proxmox/docs/07-ccip/CROSS_NETWORK_FUNDING_BOOTSTRAP_STRATEGY.md

Cross-Network Funding Bootstrap Strategy

Status date: March 29, 2026

This runbook captures the practical funding graph from Chain 138 after the live relay and recovery work.

Core constraint

Chain 138 uses a custom router that emits MessageSent events but does not natively deliver into public-chain CCIP bridges.

That means:

• a native destination mapping like 138 -> Gnosis is configuration signal, not proof of a live route
• the practical first-hop routes out of Chain 138 are the relay-backed lanes
• the other public chains are best treated as destinations of the mainnet hub after mainnet is funded

This is confirmed by live execution:

• the relay-backed 138 -> BSC route worked and was used to bootstrap mainnet
• the original stuck 138 -> Mainnet transfer was completed after relay funding and replay
• the earlier 138 -> Gnosis native-bridge attempt did not produce a live delivery path

Practical route matrix

Chain	Practical route today	Current prerequisite	Best use
Mainnet	Relay-backed direct	Mainnet relay bridge must hold enough WETH	Direct 138 -> Mainnet when relay inventory is funded
BSC	Relay-backed direct	BSC relay bridge only covers tiny sends right now	Small direct 138 -> BSC, or bootstrap mainnet through BSC
Avalanche	Relay-backed direct	Avalanche relay bridge only covers tiny sends right now	Tiny direct sends only, or top up inventory first
Gnosis	Via mainnet hub	Bootstrap mainnet first	138 -> Mainnet, then Mainnet -> Gnosis
Cronos	Via mainnet hub	Bootstrap mainnet first	138 -> Mainnet, then Mainnet -> Cronos
Celo	Via mainnet hub	Bootstrap mainnet first	138 -> Mainnet, then Mainnet -> Celo
Polygon	Via mainnet hub	Bootstrap mainnet first	138 -> Mainnet, then Mainnet -> Polygon
Arbitrum	Via mainnet hub	Bootstrap mainnet first	138 -> Mainnet, then Mainnet -> Arbitrum
Optimism	Via mainnet hub	Bootstrap mainnet first	138 -> Mainnet, then Mainnet -> Optimism
Base	Via mainnet hub	Bootstrap mainnet first	138 -> Mainnet, then Mainnet -> Base
WEMIX	Deploy-first	Bridge not deployed and no gas seed	Deploy and seed first

Best strategy now

1. Keep mainnet as the hub

This is the best practical topology.

Why:

• 138 -> Mainnet is a real relay-backed route when the relay bridge has WETH
• mainnet already has enabled fan-out mappings for Gnosis, Cronos, Celo, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base
• the successful recovery proved that topping up mainnet relay inventory and replaying is operationally viable

2. Use BSC as the bootstrap and recovery helper

BSC is the best non-mainnet first hop today because:

• the relay-backed lane is live
• deployer already has native BNB gas
• external bridging from BSC into mainnet is easy

Current limitation:

• BSC relay inventory is only large enough for tiny sends right now

Operational use:

• use it for small bootstrap steps
• use it to refill mainnet when mainnet relay inventory is empty

3. Treat Avalanche as a tiny-send lane until it is topped up

Avalanche is structurally similar to BSC but currently weaker because:

• the relay-backed lane exists
• deployer has native gas
• relay inventory is present but still below the 0.01 WETH working threshold

4. Treat the native-mapped chains as mainnet destinations

Gnosis, Cronos, Celo, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base are still valuable, but their practical role is:

• Mainnet -> target destinations after mainnet bootstrap
• not proven direct Chain 138 first hops

What to keep funded

The highest-payoff balances to maintain are:

1. Mainnet relay bridge WETH
2. Mainnet bridge LINK
3. BSC relay bridge WETH
4. Avalanche relay bridge WETH if Avalanche is needed

Cleaning up legacy return paths back to Chain 138 is still worthwhile, but it is lower priority than keeping the relay-backed lanes liquid.

Exact helpers

Live route printer:

cd /home/intlc/projects/proxmox/smom-dbis-138
./scripts/deployment/print-chain138-public-chain-unload-routes.sh

Focused examples:

TARGET_CHAIN=mainnet ./scripts/deployment/print-chain138-public-chain-unload-routes.sh
TARGET_CHAIN=bsc ./scripts/deployment/print-chain138-public-chain-unload-routes.sh
TARGET_CHAIN=polygon ./scripts/deployment/print-chain138-public-chain-unload-routes.sh
UNLOAD_AMOUNT_WEI=30000000000000000 ./scripts/deployment/print-chain138-public-chain-unload-routes.sh

Live audit:

cd /home/intlc/projects/proxmox/smom-dbis-138
./scripts/deployment/audit-funding-bootstrap-routes.sh

Recommended execution order

1. Audit the current route and inventory state.
2. If mainnet relay inventory is sufficient, use direct 138 -> Mainnet.
3. If mainnet relay inventory is insufficient, use 138 -> BSC plus the proven external BSC -> Mainnet bridge pattern to refill mainnet.
4. Once mainnet is funded, fan out Mainnet -> target for Gnosis, Cronos, Celo, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base.
5. Seed Avalanche relay inventory only if Avalanche needs to become an active first hop too.

Bottom line

The practical route graph is now:

• first hop from Chain 138 through the relay-backed lanes
• keep mainnet funded and use it as the hub
• use BSC as the proven bootstrap and recovery helper
• treat the native-mapped public-chain bridges as mainnet destinations unless a dedicated relay is added for them