Gram (formerly Toncoin) Bridge 2026: How to Cross-Chain Bridge on the TON Network

The official TON Bridge portal is the starting point for cross-chain transfers into the TON (The Open Network) ecosystem. It aggregates secure access to leading bridge providers such as Rhino.fi, Symbiosis, Layerswap, Rubic, Meson.fi, and Retro Bridge. This means users can select the best service for their needs – for example, bridging from major networks like Ethereum, Solana, or BNB Smart Chain, as well as newer chains like zkSync or Mantle. Each bridge uses a combination of smart contracts (and often off-chain oracles) to lock assets on the source chain and mint equivalent assets on TON. TON’s architecture even supports advanced cryptography – its TVM natively supports zero-knowledge proofs – and protocols like MPC and threshold signatures are used in bridges (as in TON Teleport BTC) to secure transfers. The ecosystem is also exploring Layer-2 solutions and IBC-style protocols to further improve privacy and scalability. All together, this enables trust-minimized, seamless cross-chain asset movement into TON.

Key Bridge: TON Teleport BTC

The TON Foundation’s own Bitcoin bridge, TON Teleport BTC, is a native, trustless bridge specifically for BTC. When you bridge via Teleport, the bridge locks your BTC in a secure multi-signature scheme and mints an equivalent amount of tgBTC on the TON blockchain (fully backed 1:1 by the locked Bitcoin). The TON validators manage custody via Distributed Key Generation (DKG) and threshold signatures – validator sets rotate regularly so no single party has control. In practice, this allows Bitcoin holders to use tgBTC in TON’s fast, low-fee DeFi apps, combining Bitcoin’s security with TON’s scalability.

How the Bridge Works

Bridging typically involves smart contracts or trusted oracles that lock an asset on the source blockchain and mint a corresponding token on TON. For example, when using a bridge service like Symbiosis or Rhino, the protocol monitors the source chain (via light clients or oracle feeds) and releases the TON-side token once the source transaction is confirmed. TON’s technology supports advanced cryptography (its VM natively handles zero-knowledge proofs) and the protocol uses schemes like Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and threshold signatures to ensure collective approval of operations (as seen in TON Teleport BTC). Future enhancements may include dedicated Layer-2 rollups or IBC-like solutions to further improve throughput. In all cases, the goal is a secure, trust-minimized transfer: the user simply locks tokens on the source chain and receives equivalent tokens on TON via smart contracts governed by cryptographic consensus.

Using the TON Bridge portal offers significant advantages:

• Wide Network Reach: The portal connects TON to dozens of chains. For example, Symbiosis’s TON Bridge links TON with 30+ networks, and other integrated bridges cover all major chains (Ethereum, BSC, Solana, Polygon, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, etc.).
• Trustless Bitcoin Access: Through TON Teleport BTC, users can move BTC to TON as tgBTC in a fully decentralized way. Each tgBTC is 1:1 backed by BTC held via multi-sig, letting you use Bitcoin in TON’s DeFi (staking, lending, etc.) without any custodial intermediary.
• Choice & Competitive Costs: The aggregator lets you compare different bridges and fees. Each service sets its own structure (often a fixed fee plus gas). For example, the official TON Bridge charges a small fixed fee (about 1 GRAM) per transfer plus network fees. Competition among providers helps keep rates favorable.
• Broad DeFi & NFT Access: You can bring virtually any major asset into TON, participating in its growing ecosystem of DEXs, lending platforms, and NFT marketplaces. TON also supports native stablecoins (e.g. USDT was launched on TON in 2024) and compatible bridges allow NFT transfers across chains, broadening opportunities for DeFi and digital assets.
• Seamless User Experience: The unified portal (bridge.ton.org) provides a single, user-friendly interface for all cross-chain transfers. You simply select a bridge, connect your wallet (e.g. MetaMask for Ethereum or Tonkeeper for TON), and follow the on-screen steps. The portal automatically estimates fees and guides you through confirming each transaction.

Launched in late 2024, TON Teleport BTC is a trustless bridge that enables seamless transfers of Bitcoin to and from the TON network. After a user deposits BTC into the Teleport protocol, an equivalent amount of tgBTC is minted on TON (each tgBTC is fully backed 1:1 by the locked Bitcoin). TON Teleport uses secure smart contracts and a rotating validator committee to ensure transparency and security. This integration allows Bitcoin holders to participate in TON’s DeFi (exchanges, lending, etc.) while retaining the security of native BTC.

Using the TON Bridge aggregator is straightforward. Instead of a single process, you pick a service through the central portal. Here’s the general workflow:

1. Visit the Bridge Portal:

   • Go to the official TON Bridge portal (note: the legacy TON Bridge v3 is now deprecated).

2. Select a Bridge Service & Connect Wallet:

   • Choose one of the available bridge providers (e.g. Rhino.fi, Symbiosis, Layerswap). The interface will prompt you to connect your source blockchain’s wallet (e.g. MetaMask for Ethereum).

3. Configure Your Transfer:

   • Select the asset and amount you want to move, and enter your TON wallet address as the destination. The chosen bridge will show an estimated fee and transfer time.

