I've been thinking a lot about cross-chain lately, honestly it's just "who I entrust with my coins/messages along the way."

IBC sounds very mysterious, but I understand it as two chains running light clients + proofs to each other; theoretically, it reduces the "I trust the bridge operator" feeling, but I, as someone who doesn't understand the technology, still have to admit: client implementation, verification rules, relayers (the ones who help carry messages), and the chain's own consensus/stoppage are all on the trust list, missing even one isn't acceptable.
Not to mention some bridges also involve multi-signatures, oracles, custodial addresses... each added layer introduces another question: "Will people make mistakes?"

Then I see large on-chain transfers, and when exchange hot and cold wallets move, it's called smart money, and I also get itchy to follow, but I need to be reminded: that might just be internal rebalancing, which has nothing to do with my cross-chain security at all.
Anyway, before I cross-chain now, I always ask myself: which components do I trust this time? If something goes wrong, can I accept it? If not, I better not bother too much.