BridgeRadar
Optimism ArbitrumEstablished

Optimism to Arbitrum bridge

There is no direct official bridge from OP Mainnet to Arbitrum One. Fast bridges such as Across, Relay and Stargate usually deliver ETH or USDC in seconds to minutes. Circle CCTP moves native USDC by burning it on OP Mainnet and minting it on Arbitrum. The official path withdraws to Ethereum first, which means a 7 day wait plus prove and finalize steps.

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 Optimism to Arbitrum
  7. Fees and timing
  8. Common mistakes
  9. Before you transfer
  10. FAQ
  11. Related routes

Short answer

OP Mainnet is the main Optimism network. Like Arbitrum One, it is an Ethereum that uses ETH for , and your address is the same on both chains. To move funds between them you still need a , because a normal transfer stays on the chain where you send it.

For most amounts a fast bridge or an is the practical choice. The official route works too, but it is slow: you start a withdrawal on OP Mainnet, prove it on Ethereum, wait 7 days, finalize, and then deposit into Arbitrum.

Key facts
Direct official bridgeNone
Official route via Ethereum7 days after proving, plus a deposit
Fastest optionIntent bridges or CCTP fast mode, seconds
CCTP fast fee from OP Mainnet0.013%
Gas on both chainsETH

Why this route is difficult

OP Mainnet and Arbitrum are separate rollups. They share Ethereum as a settlement layer but have no between them, so the official route is a withdrawal to Ethereum and a new deposit.

OP Mainnet withdrawals to Ethereum have a 7 day after proving. Fast bridges pay you on Arbitrum from their own , so you do not wait for that period.

Possible approaches

1Intent bridge

A or sends you funds on Arbitrum right away and is repaid later from what you deposited on OP Mainnet.

Trade-offQuick for common tokens, but you depend on the bridge's contracts and repayment process.

2Circle CCTP

Native USDC is burned on OP Mainnet and, after Circle's , minted on Arbitrum.

Trade-offYou get native USDC with no in between, but it only covers USDC and depends on Circle.

3Official bridges via Ethereum

Withdraw through the OP Standard Bridge, prove and finalize on Ethereum, then deposit through the Arbitrum bridge.

Trade-offUses only the rollup contracts, but takes more than 7 days and 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 ArbitrumAbout 8 seconds (fast) or 15 to 19 minutes (standard)0.013% in fast mode, no Circle fee in standard modeMoving USDC
Standard Bridge, then Arbitrum bridgeETH or official tokensMore than 7 days in totalOP Mainnet 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 attestationFast mode costs 0.013% from OP Mainnet. Standard mode has no Circle fee.
StargateETH, USDCLayerZero verifiers (DVNs)Pool based. Prices depend on pool balances.
BungeeDepends on the routeSame as the bridge usedAggregator that compares several bridges.
OP Standard Bridge + Arbitrum bridgeETH or official tokensEthereum (bridge contracts)Prove, wait 7 days, finalize, then deposit into Arbitrum.

How to move Optimism to Arbitrum

Bridge ETH or USDC with a fast bridge

  1. 1

    Check gas and token

    Keep some ETH on OP Mainnet for the fee. OP Mainnet has both native USDC and the older bridged USDC.e, so check which one you hold.

  2. 2

    Choose the route

    Open the official site of Across, Relay or an aggregator such as Bungee. Set OP Mainnet as the source and Arbitrum One as the destination.

  3. 3

    Review the quote

    Enter the amount and check the amount you will receive, the fee and the estimated time before you sign.

  4. 4

    Sign and verify

    Confirm the transaction on OP Mainnet. When the bridge reports completion, switch your wallet to Arbitrum One and check the balance.

Fees and timing

Gas on OP Mainnet and Arbitrum is paid in ETH and is usually small. Most of the difference between routes comes from the bridge fee shown in the quote.

For native USDC leaving OP Mainnet, Circle lists a fast transfer fee of 0.013%, deducted when USDC is minted on Arbitrum. Standard transfers have no Circle fee. Apps built on CCTP may add their own fee.

The official route has no bridge fee, but the prove and finalize steps are Ethereum transactions, and the deposit into Arbitrum starts on Ethereum too. For small amounts these fees can cost more than a fast bridge.

Common mistakes

  • Starting an official withdrawal and forgetting the prove step. The 7 day wait only starts after the withdrawal is proven.
  • Sending USDC.e when you expect native USDC on Arbitrum. CCTP accepts only native USDC, so check the token before you bridge.
  • Choosing Arbitrum Nova instead of Arbitrum One as the destination, or another OP Stack chain such as Base as the source.

Before you transfer

  • Send a small test amount first if you have not used the route before.
  • Keep or get some ETH on Arbitrum if you plan to use your funds there right away.
  • Open bridges from their official addresses. Search ads sometimes lead to fake bridge sites.

Frequently asked questions

With a fast bridge such as Across or Relay, usually seconds to minutes. The official route through Ethereum takes more than 7 days because of the challenge period on OP Mainnet withdrawals.

Pick a CCTP route in a bridge app or aggregator. Fast mode takes seconds and Circle charges 0.013% from OP Mainnet. Standard mode takes about 15 to 19 minutes with no Circle fee.

It is the older USDC bridged from Ethereum through the official bridge. Circle's native USDC is a different token. CCTP only works with native USDC.

Yes, Arbitrum uses ETH for gas. If you bridge ETH you have gas right away. If you bridge only USDC, you will need a little ETH on Arbitrum for your next transaction.