DEV Community: Donna Thompson

How to Bridge to Arbitrum With Across Bridge

Donna Thompson — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:28:30 +0000

Across Bridge is useful when you want funds on Arbitrum without a slow, confusing bridge flow; Across Bridge is an intents-based cross-chain bridge built to make that transfer feel direct while you keep control of your wallet.

The basic problem is simple: your tokens are on one chain, but the app you want to use is on Arbitrum. Maybe your funds are on Ethereum, Base, Optimism, Polygon, zkSync, or another L2. Moving them sounds easy until you run into chain selectors, gas fees, token versions, and destination-wallet confusion.

This guide covers what you need, what to check before signing, how Across works, and how to avoid beginner mistakes.

What You'll Need Before Bridging to Arbitrum

Before you start, get the basics ready:

A non-custodial wallet, such as MetaMask.
Funds on the source chain you are bridging from.
A destination chain selected as Arbitrum.
A little crypto for gas on the source chain.
The correct token you want to move.
A few minutes to review the transaction before signing.

Bridging is not the same as sending funds inside one chain. Each network has its own gas, token contracts, and confirmation flow. Your wallet address may look the same across Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, and zkSync, but the funds live on separate networks.

How Across Bridge Works in Plain English

Across Bridge is not a swap AMM. You are not trading through a pool like a normal decentralized exchange swap.

Across uses intents-based bridging. In simple terms, you say what you want: move a supported token from your source chain to Arbitrum. You deposit on the source chain. A relayer fills your request on the destination chain, so the funds can arrive quickly on Arbitrum. Later, that relayer is reimbursed after optimistic settlement.

That relayer model is why the experience can feel fast. Still, it is not risk-free. Check the route, fees, token, and destination chain before confirming anything. ACX is the Across token, but bridging is not the same as buying or trading ACX.

Step 1: Connect Your Wallet

Open the bridge interface and connect your wallet. MetaMask is a common choice; the main point is that you control the wallet and can switch networks when prompted.

Use the wallet you want to receive funds into on Arbitrum. If you connect the wrong wallet, the bridge can do exactly what you asked and still put funds somewhere you did not intend.

Confirm you are using the front-end you meant to use. Copied bridge screens can be dangerous.

Step 2: Pick the Source Chain

Choose the chain where your funds currently are. This might be Ethereum, Base, Optimism, Polygon, or another supported network.

The source chain is where your wallet signs the initial transaction and pays gas. If your funds are on Base but your wallet is set to Ethereum, the bridge may show the wrong balance. Switch networks and check again.

Step 3: Set Arbitrum as the Destination Chain

Choose Arbitrum as the destination chain. This is the key routing choice.

Arbitrum is an Ethereum L2, but it is still a separate network. Funds bridged to Arbitrum will be usable on Arbitrum apps, not automatically back on Ethereum mainnet or another L2.

Token choice matters too. Some assets exist in multiple versions across chains. If an app on Arbitrum expects a specific token, make sure your route delivers the right one.

Step 4: Enter the Token and Amount

Choose the token and enter the amount. For a first transfer, many users prefer sending a smaller amount before moving a larger balance.

Look at the output estimate. A bridge may show a bridge fee, gas cost, and expected received amount. Treat those as live quote details. Gas pays for blockchain transactions; a bridge fee relates to the route and liquidity used to complete the transfer.

Step 5: Review the Route Before You Sign

Before clicking the final button, slow down and review:

Source chain: the chain holding your funds.
Destination chain: Arbitrum.
Token: the asset you actually want to receive.
Amount: the value you are comfortable moving.
Fees: gas plus bridge-related costs.
Wallet address: the account that will receive funds.

Once the details look right, use Across Bridge to submit the transfer and then confirm the transaction in your wallet.

Your wallet may ask you to approve token spending before the actual bridge transaction. Read the prompt before confirming.

Step 6: Wait for the Fill on Arbitrum

After you submit, the bridge request is created on the source chain. With Across, a relayer can fill the request on Arbitrum quickly and get reimbursed later through optimistic settlement.

You may see a pending state while the transaction is being processed. Avoid submitting the same bridge again unless you understand what happened with the first attempt.

Once the funds arrive, switch your wallet to Arbitrum and check the balance there. If the token does not appear automatically, you may need to import it into your wallet interface.

Common Mistakes That Cost Beginners Money

The biggest mistake is choosing the wrong destination chain. If you meant Arbitrum but selected Optimism, Base, or Polygon, your funds may arrive somewhere you did not plan to use.

Another mistake is bridging the wrong token version. A symbol alone is not always enough because tokens can share names across chains.

Ignoring fees is also expensive. A route that makes sense for a larger amount may be inefficient for a tiny amount, especially when Ethereum mainnet gas is high.

Do not assume every bridge route has the same liquidity. Liquidity affects whether a route is available and what the estimated output looks like.

Finally, remember the general bridge risks: wrong-chain mistakes, changing gas fees, smart-contract risk, wallet approval risk, and user error. No bridge removes the need to verify what you sign.

Bridge to Arbitrum With More Confidence

Bridging to Arbitrum is mostly about choosing the right route and refusing to rush the confirmation screen. Across Bridge helps by using relayers and optimistic settlement so transfers can feel fast, but you still need to check the chain, token, amount, fees, and wallet.

