Polygon (formerly Matic) has evolved from its early days as an Ethereum sidechain into a leading multichain ecosystem supporting high-performance applications across DeFi, gaming, NFTs, and enterprise solutions. Major brands, including Nike, Reddit, and Starbucks, have chosen Polygon for their web3 activations.
With over $765 million in Total Value Locked (TVL), more than 5 billion transactions processed, and nearly 500 million unique addresses, Polygon offers scale and utility that few Layer 2s can match.
But as the ecosystem has expanded, so has its complexity. Multiple chains, multiple bridges, and varying user experiences make navigating the Polygon ecosystem challenging.
In this guide, we'll simplify the bridging process by breaking down Polygon's architecture, evaluating the bridging landscape, and explaining why Across offers a superfast and cost-effective way to access Polygon's multichain future.
Polygon’s Multichain Architecture
Unlike most Layer 2s, Polygon isn’t defined by a single scaling solution. Instead, it offers a modular stack of complementary chains, each optimized for different performance, security, and composability trade-offs. Marketed as “an infinitely scalable web of sovereign blockchains that feels like a single chain,” Polygon’s multichain design provides unique flexibility to developers and users alike.
Polygon PoS: A high-throughput, low-cost Proof-of-Stake sidechain that checkpoints to Ethereum every ~30 minutes. The PoS is ideal for NFTs, gaming, and retail DeFi, featuring low gas fees and finality in around 2–3 hours.
Polygon zkEVM: A fully EVM-equivalent ZK rollup offering Ethereum-grade security and faster withdrawals—designed for composable DeFi and long-term decentralization.
Polygon CDK: A modular framework for launching custom, Ethereum-secured ZK chains that, once fully operational, will interoperate through an AggLayer, enabling enterprise-grade scalability and shared liquidity.
Polygon Miden (in development): A zk-STARK-based rollup purpose-built for high-performance applications that require custom logic beyond the EVM.
Polygon’s architecture gives builders flexibility without fragmentation. With Polygon 2.0 underway, users gain seamless access to an ecosystem designed to operate as one unified platform.
Why Bridge to Polygon?
Polygon's momentum is backed by a forward-looking roadmap. The Polygon 2.0 upgrade introduces a modular, multichain framework designed to unify liquidity across all Polygon chains and appchains. Combined with the launch of a 10-year, one billion-token ecosystem grant program, Polygon is investing heavily in long-term developer and protocol growth.
Compared to other Ethereum L2s, Polygon leads in cross-sector adoption. Its PoS chain and zkEVM are powering real-world applications across:
NFTs & Creator Growth: From Nike's .SWOOSH to Reddit’s Avatars and Magic Eden, Polygon has become a go-to L2 for brand activations and NFT expansions, supporting both gas-efficient minting and enterprise-level scale.
Gaming & Incentives: Polygon powers leading web3 games like The Sandbox, Planet IX, and Arc8, offering scalable infrastructure for high-volume gameplay and play-to-earn mechanics.
Enterprise Adoption: Major corporations including Jio Platforms are building on Polygon, embedding web3 into telecom applications. Meanwhile, CDK-powered app chains are enabling modular, enterprise-ready deployments.
Low-Cost Transactions: In 2024, average gas fees on Polygon’s zkEVM were just 1.9 Gwei—significantly lower than Ethereum's ~19.65 Gwei. This cost advantage enables users and developers to experiment with minimal overhead.
Polygon’s combination of scale, flexibility, and forward momentum makes it one of the most compelling networks in the L2 space. Whether you're bridging to mint, play, or build, Polygon offers the infrastructure to move fast without compromise.
Understanding Polygon Bridge Options
The Polygon Portal is the native entry point for bridging assets into the Polygon ecosystem. It supports transfers to both Polygon PoS and Polygon zkEVM through a unified front-end experience while routing assets through distinct bridge contracts behind the scenes.
Native Bridge Mechanisms
PoS Bridge: When bridging to Polygon PoS, the Portal routes through the original bridge secured by a validator set. Deposits confirm quickly, but withdrawals take 2–3 hours to finalize via Ethereum checkpointing.
zkEVM Bridge: For Polygon zkEVM transfers, the Portal leverages ZK-rollup infrastructure to settle transactions with cryptographic proofs. This enables faster Ethereum finality (15 minutes to 3 hours) and eliminates the need for a challenge period.
However, users still encounter friction points like manual network switching and fragmented asset support across dapps. Importantly, "bridging to Polygon" usually entails bridging to the PoS chain as it's the most widely adopted and best-integrated version of the network.
When Does the Polygon Portal Bridge Make Sense?
For ecosystem-native flows: The Polygon Portal is the default protocol-level option for moving assets between Ethereum and the PoS chain, with broad support across dApps and wallets.
If finality time isn't a blocker: With a 2–3 hour withdrawal window, it's best suited for non-urgent transfers.
For straightforward transfers: When bridging common assets like ETH or USDC into Polygon PoS, the Portal offers predictable routing, especially for users who prioritize direct interaction with the core protocol.
Across: The Most Efficient Polygon Bridge
If you need faster transactions, lower costs, and seamless crosschain interoperability, Across offers the most efficient Polygon bridge, offering a smooth flow of assets to and from Polygon.
