How does Chainlink’s CCIP differ from existing cross-chain bridges?

[tradelikepro]

The Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) isn’t a bridge — it’s a messaging and value-transfer protocol secured by Chainlink’s decentralized oracle network (DON) and risk management network (RMN).
Unlike traditional bridges that rely on multisig or wrapped assets, CCIP enables programmable interoperability — meaning smart contracts can trigger cross-chain actions natively.
It also supports rate limits, message replay protection, and offchain validation, providing a security model closer to SWIFT-level infrastructure than retail DeFi bridges.