Ethereum mainnet is where the crypto revolution started, but let's be honest—it's expensive. Gas fees can spike to $50 or more for a single swap, and transaction finality takes minutes, not seconds. That's why millions of users have moved their funds to Layer 2 networks like Base, Arbitrum, and Polygon. These chains offer the same security guarantees as Ethereum but with dramatically lower fees and faster block times.
Base is Coinbase's Layer 2, built on the OP Stack. Arbitrum is the largest Layer 2 by total value locked, built on optimistic rollup technology. Polygon is a sidechain that's been around since 2017, with its own proof-of-stake consensus and a massive ecosystem.
If you're holding ETH on Ethereum mainnet and you want to move it to any of these chains, the process is similar across all three. This guide covers the ten steps you'll follow—whether you're bridging to Base, Arbitrum, or Polygon—along with the specific quirks of each destination.
Why Bridge from Ethereum to Layer 2?
Think of Ethereum mainnet as the highway and Layer 2s as the express lanes. The highway gets congested, tolls (gas fees) go up, and everyone moves slowly. The express lanes—Base, Arbitrum, Polygon—give you the same destination but at a fraction of the cost and time.
The benefits:
Gas fees on Layer 2s are typically 90–99% lower than Ethereum mainnet
Transaction finality is faster (seconds instead of minutes)
Access to ecosystem-specific dapps and liquidity
Lower barrier to entry for smaller transactions
The tradeoff: You need to bridge your funds to the Layer 2, and some bridges have withdrawal delays (especially on Arbitrum's canonical bridge).
What's Different About Each Chain?
Chain
Type
Gas Token
Bridging Time
Withdrawal Time
Base
Optimistic rollup (OP Stack)
ETH
~2 sec (Across)
Fast (via aggregators)
Arbitrum
Optimistic rollup
ETH
~2 sec (Across)
~7 days (canonical)
Polygon
Sidechain (PoS)
MATIC
~2 sec (Across)
Fast (via aggregators)
Important distinction: Base and Arbitrum are optimistic rollups—they inherit Ethereum's security. Polygon PoS is a sidechain with its own validator set. The security model differs, but for most users, the bridging process is the same.
Prerequisites Before You Start
Before you bridge to any of these chains, make sure you have these three things:
ETH on Ethereum mainnet in a self-custody wallet. You need ETH in a wallet you control—MetaMask, Phantom, or another EVM-compatible wallet.
Enough ETH for gas on Ethereum mainnet. You'll pay gas on Ethereum for the bridge transaction. Keep a buffer of at least 0.01–0.02 ETH on the source chain.
The destination chain added to your wallet. You'll need to add Base, Arbitrum, or Polygon manually if your wallet doesn't have them preloaded. We'll cover that in Step 1.
Step 1: Add the Destination Chain to Your Wallet
Each of these chains has specific network parameters. You'll need to add the one you're bridging to.
Base Network Parameters
Setting
Value
Network Name
Base
RPC URL
https://mainnet.base.org
Chain ID
8453
Currency Symbol
ETH
Block Explorer
https://basescan.org
Arbitrum Network Parameters
Setting
Value
Network Name
Arbitrum One
RPC URL
https://arb1.arbitrum.io/rpc
Chain ID
42161
Currency Symbol
ETH
Block Explorer
https://arbiscan.io
Polygon Network Parameters
Setting
Value
Network Name
Polygon Mainnet
RPC URL
https://polygon-rpc.com
Chain ID
137
Currency Symbol
MATIC
Block Explorer
https://polygonscan.com
Pro tip: Some bridge interfaces will prompt you to add the network automatically when you connect. That's easier, but verify the Chain ID before you approve.