4. Review and Confirm:

   • Carefully check all details (amount, recipient address, fees). Then confirm the transaction in your wallet. The portal will handle the cross-chain transfer.

Fees and Transactions

The fee structure varies by bridge. Each service typically charges a small fixed fee or percentage plus the destination blockchain’s gas fees. For example, the official TON Bridge portal currently charges a fixed fee (around 1 GRAM per transfer) plus gas. Transaction times are usually a few minutes, depending on network congestion. For instance, bridging from Ethereum may require ~6 confirmations (several minutes) before the bridge releases the assets on TON. The portal interface provides real-time fee estimates to help optimize for speed or cost.

Security Considerations

Security is a major focus. Bridges in the TON ecosystem undergo audits by leading firms (CertiK highlights that TON projects use in-depth contract audits and monitoring). The TON Teleport BTC bridge itself uses multi-signature security among validators. Additionally, bridge providers may implement features like two-factor authentication and phishing protections. Users should always double-check addresses and use hardware wallets for large transfers. Note that the legacy TON Bridge (Bridge v3) is being phased out – it’s available only for withdrawals, and all new transfers should use the portal’s integrated bridges.

These measures and best practices help ensure that users’ assets remain secure during cross-chain transfers. Many bridges also maintain bug bounty programs to encourage ongoing security improvements.

The TON Bridge’s flexibility opens up many possibilities. For example:

Cross-Chain Yield Farming

A DeFi project could use the bridge to enable yield farming between Ethereum and TON. Users could deposit assets on Ethereum, borrow liquidity, and then farm rewards on TON, accessing higher yields by leveraging liquidity on both chains.

NFT Multi-Chain Publishing

An NFT creator could mint and sell the same digital artwork across multiple chains. By bridging the NFT between Ethereum, Solana, and TON, the artist can list it on different marketplaces (OpenSea, SolSea, etc.), expanding their audience and sales opportunities.

Enterprise Asset Management

Enterprises might use the bridge for cross-chain asset management. For instance, a supply chain company could tokenize goods on Ethereum and use the bridge to transfer those tokens to TON for efficient intra-company settlement, improving transparency and trust across networks.

These examples highlight how seamless cross-chain bridges can enable innovative finance, trading, and business applications by connecting TON with other ecosystems.

The TON Bridge is backed by an active community and developer ecosystem. Users can join TON’s community channels on platforms like Telegram, Discord, and Reddit to get the latest updates and help from other users.

Developers will find extensive resources to integrate with TON and its bridges. The official documentation (docs.ton.org) includes guides, SDKs, and APIs for building TON dApps and bridges. TON also runs hackathons, grant programs, and workshops to support new projects. Keep an eye on official announcements for events where you can learn about building on TON and bridging assets.

The TON Bridge ecosystem is continually evolving. In late 2024, the TON Foundation introduced a “Society DAO” governance model to give the community a greater role in ecosystem decisions. Upcoming plans include expanding cross-chain connectivity: for example, TON has integrated LayerZero to enable secure transfers across 100+ networks. The 2025 roadmap also features a new Layer-2 payment network to scale TON for high-frequency, low-fee transactions (micro-payments). In parallel, the team is working on advanced privacy features, such as confidential transactions using zero-knowledge proofs. These developments aim to make TON increasingly scalable, interoperable, and user-driven in the broader blockchain landscape.

1. What is the Toncoin (Gram) Bridge?

The bridge portal aggregates multiple services to move assets between the TON blockchain (Gram) and other networks. It supports transfers to/from Ethereum, BNB Chain, and many others, enabling cross-chain transactions with minimal trust.

2. How long does it take to transfer assets via the TON Bridge?

Transfer times vary but most transactions complete within a few minutes, depending on network congestion and required confirmations on each chain.

3. What blockchains can I bridge from to TON?

Major supported chains include Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Solana, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, and even Bitcoin via TON Teleport. In total, the bridge services cover dozens of networks (see the official portal list).

4. Are there fees for using the bridges?

Yes. Each third-party bridge service sets its own fees (typically a fixed service fee plus the destination network’s gas). For example, the official TON Bridge charges about 1 GRAM per transfer in addition to gas. The portal will display the total estimated cost before you confirm any transaction.

5. Is the Toncoin (Gram) Bridge secure?

Yes. Bridges in the TON ecosystem undergo regular security audits by firms like CertiK. TON Teleport BTC uses a validator-approved multi-signature scheme. Users should still follow best practices (hardware wallets, double-check addresses, etc.) when bridging.

6. Can I transfer NFTs through the Toncoin (Gram) Bridge?

Yes. Many bridge services support NFT transfers across compatible chains. For example, you can move an NFT between Ethereum and TON using a service that handles NFT cross-chain swaps.

7. What happens if a transaction fails?

If a bridge transaction fails, the assets typically remain on the originating blockchain. You may retry or contact the bridge provider’s support for assistance.

8. How do I get support?

For help, check the official TON Bridge portal’s help center or reach out via the community channels mentioned above. Support links are usually available on the bridge website or within their user interfaces.