When you are ready to move funds, open Across Bridge, select your source chain, set Arbitrum as the destination, review the quote carefully, and confirm only when every detail matches what you intended.

How to Bridge Funds on Across Bridge: A Step-by-Step Guide

Donna Thompson — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:27:45 +0000

Across Bridge helps you move funds when your crypto is on one chain but you need it on another. Maybe your ETH is on Ethereum and you want to use it on Base. Maybe you have funds on Arbitrum but need them on Optimism. The goal is not complicated: get the right asset to the right destination chain without paying more than necessary or sending it somewhere you did not mean to send it.

This guide walks through the process from setup to confirmation, with practical steps instead of protocol jargon.

Across Bridge is a cross-chain bridge, not a swap AMM. You are not trading through a pool. You deposit on the source chain, a relayer quickly fills the request on the destination chain, and that relayer is later reimbursed after optimistic settlement. That relayer fill is why transfers can feel fast compared with waiting for slower settlement paths.

What You'll Need

Before you start, get the basics ready:

A non-custodial wallet, such as MetaMask.
Funds on the source chain.
The destination chain you want to use, such as Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, Polygon, or zkSync.
A little crypto for gas on the source chain.
The exact token and amount you want to bridge.

The source chain is where your funds are now. The destination chain is where you want the funds to arrive. Keep those two ideas separate, because many wallet mistakes come from selecting the wrong network at the wrong time.

Step 1: Connect Your Wallet

Connect your wallet to the bridge interface. MetaMask or another wallet will ask you to approve the connection.

Connecting does not move funds. It only lets the bridge read your public address and prepare transactions for you to review. If your wallet is on the wrong network, switch only after checking that the selected source chain matches where your funds actually are.

Step 2: Pick Source and Destination Chains

Choose the source chain first, then the destination chain. If your funds are on Ethereum and you want them on Base, Ethereum is the source and Base is the destination. If your funds are on Arbitrum and you want them on Optimism, Arbitrum is the source and Optimism is the destination.

Do not pick a chain because it sounds familiar. Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, and zkSync are separate environments. Your address may look the same across them, but balances do not automatically follow you.

Step 3: Choose the Token and Amount

Select the token you want to bridge and enter the amount. Check the token symbol, the chain, and the amount before you continue.

Leave enough funds for gas. This matters most when moving ETH, because ETH may be both the asset you are transferring and the asset needed to pay network fees. If you bridge nearly all of it, your wallet may not have enough left to complete the transaction or use the source chain afterward.

Also remember that bridging is not swapping. If you bridge one token, you should expect to receive that bridged asset on the destination chain, not a completely different token.

Step 4: Review Fees and Expected Output

Before signing, review what the interface shows. Look for the amount sent, the estimated amount received, the bridge fee, and the wallet gas prompt.

There are several costs to consider:

Source-chain gas for submitting the transaction.
Bridge fee related to the route and available liquidity.
Destination-chain gas you may need later to use the funds.

Fees can change with network conditions and liquidity. Do not assume one transfer tells you what the next one will cost. If the amount is small, fees may matter more than you expect.

Step 5: Confirm the Transfer

When the route looks right, confirm the transaction in your wallet. This is the moment to slow down.

Before approving on Across Bridge, check four things: source chain, destination chain, token, and amount. Then look at the estimated received amount and gas cost. If anything looks wrong, cancel and start again.

Step 6: Wait for the Destination Fill

After your source-chain transaction is submitted, Across relayers can fill your request on the destination chain. In simple terms, the relayer fronts the funds where you want them, then gets reimbursed later through optimistic settlement.

That does not mean every transfer takes the same amount of time. Network congestion, route conditions, wallet delays, and liquidity can all affect the experience. Treat any displayed timing as an estimate, not a promise.

When the transfer is filled, switch your wallet to the destination chain and check the balance there. If the token does not appear automatically, you may need to import the token display in your wallet. First make sure you are viewing the right network.

Step 7: Use the Funds on the Destination Chain

Once the funds arrive, they are available on the destination chain. You can use them with apps on that chain, hold them there, or send them onward.

One more check: make sure you have the gas token needed for your next action. Bridging a token to Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, or zkSync does not always mean you have enough gas for every follow-up transaction.

Common Mistakes That Cost Money

Choosing the wrong destination chain. If you meant Base but selected Optimism, the funds may arrive somewhere you did not plan to use. Always verify the destination before signing.

Picking the wrong token. Token symbols and logos can look similar. Confirm the asset, not just the ticker.

Ignoring fees. Bridge fees and gas affect what you receive. Review the final output, especially for smaller transfers.

Using an unofficial front-end. Be careful with ads, lookalike pages, and random links. Use a trusted route to reach the bridge.

Bridging everything. Leave enough gas for the current transaction and for anything you may need to do next.

Assuming no risk. Cross-chain bridges can involve smart-contract risk, wallet approval mistakes, wrong-chain errors, changing fees, and liquidity limits. A careful process reduces avoidable mistakes, but cannot remove every risk.

Across Bridge Makes More Sense When You Check First

The clean workflow is simple: connect your wallet, choose the correct source and destination chains, select the token and amount, review fees, confirm in your wallet, and check the destination chain after the fill.

When you are ready to move supported funds, use Across Bridge with one final review of the chain, token, amount, fees, and receiving wallet before you sign.