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+# The bridge
+
+The bridge is a lightweight, distributed cross-chain notary. 
+Read the [the protocol spec](../docs/protocol.md) first.
+
+- **Leaderless**. There is no synchrony/consensus or proposers - the bridge merely observes finalized transactions on
+  one chain, signs them using its piece of the joint key, and pushes its signature to an off-chain peer-to-peer network.
+  Once 2/3+ of the guardian set agree, the threshold signature is valid and this jointly signed proof 
+  (which we call a Verifiable Action Approval or VAA) can be posted to the other chain to release or mint funds that
+  were locked/burned on the first.
+  
+- **Stateless**. Nodes do not keep persistent state about transactions they observed.