The Problem: Traditional Cross-Chain UX
Cross-chain bridging today is painful. Users face multiple steps, network switching, and often get stuck without gas tokens. You lose users before they even complete their first action.
Users Don't Care About "How"
Here's the reality: most users don't understand blockchain infrastructure, and they shouldn't have to.
When a user wants to swap tokens cross-chain, they don't want to:
- Learn what "network switching" means
- Understand why they need "gas tokens"
- Figure out what an "attestation" is
- Debug why their transaction is "pending"
They just want it to work. Like Venmo. Like Uber. Like every other app they use daily.
Your job as a developer is to abstract away complexity, not expose it.
Every popup, every extra step, every technical term is a chance for users to leave.
The Traditional Flow
Here's what users experience with standard bridges:
Traditional Bridge Flow
- User initiates token bridge
- Transaction sent on source chain
- Wait for bridge confirmation
- User manually switches wallet to destination chain
- MetaMask popup: 'Allow this site to switch network?'
- User confirms network switch
- User submits transaction on destination chain
- Needs native tokens for gas
- ERROR: Insufficient balance for gas!
- Assets are in limbo
- User can't claim without gas tokens
- No way to proceed without external help
The Pain Points
1. Multiple Transactions
Users need to sign and pay for multiple transactions:
- Approve tokens on source chain
- Bridge tokens (lock/burn)
- Switch networks
- Claim tokens on destination
- Approve tokens for your dApp
- Execute the actual action
That's 4-6 transactions for one cross-chain action.
2. Network Switching
Users must manually switch their wallet between chains. This is confusing for new users and error-prone for everyone.
3. Gas Token Problem
The biggest pain point: users need native tokens on the destination chain to claim their bridged assets.
New users to a chain have:
- Tokens they just bridged
- No ETH/native tokens for gas
- No way to get gas tokens without an exchange or faucet
You just lost a user.
4. Complex State Management
As a developer, you need to:
- Track transaction status across multiple chains
- Handle network switching in your UI
- Guide users through 4+ steps
- Handle failures at any step
- Explain why they need gas tokens
The Real Cost
Every extra step in your flow is a drop-off point. Here's a typical pattern:
Typical User Drop-off (Illustrative)
The exact numbers vary by product, but the pattern is consistent:
Every friction point compounds. Complexity kills conversion.
Developer Responsibility
The blockchain industry often blames users for not understanding technology.
This is backwards.
Good UX means users never need to understand the underlying tech.
| Bad UX | Good UX |
|---|---|
| "Switch to Arbitrum network" | (Happens automatically) |
| "You need ETH for gas" | (Fees deducted from transfer) |
| "Waiting for attestation..." | "Processing..." |
| 4 transaction popups | 1 signature |
| User troubleshoots errors | It just works |
If your grandmother can't use your dApp, the problem isn't your grandmother.
What Developers Want
As a developer building cross-chain applications, you want:
- One-step UX: Users sign once, action executes
- No network switching: Users stay on their source chain
- No gas token requirement: Users pay fees in their chosen token
- Simple integration: Drop in a library, not rebuild your architecture
- Reliable execution: Decentralized operators ensure liveness
This is exactly what Pons Network provides.
Next: The Solution →