Three Checks Before You Confirm a Bridge Recipient Address

Before confirming a bridge transfer, verify the destination network, the recipient address format and that you control the address on that network. A bridge sends assets from one chain and delivers them on another, so the source wallet alone does not confirm who can receive the destination assets.

Bridge interfaces ask users to select source and destination chains, while transfer details include a recipient on the destination chain, according to Chainlink’s CCIP guide and bridge contract documentation. For an account of why a transfer can remain pending after submission, see Mantle Bridge.

Which destination network should you check?

Check that the destination network shown in the bridge is the network where you intend to receive the asset. The BNB Chain bridge guide, for example, has users choose both a source chain and a destination chain before sending; selecting the right wallet address does not correct a wrong destination selection.

Read the network names in the bridge’s final review screen and compare them with the network selected in the wallet where you plan to receive funds. If the bridge supports multiple routes, confirm the specific route and destination token as well: a token’s ticker or familiar name does not by itself identify the chain or contract receiving it.

How can you check the recipient address?

Compare the full recipient address with the address shown in the destination wallet, character by character. Do not rely on a shortened preview, a saved clipboard entry or the first and last few characters alone; those checks can miss a changed middle section.

Then check that the destination chain accepts that address format. An EVM-style address may look familiar across several EVM networks, while other networks use different formats; matching appearance does not prove that an address is usable on every chain. Address-format validation can catch malformed input, but it cannot prove that the address belongs to you or that you can access it.

• Confirm the destination chain in the bridge summary.
• Paste or select the complete address from the intended destination wallet, then compare it in full.
• Check that the destination network supports the address type and the token route you selected.

How do you know you control the recipient?

You control the recipient if you can access it on the destination network and it can receive the asset being bridged. A wallet app may show the same account address on multiple networks, but you still need to confirm the relevant network is enabled and that the destination asset can be received there.

For a contract address, check whether it is designed to receive the bridged asset; a valid contract address is not automatically a suitable recipient. If any detail is uncertain, stop before signing and verify it through the wallet or bridge interface. For a large transfer, a small test transfer can show whether the chosen route delivers to the intended account, though it adds a separate transaction and fee.

Once the transfer is submitted, use the bridge’s activity or tracking view to follow its status; Chainlink’s guide points users to its activity tab or explorer. Check the destination transaction before treating the transfer as complete, and confirm the network and recipient again before sending another transfer.