What Are Blockchain Bridges and How Do They Work?
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Blockchain bridges are a way of connecting two or more different blockchains. This allows the blockchains to communicate and potentially operate at a similar level. The first blockchain bridges were invented by Blocknet in 2014 when they designed their interoperability protocol for connecting the blockchains themselves. Since that time, there have been many other examples of blockchain bridges.
In their simplest form, these bridges are nothing more than ways of opening up communication between two different blockchains. However, as they become more advanced, they can do much more.
Two leading blockchains exist: private (also known as permission) blockchains such as Hyperledger Fabric or Quorum; and public (or permissionless) blockchains like Ethereum or Bitcoin. A third category called consortium blockchains, which are hybrid solutions combining elements of both private and public chains., has recently emerged.