This article was first published on Deythere.
- THORChain (RUNE): The Early Native Cross-Chain Liquidity Mining Instigator.
- Hop Protocol (HOP): Fast L2 Bridge via Yield Farming
- Synapse Protocol (SYN): High-Speed Multichain Bridge
- Across Protocol (ACX): Optimistic Bridge With Bonus Rewards
- Stargate Finance (STG): The One Stablecoin Liquidity Bridge
- Bridge Celer cBridge: Multi-Chain Pool Mining at Scale
- Chainflip (FLIP): Multi-Asset Cross-Chain Exchange
- Why Cross-Chain Liquidity Mining is Important in 2026
- Conclusion
- Glossary
- Frequently Asked Questions About Top Cross-chain Liquidity Platforms
- What exactly is cross-chain liquidity mining?
- How does one earn rewards?
- What are the risks?
- Which blockchains are supported?
- Do participants need tokens on all chains?
- References
Cross-chain liquidity mining platforms have emerged as a hot trend in DeFi, allowing users to earn yield across various blockchains.
The protocols connect assets and combine liquidity pools across different networks, so a deposit on one chain can earn rewards on another. In essence, with cross-chain yield farming, investors can now diversify and access more earning opportunities than what is offered by a single network.
Leading protocols are offering increasingly extensive coverage and incentives as interoperability continues to progress. In 2026, major cross-chain liquidity mining platforms include Hop, Synapse, Stargate, amongst others
THORChain (RUNE): The Early Native Cross-Chain Liquidity Mining Instigator.
THORChain is a decentralized exchange protocol powering native swaps across blockchains without using wrapped tokens. Its beta interface (swap. thorchain. org) allows trading Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, Dogecoin, Avalanche and Cosmos directly.
Native asset pairs (BTC/RUNE, ETH/RUNE etc) are deposited by liquidity providers into the pools of THORChain. For each cross-chain swap, they make trading fees and are rewarded with RUNE tokens. THORChain’s press stressed that this beta “eliminates wrapped tokens” and is due to go fully live in Q1 2026.
Key Features
- Offers true native swaps without wrapped tokens.
- Liquidity providers receive their fair share of the swap fees and RUNE incentives.
- New interface breaks barriers on multi-chain DeFi.
Hop Protocol (HOP): Fast L2 Bridge via Yield Farming
Hop is a bridge targeting Ethereum Layer-2 networks (Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, Gnosis etc.) through AMM pools. Users deposit assets like ETH, USDC, DAI, and USDT on one chain and after minutes receive them on the target chain.
In 2025, Hop rolled out its HOP token as well as a liquidity mining program whereby it disperses about 2.2M HOP monthly to LPs across its major pools, showcasing how cross-chain liquidity mining can be both efficient and rewarding on L2 networks.
Best For: Users focused on L2 DeFi ecosystems and fast settlement with minimal gas costs.
Synapse Protocol (SYN): High-Speed Multichain Bridge
Synapse is an on-chain AMM with cross-chain bridging across 20+ chains (Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, BNB, Avalanche, Fantom, Harmony, Aurora, Canto, etc.).
Its bridge allows users to transfer between networks with synthetic assets (e.g., nUSD, nETH) at low fees (approximately 0.05-0.3%).
Participants who provide the liquidity to Synapse’s pools get a portion of the fees as well as farm its SYN token from its yield program. According to reports, Synapse yield is between 5-22% APY.
ts bridge allows users to move assets in and out of it quickly and cheaply, allowing for more participation in DeFi yield programs. With low slippage and support for stablecoins and assets in several ecosystems, Synapse retains its appeal to DeFi farmers looking for yield diversification.
Why It Matters:
- Low fees and good chain coverage.
- Stablecoin pools ensure that users’ funds are less vulnerable in fluctuating markets.
Across Protocol (ACX): Optimistic Bridge With Bonus Rewards
Across is an optimistic bridge built on UMA’s oracle, bridging Ethereum to chains such as Arbitrum, Optimism, Gnosis and Polygon.
It allows for near-instant transfers (1-4 minutes) by front-running swaps with a capital provider network and settling them through an optimistic oracle. They released their own token, ACX, for yield farming for DeFi in late 2025.
A notable feature is a time-based rewards multiplier; the longer the liquidity remains in a pool, the greater the ACX rewards factor.
These pools yield double-digit APYs.
Stargate Finance (STG): The One Stablecoin Liquidity Bridge
Stargate Finance is a cross-chain LayerZero protocol that aggregates stablecoin market across chains. It supports native tokens including USDC, USDT, ETH and FRAX on Ethereum, Avalanche, Polygon, BSC chain; it also supports Arbitrum, Optimism, Metis and more.
Stargate’s “Delta algorithm” guarantees instant finality. When a user swaps on one chain, Stargate locks and immediately unlocks these funds on target chain in the same transaction. LPs can lock assets in Stargate pools to receive swap fees and, of course, STG rewards. Reports say that some pools on Stargate have offered 10% APY.
Highlights:
- Unified stablecoin pools with instant finality for cross-chain transfers.
- Deep liquidity minimizes slippage and improves yields.
- Designed for both beginners and experienced DeFi users.
Bridge Celer cBridge: Multi-Chain Pool Mining at Scale
Celer’s cBridge supports 40+ chains (EVM networks and zk-rollups such as zkSync Era/Linea, Cosmos chains, etc.). It operates on a hybrid liquidity pool/state-channel model and the State Guardian Network for security.
LPs deposit tokens to facilitate cross-chain transfers. Another key feature of cBridge is that there is built-in liquidity mining: when one chain has more spare liquidity in a pool, Celer will pay out rewards (in CELR or bonus fees) to incentivize LPs on the other chain. This incentives mechanism helps to keep the liquidity and fast (3-10 minutes) finality.
