While LayerZero and Stargate are popular choices for cross-chain bridging, Wormhole serves as an excellent alternative when main bridges face congestion or high fees. Operating since 2021, the Wormhole protocol relies on a security model verified by 19 Guardian Nodes, supporting over 30 chains including Solana, Ethereum, BSC, Polygon, Avalanche, Aptos, and Sui. This tutorial will focus on moving USDT from Solana to BSC. Preparation: Register and complete KYC via the Binance official website, download the official Binance App, and refer to the iOS installation tutorial for Apple devices.
1. Two Modes of Wormhole Bridging
New users must distinguish between the two ways Wormhole handles USDT:
1. Wrapped Mode (Bridged Assets)
Wormhole issues a "wrapped" version of USDT on the target chain. For instance, bridging from Ethereum to Solana results in USDTet (Wormhole-wrapped ETH-based USDT). These assets require a corresponding lock-up on the original chain. Characteristics: Limited liquidity; Binance generally does not support direct deposits of wrapped versions.
2. CCTP / Native Mode (Native Assets)
Utilising Circle’s CCTP (exclusive to USDC) or native issuance by Tether, you receive native USDT/USDC on the target chain. Characteristics: Directly supported by Binance, but currently limited to USDC (via Circle CCTP). Since USDT does not yet have official native cross-chain support on Wormhole, most USDT transfers result in Wrapped versions.
Conclusion: Bridging USDC via Wormhole is significantly safer than bridging USDT. If you must bridge USDT, it is recommended to swap the wrapped tokens for native USDT on a DEX upon reaching the target chain before use.
2. Accessing Wormhole
The official entry points are portalbridge.com (legacy interface) and wormhole.com/portal (new version). Always type the URL manually or use bookmarks; avoid clicking on Google Ads, as phishing sites impersonating Portal are very common.
3. Step-by-Step Guide: Solana → BSC USDC Bridging
Prerequisites: Ensure you have USDC and a small amount of SOL (for Gas) in your Solana wallet (e.g., Phantom), and a small amount of BNB (for subsequent Gas) in your BSC wallet (e.g., MetaMask).
- Open portalbridge.com and connect your Phantom wallet (Solana side) in the top left corner.
- Select "Solana" as the "From" chain and "BNB Chain" as the "To" chain.
- Select USDC as the token to bridge and enter the amount (e.g., 100 USDC).
- Check the "Estimated to receive" amount on the right (this includes the relayer fee, typically 0.1–0.5 USDC).
- Switch to MetaMask and connect your BSC wallet.
- Click "Approve and proceed" and sign the transaction in Phantom.
- Wait approximately 2–5 minutes for the 19 Guardian nodes to sign the VAA.
- Claim the tokens on the BNB Chain (manual claim is unnecessary if "Auto-relay" was selected).
Once the transaction is complete, you will have native USDC in your BSC wallet (not wUSDC, as it uses CCTP).
4. Fee Structure
Wormhole itself does not charge a protocol fee, but you will encounter:
| Fee Item | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Source Chain Gas (Solana) | ~0.0001 SOL (< 0.1 USD) |
| Relayer Fee | 0.1–0.5 USDC for stablecoins |
| Target Chain Claim Gas (BSC) | ~0.001 BNB (< 1 USD) |
| Auto-relay Service Fee | Additional 0.5–1 USDC if enabled |
For a stablecoin transfer of around 100 USD, the total cost is usually 1–2 USD, which is comparable to or slightly lower than LayerZero.
5. When to Choose Wormhole Over LayerZero/Stargate
- Solana ↔ EVM Transfers: Wormhole is currently the most stable bridge between Solana and EVM chains.
- Bridging to Aptos / Sui: Wormhole supports Move-based chains, where LayerZero has less historical data.
- USDC Bridging (CCTP): Wormhole’s integration with Circle CCTP ensures native USDC cross-chain transfers.
- Niche Chains: Wormhole supports chains like Algorand, Near, and Sei.
6. Depositing to Binance After Bridging
Once the bridge is complete and you have native USDC in your BSC wallet, follow these steps to deposit to Binance:
- Binance → Deposit → USDC → Select "BNB Smart Chain (BEP20)" network.
- Copy your Binance deposit address.
- Send the USDC from MetaMask to this address. On the BSC chain, it typically arrives after 1 block confirmation.
- The funds will be credited to your Binance account in approximately 1–2 minutes.
If you bridged Wrapped USDT (not CCTP), do not transfer it directly to Binance. Binance does not recognize wrapped assets, and your funds may be lost. Swap wUSDT for native USDT or USDC on PancakeSwap first.
7. Security Considerations
In February 2022, Wormhole suffered a hack on the Solana side resulting in the loss of $320 million (which was subsequently covered by Jump Crypto). Since then, Wormhole has upgraded its Guardian model and passed multiple audits, making its current security widely respected. However, all cross-chain bridges carry protocol risks. Do not leave large sums in the bridging process for long: claim your funds immediately and move them to a secure wallet.
Bridging is a means, not an end. If possible, avoid bridging altogether—check if Binance natively supports the target chain first. For example, if you need USDT on BSC, withdrawing BEP20-USDT directly from Binance is cheaper and safer than using a cross-chain bridge.