IBC Transfers

IBC (Inter-Blockchain Communication) allows you to transfer assets between Namada and other Cosmos ecosystem chains seamlessly.

Time & Difficulty

⏱️ 5 minutes | 🎯 Difficulty: Intermediate

What is IBC?

IBC is the native communication protocol for Cosmos chains that allows:

• 🔄 Asset transfers between chains
• 🔐 Trustless - No bridges or intermediaries
• ⚡ Fast - Usually under 1 minute
• 💰 Low fees - Minimal transaction costs

Supported Chains

Namada has IBC connections to:

Chain	Token	Channel
Cosmos Hub	ATOM	channel-0
Osmosis	OSMO	channel-1
Celestia	TIA	channel-2
Stargaze	STARS	channel-3

Channels may vary. Check official docs for current list.

Transfer TO Namada

From Osmosis (Example)

Using Keplr:

1. Open Keplr
2. Select Osmosis network
3. Click IBC Transfer
4. Select destination: Namada
5. Enter your Namada tnam address
6. Select asset and amount
7. Click Transfer
8. Sign transaction

Using CLI:

# On Osmosis
osmosisd tx ibc-transfer transfer \
  transfer \
  channel-X \
  tnam1youraddress... \
  100000uosmo \
  --from mykey \
  --fees 500uosmo

From Cosmos Hub

1. Open Keplr → Cosmos Hub
2. Click Send → IBC Transfer
3. Choose Namada
4. Enter tnam address
5. Enter amount
6. Confirm

Verification

After transfer:

1. Wait 30 seconds - 2 minutes
2. Check your Namada wallet
3. Balance should appear

Transfer FROM Namada

Using Namada Extension

1. Open Extension
2. Click Send or IBC
3. Select IBC Transfer
4. Choose destination chain
5. Enter recipient address
6. Select asset and amount
7. Confirm

Using CLI

namadac ibc-transfer \
  --source my-wallet \
  --receiver cosmos1abc123... \
  --token NAM \
  --amount 100 \
  --channel-id channel-0

Parameters Explained

Parameter	Description
--source	Your Namada wallet alias
--receiver	Destination address on target chain
--token	Asset to transfer
--amount	Amount to send
--channel-id	IBC channel for target chain

IBC Token Denominations

When tokens travel via IBC, they get wrapped:

Native NAM on Namada: NAM
NAM on Osmosis: ibc/ABC123... (IBC denom)

When you transfer back, they unwrap to native form.

Check IBC Denoms

# List your IBC tokens
namadac balance --owner my-wallet

Multi-Hop Transfers

Sometimes you need multiple hops:

Ethereum → Gravity Bridge → Osmosis → Namada

Each hop is a separate transaction:

1. Bridge ETH to Gravity Bridge
2. IBC from Gravity to Osmosis
3. IBC from Osmosis to Namada

Fees

Type	Approximate Cost
IBC to Namada	~0.01-0.1 (source chain token)
IBC from Namada	~0.01 NAM
Total round trip	~0.02-0.2 combined

Timing

Stage	Duration
Transaction broadcast	Instant
Source chain confirm	6-15 seconds
IBC relay	10-30 seconds
Destination confirm	6-15 seconds
Total	30s - 2 min

Troubleshooting

"Transfer pending for too long"

1. Check source chain explorer
2. Check relayer status
3. Wait up to 5 minutes
4. If stuck, the transfer may timeout and refund

"Tokens not appearing"

1. Verify correct channel was used
2. Check IBC denomination
3. Wait for confirmations
4. Check block explorer

"Channel not found"

# List available channels
namadac query-ibc-channels

"Insufficient funds for fee"

Keep native tokens on source chain for fees:

• Osmosis: Need OSMO for fees
• Cosmos Hub: Need ATOM for fees
• Namada: Need NAM for fees

IBC Safety

Verified Channels

Always use official channels. Fake channels can steal funds.

Timeout Protection

IBC has built-in timeout:

• If transfer fails, funds return to source
• Default timeout: 10 minutes
• Funds are never "stuck" permanently

Amount Limits

• No protocol limit on amounts
• Some relayers may have soft limits
• Test with small amounts first

IBC + Shielding

For maximum privacy:

1. IBC transfer to Namada (tnam)
2. Shield assets (tnam → znam)
3. Use shielded (znam → znam)
4. Unshield when needed (znam → tnam)
5. IBC out if desired

The IBC transaction is public, but once shielded, your activities are private.

Advanced: Running a Relayer

To relay IBC packets yourself:

# Using Hermes relayer
hermes create channel \
  --a-chain namada \
  --b-chain osmosis \
  --a-port transfer \
  --b-port transfer

See Hermes documentation for full setup.

IBC Tokens on Namada

You can hold IBC tokens from other chains:

Token	Origin	Use on Namada
ATOM	Cosmos Hub	Shield, trade, collateral
OSMO	Osmosis	Shield, trade
USDC	Multiple	Stable value, shield

These can all be shielded in Namada's MASP!

Next Steps

• Shield Your IBC Assets
• Understanding MASP
• Where to Buy NAM