Strengths:
- Chain capabilities across the board, with living incentives.
- Close integrations with different DeFi exchanges and pools.
| Platform | Chains Supported | Reward Token / Yield | Features |
| THORChain | BTC, ETH, BNB, DOGE, AVAX, ATOM, etc. | RUNE (from swap fees) | Native cross-chain swaps (no wrapping) |
| Hop Protocol | Ethereum + 9 L2s (Arbitrum, Optimism…) | HOP (liquidity mining token) | Fast L1↔L2 swaps, HOP token rewards |
| Synapse | 20+ L1/L2 (incl. Canto, Harmony) | SYN (liquidity mining token) | 2-5 min transfers, broad multichain support |
| Across | Ethereum L2s + Polygon, Gnosis | ACX (liquidity mining token) | Optimistic bridge, time-weighted APY bonus |
| Stargate | 15+ (major EVM, Avalanche, Cosmos via LZero) | STG (liquidity mining token) | Unified stablecoin pools, instant finality |
| Celer cBridge | 40+ chains (EVM, zkRollups, Cosmos) | CELR (liquidity mining token) | Omni-bridge, yield on idle pools |
| Chainflip | BTC, ETH, SOL, etc. | BTC (native yield in BTC) | Native BTC swaps, BTC-denominated yield |
Chainflip (FLIP): Multi-Asset Cross-Chain Exchange
Chainflip is a newer DEX on Polkadot/Substrate for native multi-chain swaps (BTC, ETH, SOL, USDC, etc.). It uses a trustless cross-chain design. Chainflip’s standout feature is native Bitcoin yield: users supplying BTC to its pool earn a sustainable yield in BTC directly (no impermanent loss or wrapping).
They also earn trading fees from cross-chain swaps as well. Chainflip may have only just launched its incentivized testnet in 2025, but LPs can already earn Bitcoin rewards when providing liquidity for their BTC.
Why Cross-Chain Liquidity Mining is Important in 2026
Cross-chain liquidity mining gives DeFi supercharged capital efficiency where liquidity providers can earn yields across ecosystems, rather than in a single network’s pools.
With DeFi moving away from its infancy stage, the projects increasing in operability (such as LayerZero and Chainlink CCIP), and bridges that help liquidity providers to connect profitably across the blockchain ecosystem, LPs have been able to access returns more seamlessly.
There are reports that cross-chain liquidity is coming up as an infrastructure for DeFi development in 2026 to solve fragmentation and efficiency issues for capital deployment.
Top platforms today feature multi-chain pools and unique incentives to draw liquidity, and newer technologies are looking to lower slippage and bridge risk.
Conclusion
Cross-Chain Liquidity Mining Platforms have been growing and diversifying at a fast pace. This 2026, leading protocols are designed with cross-chain messaging and AMMs to enable seamless liquidity networks.
By aggregating the bridges with AMMs, they enable the LPs to gain yield on complete ecosystems. Protocols such as THORChain, Hop, Synapse, Across, Stargate, Celer and Chainflip allow users to contribute liquidity on one chain and earn rewards in others.
These platforms allow yield farmers to provide the picks and shovels for cross-chain value flows, earning fees in tokens across blockchains.
Ultimately, the advice for users is to keep it simple and focus on security, pick platforms with strong audits, high TVL and sound tokenomics.
Glossary
Cross-Chain Liquidity Mining Platforms: DeFi platforms (bridges/AMMs) that exist on multiple chains. They aggregate liquidity and share rewards across networks.
Liquidity Pool: A smart contract that stores paired assets (for example, USDC/ETH), and facilitates a token exchange. LPs stake tokens to support trading and receive fees.
Bridge: Protocols that are used for transferring tokens between blockchains. They can employ AMM pools (like Hop, Stargate) or lock-and-mint (like Wormhole).
Impermanent Loss: A loss that LPs take when the price of assets changes relative to the value when deposited.
AMM (Automated Market Maker): A type of DEX that uses pools, as well as price formulas rather than order books, to facilitate trades between assets.
Reward token: Native tokens on the blockchain (HOP, SYN, STG, RUNE and so on) paid out to liquidity providers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Top Cross-chain Liquidity Platforms
What exactly is cross-chain liquidity mining?
It’s a DeFi strategy where participants supply liquidity to pools across multiple blockchains. Bridges shuffle their assets around and they receive a cut of swap fees plus token rewards. In essence ,participants are yield farming across networks.
How does one earn rewards?
Deposit assets (such as ETH, USDC) into a cross-chain pool. The protocol moves the assets on other chains as trades happen, automatically. In exchange, participants get trading fees and farming rewards in protocol’s native token (e.g. HOP, SYN, ACX, STG).
What are the risks?
Risks include impermanent loss (when token prices diverge), smart contract or bridge hacks, and volatility in the reward tokens. Bridges can introduce additional vulnerabilities. Further, reward incentives can go down if the token emission slows. Use only audited platforms, and don’t risk more than you can afford to lose.
Which blockchains are supported?
It varies by protocol. Hop’s coverage includes Ethereum L1 as well as nine L2s (Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, Gnosis and more). Synapse connects 20+ chains like Ethereum L1, Arbitrum I, Avalanche, Harmony One, Canto, etc. Stargate connects 15 networks (Ethereum, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon etc.).
Do participants need tokens on all chains?
No. These platforms do the work of transferring between chains. For instance, to deposit ETH on Ethereum can result to the corresponding token on another chain through the bridge. You still need native coin (such as ETH or BNB) for gas on each chain if you deposit/withdraw.
References
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