A native bridge is the bridge a rollup's own team built into the chain. It's the most direct way to move tokens between a rollup and its settlement chain. Deposits usually arrive in minutes. Withdrawals can take several days.
What is a native bridge?
A rollup is a chain that runs on top of another chain and relies on it for security. The native bridge is a set of contracts on both chains that the rollup itself uses to move tokens.
Superbridge is an interface for these contracts. It doesn't own or control them.
The settlement chain
Every rollup posts its data to a settlement chain. That's the chain its native bridge connects to.
The settlement chain is often Ethereum, but not always. Some rollups settle on another rollup, such as Base or Arbitrum One. These are sometimes called L3s.
The rules below are the same either way. Only the wait times and the gas token can differ.
Deposits
A deposit moves tokens onto the rollup from its settlement chain. You make one transaction, and your tokens usually arrive within a few minutes.
On some chains (Arbitrum, Linea and Polygon AggLayer), a deposit is delivered automatically but can occasionally stall. If it hasn't arrived after about an hour, Activity shows Action needed and a Finalize button. Select Finalize to complete it yourself. You'll need gas on the rollup.
Withdrawals
A withdrawal moves tokens off the rollup, back to its settlement chain. It takes two or three transactions and, on most chains that settle on Ethereum, about 7 days.
You start on the rollup, wait, and then finish on the settlement chain. On OP Stack chains you also prove the withdrawal partway through. Withdraw with a native bridge
Why withdrawals wait
The settlement chain doesn't check every rollup transaction as it happens. Instead, the rollup posts claims about its state, and a false claim can be challenged. On some chains anyone can challenge; on others, only approved parties can.
The wait, called the challenge period, gives people time to do that. Your withdrawal is only paid out once the claim it relies on has survived the challenge period. This is what keeps the bridge secure, so it can't be skipped. Waiting states explained
Trade-offs
| Native bridge | Third-party bridges | |
|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal time | Hours to about 7 days | Usually minutes |
| Provider fees | None | Usually a small fee |
| Transactions | Two or three | Usually one |
| Security | The rollup's own contracts | The provider's system |
Deposits are fast either way. For withdrawals, choose a native bridge if you don't mind waiting and want the rollup's own security. Choose another route if you need your tokens sooner. Choosing a route
Last reviewed September 28, 2026