How Multichain Works: Understanding Lock-and-Mint Mechanisms

The rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) has introduced thousands of tokens across hundreds of blockchains. Yet, without seamless interoperability between these ecosystems, true decentralization cannot thrive. That’s where Multichain comes in — a robust cross-chain router protocol enabling users and developers to move assets between blockchains quickly and securely.

In this guide, we explore what Multichain is, how it works, and why it remains a crucial infrastructure layer in the Web3 world in 2025.

What is Multichain?

Formerly known as Anyswap, Multichain is a decentralized cross-chain infrastructure protocol designed to facilitate asset bridging and cross-chain communication between dozens of Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks. It was built to be chain-agnostic, supporting both EVM-compatible chains and non-EVM architectures.

Since its rebranding, Multichain has expanded support for 90+ chains and has facilitated billions in volume, becoming a cornerstone in blockchain interoperability.

Multichain Key Features

Cross-Chain Router
Multichain’s cross-chain router enables users to swap native tokens across blockchains directly. This router supports both 1:1 pegged tokens and liquidity pool-based swaps.

Security Infrastructure
Multichain uses MPC (Multi-Party Computation) nodes to validate cross-chain messages. This method distributes control among multiple validators, ensuring no single point of failure.

Developer-Focused Tools
With detailed documentation and SDKs, Multichain offers plug-and-play bridging capabilities for dApps. Projects can integrate cross-chain functionality with minimal custom logic.

High Throughput
Multichain handles thousands of transactions daily with finality times ranging between 3–30 minutes, depending on chain congestion.

Why Multichain Matters in 2025

As multichain ecosystems continue to grow — from Ethereum rollups to L2s like Arbitrum and ZkSync — users demand fluid movement between them. Multichain’s flexibility and chain coverage solve one of the core bottlenecks in the current DeFi infrastructure.

Use cases include:

Yield farming across chains

NFT transfers

DAO governance participation on multiple networks

DeFi arbitrage and trading strategies

Use Multichain: Step-by-Step

Welcome to Multichain

Connect your wallet (e.g., MetaMask)

Select the source chain and target chain

Choose the token and amount

Confirm the transaction

Wait for bridge confirmation and token receipt

All cross-chain transfers are trackable in real-time.

Trust & Transparency
Multichain’s smart contracts are open source and accessible via their GitHub repository. The protocol has been audited by respected security firms and continues to operate a bug bounty program. It also maintains on-chain verification for liquidity status and bridge activity.

Integration with Major Protocols

Multichain powers the bridging experience for protocols such as:

Curve Finance

SushiSwap

Stargate-compatible integrations

Chainlink CCIP-compatible apps

Its compatibility and liquidity depth make it a preferred backend for projects seeking multichain access.

FAQ: Multichain

Q: Is Multichain custodial?
A: No. Multichain is non-custodial and relies on MPC node groups to manage assets across chains securely.

Q: How long do transfers take?
A: Depending on the chains involved, it usually takes 3–30 minutes for the bridge to complete.

Q: Are there fees involved?
A: Yes, Multichain charges a small bridging fee that varies by chain and token. These are visible during the transaction.

Q: Can I bridge NFTs with Multichain?
A: Yes, Multichain supports ERC-721 and ERC-1155 transfers across certain chains.

Q: How is Multichain different from other bridges?
A: Multichain supports more chains, has deeper liquidity, and offers a router-based experience that’s flexible and composable.

Final Thoughts

Multichain is not just a bridge — it's an infrastructure protocol essential to the multichain future of DeFi. With increasing demand for cross-chain interactions, it plays a critical role in enabling fluid capital mobility, protocol composability, and user accessibility.

In 2025, as more users and projects embrace the multichain vision, platforms like Multichain will remain foundational to the health and scalability of Web3.

Multichain GitHub