Cross-chain bridge

Synapse

Cross-chain bridge using nUSD and nETH liquidity pools, canonical wrapping, CCTP and an RFQ relayer network.

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Facts checked Sep 26, 2026

Synapse key facts

CategoryCross-chain bridge
ChainsEthereum, Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, Avalanche and other chains
PlatformsWeb, API, SDK
CustodyNon-custodial
Chains20+ EVM and non-EVM chains
TokenSYN
US availabilityAvailable: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions
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SYN token

Price
$0.139 -2.0% 24h
Market cap
$30.5M
Fully diluted value
$34.8M
30-day change
-25.6%
SYN price, last 30 days

Market data: CoinGecko, updated Nov 9, 2026. Educational content, not financial advice.

About

What is Synapse?

Synapse is a cross-chain bridge that routes transfers through nUSD and nETH liquidity pools, canonical token wrapping, Circle CCTP or RFQ relayers. Its docs say the bridge connects 20+ EVM and non-EVM chains and has settled $50B in transactions for 2M+ users.

How Synapse works

The Synapse Router picks one of three bridge functions for each transfer.

Canonical routes wrap the asset and bridge it. Liquidity pool routes convert your token into nUSD or nETH on the source chain, bridge that intermediate token and swap it back into a native token on the destination, using stableswap and ETH pools deployed on chains such as Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Ethereum, Optimism and Polygon. USDC can instead go through the CCTP router, where Synapse contracts sit on top of Circle's contracts to burn and mint native USDC.

The Synapse Intent Network, announced on December 12, 2024, is a request-for-quote system. Relayers post quotes, you sign a deposit into a FastBridge contract, and the winning relayer delivers your funds on the destination chain from its own inventory. The relayer then posts an optimistic proof on the origin chain, and after a short dispute period in which Guards check it, the relayer claims your escrowed deposit. The docs state that Synapse is currently the sole Guard and the sole Canceler.

How to start with Synapse

  1. You need a self-custody wallet funded on the origin chain, including its gas token.
  2. In the Bridge app, connect the wallet, choose origin and destination chains, pick the token and amount, and click Bridge to get a quote you confirm in your wallet.
  3. To send to a different address, turn on Show withdrawal address in Settings.
  4. A progress bar shows the estimated time, which the docs base on destination block times.
  5. Finished transfers appear in the Activity tab once Synapse Explorer indexes them.
  6. Gas token airdrops and rebates land in your wallet automatically, but only bridgeable assets show in the Synapse portfolio view.
  7. Developers can embed the bridge with the SDK, REST API or widget.
  8. If a transfer fails to initiate after several tries, the FAQ says congestion usually clears in 30 to 60 minutes, and your funds stay in your wallet.

Risks to know before using Synapse

  • If slippage spikes during a pool route, Synapse delivers the intermediate asset, such as nUSD or nETH, on the destination chain instead of swapping at a loss, and you swap it yourself afterward.
  • The support FAQ says transfers that fail to complete are handled manually by the support team through Discord, and asks you to contact support if a transfer has been pending two hours or more.
  • On the intent route, deposits sit in FastBridge escrow until a relayer fills them or the request is canceled.
  • Security rests on the optimistic model: a false proof is caught only if a Guard disputes it within the dispute window, and Synapse runs the only Guard today.
  • The About page says all protocol features will eventually fold into Cortex.

Synapse usage

Total value locked$8.6M-5.8% in 7 days
Fees paid, 24h$18.2
Fees paid, 30d$1,069.9
Chains20

From DefiLlama (TVL) (fees users paid), updated Nov 9, 2026.

Cross-chain bridgeNon-custodialWebAPISDK

Synapse alternatives

Other projects people compare with Synapse.

Portal Bridge (Wormhole)

Token bridge app built on the Wormhole messaging protocol, which is verified by a Guardian network.

Across

Intent-based cross-chain bridge where relayers fill transfers and are repaid later from pooled liquidity.

Allbridge

Cross-chain bridge for stablecoin transfers between EVM and non-EVM chains, run as Allbridge Core.

deBridge

Cross-chain swap and bridge protocol where solvers fill orders from their own liquidity instead of pooled TVL.

Relay

Intent-based bridge and swap service where solvers fill cross-chain orders with their own capital.

Stargate

Cross-chain liquidity bridge built on LayerZero messaging, with pooled native assets on each connected chain.

Where Synapse ranks on DappAtlas

Best Crypto Bridges#6 of 6Best Bridges for Arbitrum#7 of 7Best Bridges for Base#6 of 6

Synapse pros and cons

Pros
  • Bridges between 20+ EVM and non-EVM chains
  • Native USDC route through Circle CCTP
  • SDK, REST API and embeddable widget for integrators
Cons
  • Pool routes convert through nUSD or nETH intermediate tokens
  • Docs say all features will fold into Cortex, so the product is in transition
  • No audit list in the current docs

Synapse FAQ

What is Synapse?

Synapse is a cross-chain bridge that routes transfers through nUSD and nETH liquidity pools, canonical token wrapping, Circle CCTP or RFQ relayers. Its docs say the bridge connects 20+ EVM and non-EVM chains and has settled $50B in transactions for 2M+ users.

How much value is locked in Synapse?

$8.6M according to DefiLlama on Nov 9, 2026. It is deployed on 20 chains: Ethereum, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Binance, Polygon, Optimism and others.

How much do users pay Synapse in fees?

$1,069.9 over the last 30 days, according to DefiLlama on Nov 9, 2026.

Does Synapse have a token?

Yes, SYN. Its market cap was $30.5M on CoinGecko on Nov 9, 2026. Educational content, not financial advice.

Is Synapse available in the US?

Available: terms restrict only sanctioned jurisdictions, according to Synapse’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).

Does Synapse hold my funds?

No. Synapse is non-custodial: you keep your funds in your own wallet and sign each transaction.

Sources

  1. Synapse: official site
  2. Synapse: Bridge
  3. Synapse: About
  4. Synapse: Explorer Terms of Use
  5. Synapse: Synapse Router
  6. Synapse: CCTP Router
  7. Synapse: Liquidity Pools
  8. Synapse: Synapse Intent Network
  9. Synapse: Intent Network Security
  10. Synapse: Synapse Intent Network launch post
  11. Synapse: Transaction Support FAQ
  12. CoinGecko
  13. DefiLlama

How this page works

Sources: Synapse: official site, Synapse: Bridge, Synapse: About. Data as of Sep 26, 2026.

How we review

Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.