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Editorial policyWormhole is a cross-chain messaging protocol connecting Ethereum, Solana, and 30+ chains — used for token bridges, governance messages, and multi-chain DeFi.
Quick answer
Wormhole is a generic cross-chain messaging protocol allowing smart contracts on one blockchain to send verified messages and tokens to another. Guardians (validator set) observe and attest messages; target chains verify attestations before execution. W is the native governance token. Wormhole powers Portal bridge and is integrated by many multi-chain DeFi apps.
Market context
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Related comparisons
Wormhole connects 30+ blockchains through a guardian network that observes messages on source chains and produces attestations verified on destination chains. Unlike simple lock-and-mint bridges, Wormhole supports arbitrary message passing — enabling cross-chain governance, NFT transfers, and DeFi composability.
The 2022 Wormhole exploit ($320M) led to significant security upgrades and guardian set hardening — a landmark event in bridge security history.
FAQ
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