Definition
Cross-chain messaging is a process for transmitting structured data or state information between distinct blockchain networks without requiring direct asset transfers. It encompasses the protocols, encoding formats, and verification assumptions that allow one chain to reference, attest to, or react to events occurring on another chain. As a process, it focuses on message passing and state synchronization across heterogeneous execution and consensus environments.
In Simple Terms
Cross-chain messaging is the process of sending information from one blockchain to another so that different chains can react to each other’s activity. Instead of moving tokens, it moves data about what happened on one chain so that another chain can record or respond to that information in its own state.
Context and Usage
Cross-chain messaging is typically discussed in the context of multi-chain application design, protocol interoperability, and coordination between separate execution layers or ecosystems. It appears in technical specifications for bridges, oracle networks, and off-chain coordination frameworks that need to propagate events, proofs, or state updates across chains. The term is often used when defining trust boundaries and security models for inter-chain communication.