Welcome to Web 3 with A16Z. Today we explore the messy secrets of

blockchain bridges. These cross-chain connectors are the go-betweens in today's multi-chain world,

but their short history has been a checkered one,

with prominent projects succumbing to major hacks and other hijinks.

So, we've brought on one of the builders who knows this world best

to help disentangle the messiness.

That's Brian Pelagrino, founder and CEO of Layer Zero Labs, maker of a popular blockchain interoperability protocol.

In this episode, Brian delivers a crash course on the evolution of bridges, including the ups and downs of various approaches.

You'll learn also about the technology's inner workings, its applications, and how it fits

in with ongoing efforts to scale blockchains.

Joining his A16Z-Crypto general partner Ali Yaya, who's also an expert in this area.

Plus me, your co-host, Robert Hackett.

The first voice you'll hear after mine is Brian's, then Ali's.

As always, none of the content should be taken as tax, business, legal, or investment advice.

See A16Z.com slash disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.

Of all the things going on in crypto,

bridges seem to be having an issue.

I'm looking at the wrecked leaderboard and some of the biggest

hacks have all targeted bridges and interoperability protocols, things that are trying to move assets between chains.

And there is billions of dollars here just in the top 10 of these hacks. Why is that? What's going on here? Why are bridges so

targeted and vulnerable? So I think it's more that there was this unique moment in time go back maybe two years ago.

It was just like the world was expanding rapidly and there was nowhere to go and even like exchanges

...