Chain hopping definition

Chain hopping

Moving value rapidly between different blockchains, usually through bridges or swap services, to interrupt tracing that works within a single chain.

also known as

cross-chain hopping, bridging

reviewed

2026-08-20

Cite this page

APA 7

Sanctions Evasion Reference. (2026, August 20). Chain hopping. https://sanctionsevasion.org/reference/glossary/chain-hopping/

Chicago

Sanctions Evasion Reference. “Chain hopping.” Last reviewed August 20, 2026. https://sanctionsevasion.org/reference/glossary/chain-hopping/.

BibTeX

@misc{ser-reference-glossary-chain-hopping,
  author = {{Sanctions Evasion Reference}},
  title  = {Chain hopping},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {Last reviewed 2026-08-20},
  url    = {https://sanctionsevasion.org/reference/glossary/chain-hopping/}
}

The date is when this page was last reviewed, not when it was first published.

Analytics that cluster addresses and follow transactions do so within one ledger. Crossing to another chain breaks that continuity: the asset that arrives is a different asset on a different ledger, and linking the two requires reconstructing the bridge transaction.

It is defeated by the same reconciliation logic used everywhere else on this site — matching amounts and timings across the two ledgers — but it imposes real cost and delay, which is the point.

Where this term is used

How is cryptocurrency used to evade sanctions? — Settling obligations in virtual assets so that value moves without a correspondent bank, a payment message or a screening system in the path, and without any institution able to block it in transit.
What are mixers and chain hopping? — Breaking the traceability of on-chain funds by pooling them with other users' funds, or by moving them between blockchains, so that outputs cannot be readily linked to their inputs.
What is stablecoin settlement and why does it matter for sanctions? — Settling commercial obligations in a fiat-referenced token, so that a dollar-denominated trade can be paid without a dollar ever passing through a correspondent bank.

Related terms

Mixer — A service that pools virtual currency from many users and redistributes it, so that outputs cannot be readily linked to the inputs that funded them.
Blockchain analytics — The practice of clustering addresses and attributing them to real-world services or actors, using on-chain patterns and off-chain information.
Stablecoin — A virtual asset designed to hold a steady value against a reference such as a national currency, usually by holding reserves or by algorithmic mechanism.

Where this term is used

Related terms

Sources