How to Recover a Stuck Bridge Transfer: Troubleshooting Guide
Bridge transfer stuck? Check tx status, common causes like finality delays and liquidity issues, when to wait, when to contact support, and recovery options.
Checking Your Bridge Status
The first step is always to check the transaction status. On AEXI, every swap gets a live request page accessible from the request tracker right after confirmation.
The request page shows where the transfer sits: deposit received, bridge processing, destination payout pending, or completed. Each step links to the block explorer so you can verify on-chain.
If you used a different bridge, check the source chain explorer for your deposit transaction and the destination chain explorer for the payout. Most bridges provide a tracking URL.
Common Causes of Stuck Bridges
Finality delays are the most common reason. Ethereum transactions take 12+ seconds per block, and bridges typically require 12-65 confirmations (2-15 minutes) before releasing funds on the destination. Be patient during this window.
Liquidity issues occur when the bridge pool on the destination chain is temporarily depleted. The bridge may queue your payout until liquidity is replenished. This is usually resolved within 30-60 minutes.
Network congestion on either chain can slow processing. Check gas trackers to see if the network is experiencing unusually high demand.
When to Wait vs When to Act
Wait if: the bridge has been processing for under 30 minutes, the source transaction is confirmed, and the request page shows progress. Most bridges complete within 15-30 minutes.
Contact support if: the transfer has been pending for over 1 hour with no status change, the source transaction shows failed, or the request page shows an error. AEXI support is available through the official Telegram channel.
Do not submit a replacement transaction while a bridge is processing. Duplicate transactions can result in double-spending or funds being locked.
Recovery Options
Most modern bridges are atomic — if the transfer fails, your funds are returned to the source chain minus gas fees. Check the source chain wallet for a refund transaction.
For NEAR Intents routes, the solver network handles recovery automatically. If the intent cannot be fulfilled, the deposit is returned to the sender address.
In rare cases where funds are stuck in a bridge contract, the bridge operator may need to manually process the release. Contact the bridge protocol support with your transaction hash for assistance.
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