BridgeRadar
Base to Arbitrum Bridge
There is no official bridge that goes straight from Base to Arbitrum. Fast bridges like Across and Relay move ETH and USDC between them in seconds, and Circle CCTP moves real USDC. Going through Ethereum with the official bridges works too, but it takes days.
Reviewed October 24, 2026 ยท 7 solutions checked
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Short answer
Base and Arbitrum are both layer 2 networks on top of Ethereum, and both use ETH for fees. Your wallet address is the same on both. Still, they do not talk to each other directly. Each one has its own official bridge, and both of those bridges only connect to Ethereum.
That leaves two kinds of routes. The slow one goes through Ethereum: you withdraw from Base to Ethereum, wait at least a day and usually 5, then deposit into Arbitrum. The fast one uses a third-party bridge that pays you on Arbitrum from its own funds, usually within seconds.
For almost everyone, the fast route is the right one. This page shows the main options, what each one gives you, and a step-by-step example of moving ETH from Base to Arbitrum with an intent-based bridge.
| Direct official bridge | None |
|---|---|
| Official route via Ethereum | 1-5 days, plus a deposit |
| Fastest option | Intent bridges, seconds |
| Real USDC | Circle CCTP |
| Fees on both chains paid in | ETH |
| Address on Arbitrum | Same as on Base |
Why this route is difficult
Base and Arbitrum are separate rollups. Each posts its data to Ethereum, and each official bridge only moves funds between itself and Ethereum. Neither chain can read the other directly, so there is no built-in Base to Arbitrum bridge.
Taking the official path means two trips. Leaving Base through its standard bridge takes three steps: start, prove and finalize. Since the Beryl upgrade in June 2026, the wait after proving is 5 days, or 1 day when a result is backed by both a TEE proof and a ZK proof. Before you can prove, Base has to post the data to Ethereum, which usually takes up to about an hour. Only then can you deposit into Arbitrum, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Fast bridges solve this by fronting the money. A relayer or solver pays you on Arbitrum from its own balance and gets repaid later. For USDC, CCTP works another way: it burns real USDC on Base and Circle mints the same amount on Arbitrum.
Possible approaches
1Two official bridges via Ethereum
Withdraw from Base to Ethereum through the standard bridge, then deposit into Arbitrum through the Arbitrum bridge.
Trade-offRelies only on the rollup contracts, but takes days and needs ETH on Ethereum for three transactions.
2Intent-based bridge
You lock funds on Base, and a relayer or solver pays you on Arbitrum right away.
Trade-offSeconds and low cost, but you rely on the bridge's own contracts and repayment system.
3Issuer burn-and-mint
Circle CCTP burns your USDC on Base and mints real USDC on Arbitrum.
Trade-offReal USDC with no pool limits, but it only works for USDC.
4Exchange deposit and withdrawal
Deposit on Base to an exchange account and withdraw on Arbitrum.
Trade-offSimple if you already have an account, but the exchange holds your coins in between.
Options compared
| Option | You get | Typical time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official bridges through Ethereum | ETH or official tokens on Arbitrum | 1-5 days after proving, then about 10-15 min | Base fee + three Ethereum fees | Rare cases where you only trust the rollup contracts |
| Intent-based bridge (Across, Relay) | ETH, USDC and other common tokens | Usually seconds | Network fee + small bridge fee | Most transfers, especially ETH |
| Circle CCTP | Real USDC on Arbitrum | Seconds (fast) or about 15-19 min (standard) | 0.013% in fast mode, free in standard mode, plus network fees | Larger USDC amounts |
| deBridge or Stargate | ETH, USDC | Usually minutes or less | Network fee + protocol or pool fee | Comparing quotes |
| Via an exchange | Coins the exchange lists on Arbitrum | Depends on the exchange | Exchange withdrawal fee, if any | People who already use the exchange |
Working solutions
| Solution | You receive | Custody / verification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | ETH, USDC and others | Oracle-checked payback | Usually done in seconds. |
| Relay | ETH, USDC and others | Solver pays you | Fast for common coins. |
| Circle CCTP | Real USDC | Circle attestation | Fast mode costs 0.013% from Base. Standard mode is free. |
| deBridge | ETH, USDC and others | Solver pays you | Flat fee of 0.001 ETH on Base plus 0.04%. |
| Stargate | ETH, USDC | LayerZero checkers (DVNs) | Pool-based. |
| LI.FI | Depends on the route | Same as the bridge used | An aggregator that compares several bridges. |
| Standard bridges via Ethereum | ETH or official tokens | Ethereum (bridge contracts) | 1-5 days to leave Base, then a deposit into Arbitrum. |
How to move Base to Arbitrum
These steps show how to move ETH from Base to Arbitrum One with an intent-based bridge such as Across or Relay. The checks are the same in most fast bridges and in aggregators like LI.FI.
