Since I started that process of "discovering Solana without investing in it" yesterday, I thought I might as well continue it by sending the necessary SOL over there so I can perform at least one transaction.
So far I have failed...
But you're not getting away that easy, lol. It was an entire journey, and I can't keep it all for myself. 🤣
In my short research from yesterday, I found out the most popular options to move SOL from elsewhere to Solana. They are:
- using a bridge: seems like Portal Bridge is the only option everyone recommends (formerly known as Wormhole), at least I didn't find a different option without losing too much time searching for it; there is Allbridge (which I used yesterday), but that moves stablecoins. not SOL;
- using a CEX like Coinbase (and probably Binance)
Ok, I said to myself, I'll leave the CEX as the last resort. Let's go with the Portal Bridge.
So, I wrapped a little bit of LEO to Polygon, since I didn't have any liquidity there, which went smoothly. Then, using QuickSwap, I swapped LEO to MATIC and then, MATIC to SOL (which is, in fact, wrapped SOL on Polygon).
And now, let's move it to Solana using the bridge, right?
However, here's what wallets are supported for Polygon (or any EVM chain) on Portal Bridge right now:
Yep, only WalletConnect. Maybe that's enough, but I don't know how to connect WalletConnect to Metamask... yet, if that's possible.
Ok, dead end for now.
Let's try the Coinbase route. I didn't get very far there either, because Coinbase, like Binance, wants me to do another KYC to be able to use their services going forward.
Well, I guess I'm just making things harder on myself, because they already know who I am, both of them. So, as much as I hate the KYC process, I started it on Coinbase. The first utility bill I uploaded wasn't good for whatever reason because they don't say why. Looks like the AI can't figure out all the details on it, in my opinion, even if it's a pdf. Then, I thought I should upload a bank statement instead. But I saw I don't have an address on them. Maybe because I haven't updated these details in a long time, I thought. Knowing I might need a bank statement with proof of address in the future, I started the process of KYC-ing for the bank. Second time in one day? What's wrong with me? Anyway, after patiently listening to the indications of the AI taking my selfie, and apparently resisting to comply too well with instructions (lol), in the end, I was told that the process failed and that I should go to the bank to finish it. No explanation, of course! Stupid AI, can't you see it's me? 🤣 It's not a big issue, I'll probably go near the bank daily next week.
In the end, I uploaded the electricity bill on Coinbase, and that, the AI approved of. But now a person needs to see if the addresses match before going forward.
So, another day, no progress on Solana. Not that I'm anxious or anything.
I just thought that the same process, or likely harder, may be for someone trying to get HIVE into or out of Hive without knowing the right routes. Where Hive is much better is that it has no transaction fees, so you can literally start with zero HIVE/HP and use Hive. Look at me how I am sitting doing nothing on Solana until I have some SOL.
I wonder why these chains with fees don't award one free transaction per wallet (first transaction). Make it two, in case the first one fails or if the users don't know what they are doing. Would it be so costly for them? If it's one free transaction, then the free transaction would be to swap stablecoins for the respective gas fee token, in our case SOL. It's often the case when bridges allow for stablecoins to be transferred, but not volatile coins/tokens.
The crypto space is still way too disconnected apart from ecosystems with a common origin... I think it's on purpose, to avoid massive movements of liquidity and users between unrelated ecosystems.