Polygon Bridge moves supported tokens between Ethereum and Polygon PoS, with deposits often taking about 20–30 minutes. It lets you use an Ethereum asset on Polygon PoS, where transactions usually cost less. You pay network fees, and a return trip to Ethereum needs a final claim.
What Does the Bridge Move?
The bridge moves value by locking a token on Ethereum and issuing its matching version on Polygon PoS. Polygon PoS is the network where you receive and use that version. Think of a vault issuing a receipt: the original stays put, while the receipt can be used elsewhere.
The token must have a recognised mapping, which pairs its Ethereum and Polygon versions. Common examples include:
- ETH, Ethereum’s coin, arrives as wrapped ETH, a token representing ETH on Polygon.
- DAI, a dollar-pegged token, arrives as its mapped Polygon version.
- Bridged USDC arrives as USDC.e, which differs from native USDC issued on Polygon.
That USDC difference matters if you plan to use the tokens in an app. Check the exact token it accepts, including its contract address, before you send. A contract address is the identifier for a particular token on a network.
How Do You Transfer Tokens?
Connect your wallet in Polygon Portal, select the sending and receiving networks, and review the token shown. Your wallet must hold ETH on Ethereum to pay gas, the network’s processing fee.
- Choose Ethereum as the source and Polygon PoS as the destination.
- Select a supported token and enter the amount.
- If asked, approve access to that token in your wallet. This may be a separate paid transaction.
- Review the destination token and fee, then confirm the deposit.
- Wait for the Polygon balance to appear. Switch your wallet to Polygon PoS to see it.
A bridge to Polygon only helps if the received token works in your chosen app. Once you have checked the token pair, Polygon Bridge moves the supported asset between networks. A matching symbol alone does not prove two tokens are the same.
For the return trip, select Polygon PoS as the source and start a withdrawal. Wait for a checkpoint, a record of Polygon transactions sent to Ethereum. Then press “Claim Tokens” and confirm the Ethereum transaction; starting the withdrawal alone does not finish it.
What Will It Cost and How Long Will It Take?
Polygon bridge fees depend mainly on gas: ETH on Ethereum and POL on Polygon PoS. A token approval adds another Ethereum fee when required. For example, a $6 fee on a $25 transfer takes 24% of its value, so check the wallet’s live quote before confirming.
Allow about 20–30 minutes for a deposit and roughly 45 minutes to three hours before a withdrawal can be claimed. Network demand can change both estimates. Keep enough ETH for the final claim, even if you already paid POL to start the withdrawal.
Two Questions Before You Send
Can I Bridge Any ERC-20 Token?
No. ERC-20 is a common standard for Ethereum tokens, but the token still needs a supported Polygon mapping. Search for it in the transfer screen and check both contract addresses. If it is absent, do not assume that another token with the same name is an equivalent replacement.
Why Has My Withdrawal Not Reached Ethereum?
First check whether the checkpoint has arrived in the transaction history. If “Claim Tokens” is available, complete that step with ETH in your wallet for gas. The withdrawal cannot be cancelled after it starts, but a pending claim can be completed later.
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