Across uses an Intents-based bridging architecture secured by an Optimistic Oracle (OO). Liquidity providers front capital for the transfer, allowing you to receive your funds on the destination chain almost instantly while final settlement occurs asynchronously on Ethereum.
Why choose Across for bridging to Polygon?
Bridging to and from Polygon with Across delivers significant advantages:
Speed: Most transactions complete in under 2 seconds, with some settling in less than 1 second
Cost-efficiency: The median bridging fee is often lower than $0.04
Security: Your funds can't get lost—the decentralized network of relayers front the capital to complete your transaction, and they only get paid when the OO confirms your transaction has been completed
Comparison: Polygon Bridge Options
If you're curious about how it works under the hood, we've written extensively about crosschain interoperability and the role of intents. The short version: Across delivers secure, cost-efficient finalization without compromising on speed.
How to Bridge to Polygon: Step-by-Step Guide
Across offers an intuitive bridging experience with minimal steps. Here's how to transfer assets to Polygon in under a minute:
Step 1: Visit app.across.to
To bridge from the Ethereum mainnet (or any supported L2) to Polygon, start by visiting the Across Polygon bridge and connecting your wallet.
Step 2: Select Your Chains
Choose your origin (from) and destination (to) chains. For example, you can bridge from Ethereum, Optimism, Arbitrum, or other supported chains to Polygon. Specify how much ETH or other supported tokens you want to bridge, and Across will estimate the time and fees based on current network conditions. The process is the same if you’re bridging from Polygon back to mainnet (or any L2)—reverse the origin and destination chains.
Note: When bridging to Polygon using Across, you’ll receive WETH (Wrapped ETH) instead of ETH. When bridging from Polygon to Ethereum Mainnet, your WETH will be converted back to ETH. On Polygon PoS, gas fees are paid in POL (which replaced MATIC as of September 4, 2024), not ETH. When bridging from Polygon to another chain, or for any other transactions on Polygon—such as transferring WETH or interacting with DeFi protocols—you’ll need POL in your wallet to cover gas fees.
Step 3: Confirm and Send
Once you've specified the amount of tokens you'd like to bridge and looked over the fee details, click on "Confirm transaction" (or "Switch network and confirm" if needed). Your tokens will be transferred to Polygon in seconds, typically completing in 2-4 seconds.
With that, your bridging is complete!
You now have assets on Polygon that you can use for DeFi, NFTs, gaming, or any other application in the ecosystem.
The Best Polygon Bridge To Use in 2025
Polygon has established itself as one of the most diverse and active ecosystems in crypto. With billions of transactions processed, a growing appchain economy, and the rollout of Polygon 2.0, it's more than just a scaling solution—it's a modular platform for the next generation of onchain applications.
When considering your bridging options:
If speed isn't critical and you prefer protocol-level interaction, Polygon Portal offers a reliable way to transfer assets with broad ecosystem integration
If you want fast execution, lower costs, and a frictionless UX, Across is clearly the superior choice with 2-second transfers and fees averaging under $0.04
For most users looking to actively participate in Polygon's thriving ecosystem—whether for yield farming, gaming, or NFT minting—the speed and cost advantages of Across provide a significantly better entry point.
Additional Resources
For more information on Polygon, bridging, and crosschain transactions, check out these resources:
Polygon Knowledge Layer – Official technical documentation and knowledge resources.
Across – Learn more about Across and start bridging.
Across Polygon Bridge – Direct link to the Across bridging interface.
Polygon Blog – Updates on Polygon 2.0, token migration, grants, and roadmap.
If you're new to bridging, check out these guides:
FAQs on Polygon Bridge
How do you bridge from Polygon back to ETH?
To move assets from Polygon back to Ethereum, you can use either:
The Polygon Portal (PoS: ~2–3 hours, zkEVM: ~15–180 minutes)
Across for faster, low-cost withdrawals via app.across.to
Can assets be moved back from Polygon to Ethereum?
Yes. Assets bridged to either Polygon PoS or zkEVM can be returned to Ethereum using the Portal or third-party bridges like Across.
What are the costs of bridging to Polygon?
Bridging costs depend on gas fees and liquidity availability:
Across: Often <$0.04 per transfer, depending on conditions
Polygon Portal: No added premium, but users pay Ethereum gas when bridging to/from L1
How long does bridging take?
Across: Near-instant deposits and withdrawals (typically under 2 seconds)
Polygon Portal:
Deposits (Ethereum → Polygon): ~22 minutes
Withdrawals
(PoS → Ethereum): ~2–3 hours
(zkEVM → Ethereum): ~15 minutes to 3 hours
Is Polygon bridging secure?
Yes—but each bridge has a different trust model:
Polygon PoS Bridge is secured by validators and periodic Ethereum checkpoints
Polygon zkEVM Bridge uses zk-proofs for trustless validation
Across relies on an Optimistic Oracle and decentralized relayer network to securely front liquidity and verify transfers
What tokens can I bridge to Polygon?
Both the Polygon Portal and Across support key assets, including ETH, USDC, USDT, DAI, and other major tokens. However, Across typically offers better rates and faster transfers for these popular assets.