Step 2: Choose Your Bridge Route
Your options for bridging ETH from Ethereum mainnet to Base, Arbitrum, or Polygon:
Bridge
Speed
Supported Chains
Best For
Across
~2 sec
All three
Speed, reliability
Jumper (LI.FI)
<1 min
All three
Route discovery
Canonical bridges
Varies
Base/Arbitrum/Polygon-specific
Security, long-term holds
Stargate
Varies
All three (via LayerZero)
Stablecoin transfers
For this guide, I'll focus on Across (fastest) and the canonical bridges (most trustless). The process is similar across providers.
Step 3: Connect Your Wallet to the Bridge Interface
Open your chosen bridge interface. If using Across, go to across.to. If using Jumper, go to jumper.exchange.
Click the "Connect Wallet" button and select your wallet provider. Make sure your wallet is connected to Ethereum mainnet before you start. The bridge interface should display your ETH balance.
Step 4: Select Ethereum as the Source Chain
In the bridge interface, select Ethereum (mainnet) as the source chain. The interface should show your ETH balance.
Step 5: Select Your Destination Chain
Choose your destination: Base, Arbitrum One, or Polygon. Verify it's the mainnet, not a testnet.
Step 6: Enter the Amount and Review the Quote
Enter the amount of ETH you want to bridge. For your first transaction, keep it small—0.05 to 0.1 ETH is a good test range.
Review these figures on the quote screen:
Item
What to Check
Amount you're sending
Matches what you entered
Estimated amount received
After fees, in ETH
Bridge fee
Varies by provider
Source gas fee
Paid in ETH on Ethereum mainnet
Estimated arrival time
~2 sec for Across, longer for canonicals
Destination chain
Base, Arbitrum, or Polygon
Step 7: Approve the Token (If Required)
Some bridge interfaces require a separate approval transaction before they can move your ETH. This isn't the bridge transfer itself—it's you giving the bridge smart contract permission to spend your ETH.
This approval appears as its own transaction in your wallet. It costs gas on Ethereum. Approve it, wait for confirmation, and then proceed to the actual bridge transaction.
Step 8: Confirm the Bridge Transaction
Check every piece of information one more time:
Your connected wallet address
The source chain (Ethereum mainnet)
The destination chain (Base, Arbitrum, or Polygon)
The token and amount
Then confirm the transaction in your wallet. Your wallet will show the gas fee and the total cost. If anything looks off, cancel and investigate.
Step 9: Wait for Completion and Check Your Balance
If you used Across, the fill happens in about two seconds. If you used a canonical bridge, deposits take 10–15 minutes (Base and Arbitrum) or faster (Polygon).
Track your transaction:
Get the transaction hash from your wallet or the bridge interface
Check Etherscan for the source transaction status
Check the destination chain's explorer (BaseScan, Arbiscan, Polygonscan) for arrival
When the bridge shows as "Completed," switch your wallet to the destination network and check your balance.
Test One Small Transaction
Before you move more, test the network. Do one small transaction on the destination chain—send a tiny amount to another address or do a small swap on a DEX. This confirms your wallet is correctly configured and you have enough ETH for gas.
Bridge Options in Detail
Across: The Speed-First Bridge
Across is an intent-based cross-chain protocol that settles transfers in approximately two seconds. It supports bridging from Ethereum to all three destination chains.
What to expect: You sign one transaction on Ethereum. A relayer front-runs the settlement with its own funds, delivering ETH to your wallet on the destination chain almost instantly. Across has processed more than $34 billion without a protocol-level exploit.
Best for: Speed and reliability.
Access: across.to
Jumper (LI.FI): Multi-Route Discovery Aggregator
Jumper is LI.FI's cross-chain aggregator. Rather than using a single bridge, Jumper compares dozens of bridges and DEXs to find the best route from Ethereum to your chosen destination.
What to expect: Most corridors settle in under a minute. Jumper can also swap tokens mid-transfer.
The fee structure: No platform fee from Jumper. You pay source-chain gas plus the winning bridge's fee.
Best for: Route discovery and comparing options.
