First step
First, to interact with any Polygon bridge, you need to connect to a crypto blockchain data api wallet. The Polygon Bridge website automatically prompts users to connect the wallet before using the bridge. There are many wallets to choose from.
From MetaMask, a leading Web3 blockchain data api browser wallet, to WalletConnect, a popular mobile wallet, plus a connection to the Coinbase wallet, Polygon Bridge allows many different wallet users to interact with the protocol.
Second, once you connect your wallet, you may need to switch networks. Users can only interact with Bridges on the Polygon network. If a user's wallet is already connected to another network, the site will automatically prompt to confirm switching the wallet network to Polygon.
For video tutorials from industry experts on how to install and navigate MetaMask, check out Moralis Academy's DeFi Masterclass 2022! Or, save our "Web3 Browser" article for a later look at how the Internet has evolved with Web3.
The second step
After that, users need to sign transactions to allow Polygon to interact with wallets, such as MetaMask. This is free for the user, completely free. At this point, users will be able to view the blockchain data api token balance of their transferable assets. It is worth noting that the Polygon Bridge shows the balance of the digital token, not the balance of the dollar value.
Users must adjust the options needed to perform the transaction they wish to make. For example, at this stage, you can adjust the top bar of a deposit or withdrawal transaction.
Depending on the type of transaction, Polygon Bridge will automatically use a proof-of-stake (PoS) bridge or provide Plasma bridge options. One example is choosing to deposit Ethereum assets into the Polygon network. In this case, the transfer mode is automatically using the PoS bridge.
However, if users wish to withdraw assets from Polygon to Ethereum, they will see a [Switch Bridge] button that allows them to switch from the PoS bridge to the Plasma bridge.
Step 3
In this article, we'll use an example of depositing Ethereum assets into the Polygon network using MetaMask. Make sure the blockchain data api Deposits TAB is selected, then click on the list of assets under Ethereum Chain and select the assets you want to transfer. The default asset displayed is "Ethereum" (ETH), which users can click on to make changes. After selecting the desired asset, enter the amount you want to send.
Step 4
Before the blockchain data api transaction is completed, the user will see a pop-up window showing important information about what is supported and what is not supported in the transaction. Read this article and click [Continue] if you are satisfied. After that, another pop-up window will display the transfer overview.
This will show an estimate of the amount of gas needed to process the transaction. This will fluctuate greatly depending on network usage. Therefore, it is recommended to try moving assets when network activity is low to save on gas costs.
If you are satisfied with the amount, select [Continue] to continue the process. The next pop-up window will be the "Confirm Transfer" review, showing the total cost of the transaction and breaking down the asset and gas charges. This will also show which bridge is running, estimated completion time, and confirmation of the direction of the network transmission.
Clicking Continue on the transfer review will prompt the user to make a final confirmation of the transaction through the wallet. The final popup that requires approval will go through MetaMask, which also provides a review before the transaction is confirmed.
This is the final stage at which a transaction can be canceled before it becomes immutable.
After checking that the details are correct, the user must approve these transactions in their MetaMask wallet by clicking Step 5
After you click [Confirm] in MetaMask, a polygonal pop-up window will appear that says "Transferring".
Users can click on this pop-up window that takes them to the block browser to track the progress of their transactions.
We'll talk more about blocking browsers later. Depending on the type of transaction, displaying blockchain data api tokens on the Polygon network using a PoS bridge can take anywhere from seven or eight minutes to three hours. However, for users who interact with the Plasma Bridge, this can take up to seven days. After the transfer, assets will automatically appear in the user's wallet when connected to the Polygon network.