privacy.

Why use Houdini Swap?

Houdini Swap is a privacy-focused liquidity aggregator revolutionizing the way users swap, send, and bridge their crypto assets. With over 4,000 tokens across all major blockchains providing 8 million combinations to send, swap, or bridge, Houdini Swap has emerged as the predominant private swap and bridge solution.

With Houdini Swap, users can take advantage of the following features: 

• Private Send. Houdini Swap’s Private Send function enables users to send any token to a recipient while ensuring that the sender’s source address is kept invisible. By removing the links between the sender and receiver, Houdini Swap offers an unmatched degree of privacy in transacting for individuals who wish to preserve the confidentiality of their on-chain financial transactions.
• Private Swap. Private Swap enables users to swap any token within the same blockchain network without leaving any traces of the swap transaction remaining on-chain.
• Bridging/Cross-Chain Swaps. The latter feature enables the fast, seamless transfer of assets between supported blockchains while retaining the same level of privacy—and without the intimidating complexity associated with bridging assets. Newer users will find its intuitive interface easy to use, and Houdini Swap’s 24/7 customer support is ready to assist users with their enquiries should any hitches arise during the process.c
• Checkout (Private Receive). Those who wish to receive crypto payments anonymously could use the Checkout (Private Receive) feature to send payment requests and raise invoices without revealing their wallet addresses. Once a payment is made, the recipient is promptly notified of the deposit.

Houdini Swap offers the following benefits for privacy-focused users:

• Fully pseudonymous and private swaps, sending, and bridging transactions
• No visible connections between source and destination wallets 
• No KYC and no wallet connections necessary for sending and receiving
• Over 4,000 tokens and 8 million swap permutations available
• Best-in-class privacy with full compliance with existing AML/ATF regulations
• 24/7 dedicated in-house customer service
• Intuitive, simple user interface reducing complexity and learning curve for newer users

How to bridge with Houdini Swap

Houdini Swap is broadening accessibility to privacy by enabling private swaps and bridging between different tokens with its intuitive interface. Here’s how to bridge to a different token using the protocol.

Step 1: Fetch a price quote

Select the “Private” swap option, select the token you wish to bridge, select the destination token you wish to bridge to, and enter the destination address.  Enter your desired amount and allow the app to fetch the conversion rates. Better yet, Houdini Swap doesn’t need to connect to your wallet to do so. Click on the “Private Swap” button to place an order.

Step 2: Send the funds to the specified Houdini Swap address 

Send your required funds to the following address that HoudiniSwap generates and wait for the transaction to be confirmed.

Step 3: Wait for transaction completion

Private swaps could take anywhere up to 20 minutes to complete. Once you’ve sent the required funds to the Houdini Swap-generated address, it will then process the transaction using its dual-exchange framework. The output currency is sent to your address or addresses of choice. As an alternative, individuals who wish to conduct a faster, more efficient bridge transaction while retaining a modicum of privacy can use the “Standard” option, which takes just 1 to 4 minutes to complete.

That’s how simple it is to bridge privately using Houdini Swap—-you can send, swap, and bridge a variety of cryptos while severing the link completely between the source and the destination wallet in question. No contract interactions, no wallet connections, and no custody of funds nor market makers, liquidity pools, or mixers needed—yet retaining 100% compliance with existing legal frameworks. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is bridging in crypto?

Bridging is a technical term used to refer to the act of moving crypto assets from one blockchain to another. Since not all Layer-1 blockchain networks are compatible and capable of communicating with each other, bridges create copies that represent assets from different chains to facilitate the swap. 

What assets and networks are available for bridging on Houdini Swap?

Houdini Swap offers over 4,000 tokens for swapping and bridging, covering all major blockchain networks and tokens. 

How long does a bridge transaction take on Houdini Swap?

Private Swaps on Houdini Swap can take anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes to complete depending on network congestion, while its standard option can take anywhere from 1-4 minutes.

Why use bridges like Houdini Swap?

The most common reasons for using crypto bridges include the following:

• Accessing blockchains that offer lower fees and faster transactions
• Participating in markets that exist only on a different blockchain
• Buy, sell, and trade tokens that exist only on a different blockchain
• Interact with decentralized apps and DeFi protocols on a separate blockchain

What’s the difference between a custodial and non-custodial bridge?

Bridges can either be custodial, which means they are centralized and rely on intermediaries, or non-custodial, which means they are fully decentralized and/or trustless like Houdini Swap. Assets on custodial bridges are held in custody by an intermediary, while non-custodial bridges like Houdini Swap are held and managed directly by the underlying blockchain, sticking to the core tenet of decentralization and trustlessness.