Access: jumper.exchange
Canonical Bridges: The Trustless Default
Base: The Base bridge is the official bridge for moving ETH and ERC-20s from Ethereum to Base. Deposits take about 10–15 minutes.
Arbitrum: The Arbitrum bridge is the trustless, official bridge for Arbitrum-based rollups. Deposits take about 10 minutes, but withdrawals require a ~7-day challenge period.
Polygon: The Polygon PoS bridge is the official bridge for moving assets from Ethereum to Polygon. Deposits take 7–15 minutes.
Best for: Security and long-term holds.
Comparison Table: Ethereum to Base, Arbitrum, and Polygon
Feature
Base
Arbitrum
Polygon
Type
Optimistic rollup
Optimistic rollup
Sidechain (PoS)
Gas Token
ETH
ETH
MATIC
Across Fill Time
~2 sec
~2 sec
~2 sec
Canonical Deposit
~10–15 min
~10 min
~7–15 min
Canonical Withdrawal
~7 days
~7 days
~3 hours
Explorer
BaseScan
Arbiscan
Polygonscan
Chain ID
8453
42161
137
Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting
"I don't have ETH for gas on the destination chain."
Base and Arbitrum use ETH for gas. Polygon uses MATIC. If you bridge to Base or Arbitrum, you'll need ETH on the destination side to do anything. If you bridge to Polygon, you'll need MATIC. Keep a buffer.
"My transaction is stuck on pending on Ethereum."
Check the gas price. If your gas is too low, the transaction may sit pending. Increase the gas price and resubmit using the transaction replacement feature in your wallet.
"I can't see my bridged ETH on the destination chain."
Switch your wallet to the destination network. If you're still on Ethereum, you won't see it. If you're on the right network and still invisible, check the destination explorer with your wallet address.
"How do I know if a bridge is legitimate?"
Use established routes: Across, Jumper, or the canonical bridges. Always type the URL directly—don't click links from social media or DMs.
"The bridge quote seems too expensive."
Bridge fees and gas fluctuate. Compare across different interfaces—Across and Jumper show different quotes based on current conditions.
FAQ
What's the cheapest way to bridge ETH to these chains?
Across and Jumper typically offer competitive rates. The canonical bridges have no bridge fee beyond gas, but gas on Ethereum can be high. Check multiple interfaces before confirming.
How long does it take to bridge from Ethereum to Base, Arbitrum, or Polygon?
Across fills in about two seconds. Jumper settles most corridors in under a minute. Canonical bridges take 10–15 minutes (Base/Arbitrum) or 7–15 minutes (Polygon).
Do I need ETH on Base and Arbitrum for gas?
Yes. Base and Arbitrum both use ETH as their native gas token. Polygon uses MATIC.
What's the difference between an optimistic rollup and a sidechain?
Optimistic rollups (Base, Arbitrum) inherit Ethereum's security by posting transaction data to Ethereum. Sidechains (Polygon PoS) have their own validator set and don't inherit Ethereum's security. For most users, the difference is academic—the bridging process is similar.
Can I bridge tokens other than ETH?
Yes. USDC, USDT, and other major tokens can be bridged through these routes. The process is similar—just select the token instead of ETH.
Is bridging to these chains safe?
Yes, if you use approved routes. Across has processed over $34 billion without an exploit. The canonical bridges are battle-tested. As with any transaction, start with a small test transfer first.
Final Thoughts
Bridging from Ethereum to Base, Arbitrum, or Polygon opens up a world of possibilities—lower fees, faster transactions, and access to ecosystem-specific dapps and liquidity. The process is the same across all three: get ETH in a self-custody wallet, choose a bridge (Across for speed, canonical for security), confirm, and wait for arrival.
If you're looking to compare bridging options from one dashboard, CrossDex at crossdex.space aggregates Across, Jumper, and other routes so you can see fees, estimated arrival times, and output tokens side by side. No registration, no account—just connect your wallet and pick the path that fits your needs.
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