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Base OptimismEstablished

Base to Optimism bridge

Base and OP Mainnet both started from the OP Stack, but there is no direct official bridge between them. Fast bridges such as Across, Relay and Stargate usually move ETH and USDC in seconds to minutes. Circle CCTP burns native USDC on Base and mints it on OP Mainnet. The official route withdraws to Ethereum first, which takes days.

Reviewed October 25, 2026 ยท 6 solutions checked

On this page
  1. Short answer
  2. Why this route is difficult
  3. Possible approaches
  4. Options compared
  5. Working solutions
  6. How to move Base to Optimism
  7. Fees and timing
  8. Common mistakes
  9. Before you transfer
  10. FAQ
  11. Related routes

Short answer

Base was built on the OP Stack, the software behind OP Mainnet, and in 2026 it moved to its own self-managed stack outside Optimism's Superchain. Both networks use ETH for , and your address is the same on both. They are separate chains, so a normal transfer on Base never reaches OP Mainnet. Moving funds across needs a .

Most users pick a fast bridge or an . The official alternative is a withdrawal from Base to Ethereum through the standard bridge, followed by a deposit from Ethereum into OP Mainnet. Base documents a 5 day finalization window for that withdrawal, or 1 day when both TEE and ZK proofs back the proposal.

Key facts
Direct official bridgeNone
Base withdrawal to Ethereum5 days, or 1 day with TEE and ZK proofs
Fastest optionIntent bridges or CCTP fast mode, seconds
CCTP fast fee from Base0.013%
Gas on both chainsETH

Why this route is difficult

Common OP Stack roots do not make Base and OP Mainnet one network. Each has its own bridge to Ethereum, and there is no directly between them.

The official route means a Base withdrawal with a 1 to 5 day window after proving, then a deposit into OP Mainnet. Fast bridges pay you on OP Mainnet from their own , so you skip that wait.

Possible approaches

1Intent bridge

A or pays you on OP Mainnet from its own funds and is repaid later from your deposit on Base.

Trade-offFast and cheap for common tokens, but you rely on the bridge's contracts and repayment system.

2Circle CCTP

Native USDC is burned on Base, Circle attests to the burn, and the same amount is minted on OP Mainnet.

Trade-offYou receive native USDC, but only USDC is supported and you rely on Circle.

3Standard bridges via Ethereum

Withdraw from Base to Ethereum, prove and finalize, then deposit into OP Mainnet. Superbridge and Brid.gg are the interfaces listed in the Base docs.

Trade-offUses only the contracts, but takes days and needs several Ethereum transactions.

Options compared

OptionYou getTypical timeCostBest for
Across, Relay or StargateETH, USDC and other common tokensSeconds to minutesFee built into the quoteMost transfers
Circle CCTPNative USDC on OP MainnetAbout 8 seconds (fast) or 15 to 19 minutes (standard)0.013% in fast mode, no Circle fee in standard modeMoving USDC
Standard bridges via EthereumETH or official tokens1 to 5 days after proving, plus a depositBase fee plus Ethereum fees for prove, finalize and depositAvoiding third-party bridges

Working solutions

SolutionYou receiveCustody / verificationNotes
AcrossETH, USDC and others based relayersUsually done in seconds.
RelayETH, USDC and othersSolver pays youFast for common tokens.
Circle CCTPNative USDCCircle Fast mode costs 0.013% from Base. Standard mode has no Circle fee.
StargateETH, USDCLayerZero verifiers (DVNs)Pool based. Prices depend on pool balances.
LI.FIDepends on the routeSame as the bridge usedAggregator that compares several bridges.
Standard bridges (Superbridge or Brid.gg)ETH or official tokensEthereum (bridge contracts)Prove, wait 1 to 5 days, finalize, then deposit into OP Mainnet.

How to move Base to Optimism

Bridge ETH or USDC with a fast bridge

  1. 1

    Check gas and token

    Keep a little ETH on Base for the fee. If you hold USDC, make sure it is native USDC and not USDbC, the older bridged version on Base.

  2. 2

    Pick a bridge

    Open the official site of Across, Relay or an aggregator such as LI.FI. Select Base as the source and OP Mainnet as the destination.

  3. 3

    Check the quote

    Enter the amount and compare what you will receive and how long it should take. Leave the recipient as your own address unless you mean to send elsewhere.

  4. 4

    Confirm and verify

    Sign the transaction on Base. Once the bridge shows it as complete, switch your wallet to OP Mainnet and check the balance.

Fees and timing

Gas on Base and OP Mainnet is paid in ETH and is usually small, so the bridge fee in the quote is what mostly decides the cost.

Circle lists a fast transfer fee of 0.013% for USDC leaving Base, deducted when USDC is minted on OP Mainnet. Standard transfers have no Circle fee. The app you use may charge its own fee on top.

The official route has no bridge fee, but proving, finalizing and depositing all involve Ethereum transactions. For small amounts that usually costs more than a fast bridge.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing the wrong chain. Base, OP Mainnet and other networks built from the OP Stack look alike in wallets and bridge menus, so check both the source and the destination.
  • Bridging USDbC and expecting native USDC on OP Mainnet. CCTP only accepts native USDC.
  • Starting an official withdrawal from Base and never sending the prove or finalize transaction, so the funds stay in the bridge contracts.

Before you transfer

  • Send a small test amount first on any route you have not used before.
  • If you bridge only USDC, get a little ETH on OP Mainnet for later transactions.
  • Superbridge can also route through third-party bridges, so check which route it selects before you confirm.

Frequently asked questions

Not an official one. Both chains have their own standard bridge to Ethereum. Moving directly between them takes a third-party bridge such as Across, Relay or Stargate, or CCTP for USDC.

Use a CCTP route in a bridge app or aggregator. It burns native USDC on Base and mints native USDC on OP Mainnet. Fast mode takes seconds, standard mode about 15 to 19 minutes.

The Base docs list a 5 day finalization window for standard bridge withdrawals, or 1 day when both TEE and ZK proofs back the proposal. After finalizing on Ethereum you still deposit into OP Mainnet.

Yes, both are chains, so the same wallet address works on both. Funds only move between them through a bridge.