Arbitrum Bridge: How to Bridge ETH to Arbitrum in 5 Steps
Arbitrum is the top Layer-2 chain based on Ethereum. Transactions are faster and cheaper than Ethereum Mainnet, and the ecosystem is thriving. In this guide, we’ll learn how to bridge ETH to Arbitrum to take advantage of lower-cost transactions using the Arbitrum bridge.
The Arbitrum blockchain uses ETH for gas to pay for transactions. This means that if you have ETH on Mainnet, you can bridge to Arbitrum and enjoy many of the same popular dApps you’ll find on Mainnet. Best of all, you’ll pay pennies instead of dollars to execute a smart contract.
Let’s learn how to use the Arbitrum One Bridge so you can use your ETH in a more cost-effective way.
What is The Arbitrum Bridge?
The Arbitrum Bridge is a blockchain tool that provides a secure way to transfer ETH from Ethereum Mainnet to the Arbitrum One blockchain or from Arbitrum to Ethereum. The blockchain bridge also supports transfers to and from the Arbitrum Nova chain. This guide focuses on transfers to and from Arbitrum One, although the same process applies to transfers when using the bridge as an Arbitrum NOVA bridge.
How to Bridge ETH to Arbitrum in 5 Steps
The bridging process can seem daunting at first, but we’ll break it down into simple steps that are easy to follow. To bridge to Arbitrum. you’ll need ETH in your wallet
1) Visit Arbitrum Bridge
Navigate to the Arbitrum Bridge with your browser. Accept the terms of service. The navigation bar on the left of the screen offers a help section under the Learn tab that explains the process, but we’ll learn how to bridge ETH to Arbitrum using the steps below.
2) Connect Wallet
To use the bridge to bridge ETH to Arbitrum, you’ll need to connect your crypto wallet to the app using the Ethereum network. Arbitrum Bridge supports popular wallets like MetaMask and Coinbase wallet, as well as MetaMask-compatible wallets like Rabby and Frame.
Switch your wallet to Ethereum Mainnet if needed.
3) Select Amount to Bridge
Input the amount of ETH you want to bridge to Arbitrum from Ethereum Mainnet. Note this amount does not include gas fees. Network gas fees will be deducted from your remaining balance in your Ethereum Mainnet account. The bridge defaults to Arbitrum One as the destination network.
Be sure you have sufficient funds for both the transfer and the gas fees. Since we’re sending ETH from Ethereum Mainnet to Arbitrum, the fees must be paid on Ethereum Mainnet, which can be costly relative to smaller transactions.
In the example above, gas fees will run about $13.40 based on the current price of ETH and network traffic. However, bridging from Arbitrum costs $0.02.
4) Initiate Bridging Process
After you’ve chosen an amount of ETH to bridge, tap the button to bridge the funds from Ethereum to Arbitrum One.
How long does the Arbitrum bridge take to transfer ETH? Expect to wait 15 to 30 minutes. When the transfer completes, you’ll see the ETH in your crypto wallet under the Arbitrum chain. In a later section, we’ll discuss some faster options using different bridge protocols.
5) Switch to Arbitrum Network
To see your ETH after the transfer is complete, switch your wallet to the Arbitrum network. Now you have some ETH to spend or use in protocols on the Arbitrum chain. Most popular wallets already support Arbitrum, but you may need to add the network through the wallet settings.
MetaMask, the most popular wallet for Ethereum and Layer-2 blockchains, provides a setting to add Arbitrum to MetaMask. Click on Add Network to activate Arbitrum in your wallet. The bridged ETH will show under the same wallet address you used on the Ethereum blockchain.
Alternative Bridges to Arbitrum You Can Use
While the official Arbitrum bridge is the most commonly used option, there are several protocols you can use to achieve the same result within the Arbitrum ecosystem. You may see faster bridging times using a different bridge or lower transaction fees. Another advantage to using third-party protocols is that you can often bridge to additional chains like Base or Optimism. Many of these options also support cross chain swaps of additional tokens, such as wstETH or USDC.
Below are some of the leading options to bridge assets to Arbitrum.
- Hop Exchange: The Hop bridge offers a trustless way to bridge ETH to Arbitrum and speeds up the process by using market makers to provide liquidity on both sides of the bridge.
- Celer cBridge: The Celer cBridge uses a combination of node operators and liquidity providers to facilitate cross-chain swaps and bridging.
- Multichain: The Multichain protocol supports both bridging and cross-chain swaps. Multichain uses its own Multichain Router to reduce fees and slippage in cross-chain swaps.
- Synapse Protocol: Synapse offers a newbie-friendly platform to bridge tokens from chain A to chain B with support for 21 different crypto networks.
- Across Protocol: Across advertises itself as the fastest and least expensive cross-chain transfer bridge while maintaining permissionless bridging. Under the hood, the protocol uses relayers to facilitate cross-chain transfers.
- Jumper Exchange: The Jumper Exchange is powered by Li.Fi, a popular liquidity aggregator plugin widget used by dozens of other protocols. The platform is easy to use and allows swaps between 23 chains and 14 bridge protocols, automatically finding the lowest cost for swaps and bridging to your destination chain.
Many crypto exchanges also support withdrawals over the Arbitrum network. For example, if you buy ETH on Coinbase, you can withdraw on Arbitrum without needing to use a bridge at all. Bridging provides a way to send the ETH you already have in your wallet from one blockchain to another.
Conclusion
The Arbitrum One bridge offers a secure transfer ETH from Ethereum Mainnet to Arbitrum where you can transact faster and with lower gas fees. However, several alternatives, such as Hop Exchange and Multichain, also provide a way to move ETH across supported networks. These alternatives may also be faster compared to the Arbitrum One bridge.
FAQs
What is the best Ethereum Arbitrum bridge?
The Arbitrum One bridge is considered to be the safest option for bridging ETH to Arbitrum.
How do you bridge Arbitrum back to ETH?
To send ETH from Arbitrum to Ethereum Mainnet, you can use the Arbitum One bridge. By default, the bridge is set to bridge from Ethereum to Arbitrum. Toggle the setting to send ETH from Arbitrum to Ethereum.
Can you bridge USDT to Arbitrum?
Yes. However, the Arbitrum One bridge only supports ETH transfers. To send other tokens, you can consider an option like Multichain or Jumper Exchange.
Does Arbitrum work on MetaMask?
Yes, Arbitrum is supported by the MetaMask wallet. To add Arbitrum, click on the network icon and then choose Add Network. Arbitrum is one of the presets.
How much does it cost to bridge Ethereum to Arbitrum?
Depending on the cost of ETH and network demand, bridging from Ethereum to Arbitrum can cost $10 and up. Gas fees for bridging are paid on the Ethereum network.
References
- Introduction to blockchain bridges (ethereum.org)
- Gas (Ethereum): How Gas Fees Work on the Ethereum Blockchain (investopedia.com)
- What Are Cross-Chain Swaps? (Chainlink)
About the Author
Michael Graw 
Sergio Zammit