- 1
Check your ETH on Base
Use MetaMask, Rabby or another EVM wallet. You need the ETH you want to move plus a little extra for the Base network fee, which is usually cents.
- 2
Open the bridge from its real address
Type the address yourself or use a bookmark. Fake bridge sites are often promoted through search ads. Connect your wallet.
- 3
Pick Base as source and Arbitrum One as destination
Arbitrum Nova is a different network. Exchanges and apps that say just "Arbitrum" almost always mean Arbitrum One.
- 4
Enter the amount and read the quote
Choose ETH on both sides. The quote shows the amount you will receive on Arbitrum, which already includes the bridge fee. Leave some ETH on Base if you still use that network.
- 5
Confirm one transaction on Base
ETH needs no approval step. You sign one transaction on Base, and a relayer or solver sends ETH to the same address on Arbitrum.
- 6
Check that it arrived
The bridge usually shows the transfer as done within seconds. You can also look up your address on Arbiscan. Since you received ETH, you already have gas for your next step on Arbitrum.
Fees and timing
Both Base and Arbitrum charge network fees in ETH, and on both they are usually cents. So for a fast bridge, the network part of the cost is small. The main extra is the bridge fee, which the app folds into the amount you will receive. Compare that final number between apps rather than the fee label.
Fees differ by service. deBridge, for example, lists a flat fee of 0.001 ETH for orders created on Base plus 0.04% of the amount. Circle CCTP charges 0.013% for fast transfers from Base and nothing for standard transfers, but an app built on top of it may add its own fee. Pool bridges such as Stargate price by how balanced their pools are.
The route through Ethereum looks free because the official bridges add no fee of their own. In practice you pay three Ethereum transactions: prove and finalize for the Base withdrawal, then the deposit into Arbitrum. You also lock your money for at least a day and usually 5. For most amounts a fast bridge costs less in total and saves days.
Common mistakes
- Sending ETH to your own address on Ethereum and expecting it to show up on Arbitrum. Bridges move funds, a normal transfer does not.
- Choosing Arbitrum Nova instead of Arbitrum One as the destination.
- Bridging USDbC, the old bridged USDC on Base, and expecting real USDC on the other side without checking the quote.
- Taking the official route through Ethereum for a small amount and paying three Ethereum fees plus days of waiting.
- Using a bridge site found through an ad instead of the official address.
- Sending from Base straight to an exchange deposit address that is set up for Arbitrum, or the other way round.
Before you transfer
- For ETH, an intent-based bridge is usually the quickest and cheapest choice.
- For larger USDC amounts, a CCTP route gives you real USDC on Arbitrum.
- Check whether you hold USDC or USDbC on Base before you pick a route.
- Your Base address is also your Arbitrum address, so no new wallet is needed.
- If you send to an exchange, check that it accepts that coin on Arbitrum One.
Frequently asked questions
No. Each network's official bridge only connects to Ethereum. To move funds directly between Base and Arbitrum you use a third-party bridge, or you go through Ethereum with both official bridges.
With a fast bridge like Across or Relay, usually seconds. Through Ethereum with the official bridges, it takes at least a day and usually more than 5, because the Base withdrawal has a waiting window.
No. Fees on Arbitrum are paid in ETH, the same as on Base. ARB is a governance token. If you bridge ETH, you already have gas when it arrives.
USDbC is the old bridged USDC on Base. Some bridges accept it and some do not. Check the quote to see which token you will receive on Arbitrum, or swap USDbC to real USDC on Base first.
Yes, if Coinbase supports your coin on both networks. Deposit it on Base, then withdraw and pick Arbitrum as the network. Coinbase holds the coins in between.
Usually an intent-based bridge, because network fees on both chains are low and the bridge fee is small. The route through Ethereum costs three Ethereum transactions. Compare the amount you will receive across apps or use an aggregator like LI.FI.
Many bridges let you enter a different recipient. Double-check it, because a wrong address cannot be fixed. If the recipient is an exchange, make sure it accepts deposits on Arbitrum One.
