Arbitrum to Base Bridge: Cheapest Way to Move Funds (2026)

## Anti-Loss Protocol: Read Before You Bridge **STOP.** Bridging from Arbitrum to Base is a Layer 2 to Layer 2 transfer. You do NOT need to route through Ethereum mainnet. If a bridge asks you to pay L1 gas, close the tab -- you're about to overpay by 5x to 10x. This guide shows you the direct L2-to-L2 routes that cost under $1 in 2026. --- ## Why Arbitrum to Base Is Tricky Arbitrum and Base are both Ethereum Layer 2s, but they use different rollup technologies: - **Arbitrum One:** Optimistic rollup. 7-day challenge period for native withdrawals. - **Base:** OP Stack rollup. Built on Optimism's codebase. They don't share a native bridge. To move funds between them, you need a **third-party liquidity bridge** or you must route through Ethereum L1 (expensive and slow). --- ## The Cheapest Routes (Ranked by Cost) ### 1. Across Protocol -- Best Overall Across uses intents-based bridging with relayers who front the liquidity. You get funds on Base in under 2 minutes with no slippage surprises. **Cost:** 0.04% fee + small gas ($0.50--$1.50 total for most transfers). **Time:** 1--3 minutes. **How:** Go to across.to, connect wallet, select Arbitrum -> Base, enter amount, confirm. ### 2. Hop Protocol -- Best for Small Amounts Hop uses hTokens and AMM pools. Slightly slower than Across but often cheaper for transfers under $500. **Cost:** 0.05%--0.10% fee + gas ($0.30--$1.00). **Time:** 3--8 minutes. **How:** app.hop.exchange, Arbitrum -> Base, send. ### 3. Orbiter Finance -- Best for Speed Orbiter is a decentralized cross-rollup bridge with fixed fees. No percentage cut -- you pay a flat rate per transfer. **Cost:** Flat fee (~$0.50--$1.00 depending on token) + gas. **Time:** Under 1 minute. **How:** orbiter.finance, select Arbitrum -> Base, send. ### 4. Official Arbitrum Bridge + Base Bridge (Two-Step) -- Most Expensive This is the native path: Arbitrum -> Ethereum L1 (7-day wait or use a fast exit) -> Base Bridge. Avoid this unless you're moving six figures and want maximum security. **Cost:** L1 gas ($5--$15) + Base Bridge gas ($2--$5). **Time:** 7 days (native) or 10--30 minutes (fast exit services). --- ## Speed & Cost Comparison Table | Bridge | Avg Cost (ETH) | Avg Cost (USDC/USDT) | Time | Best For | |---|---|---|---|---| | Across Protocol | $0.50--$1.50 | $0.50--$1.50 | 1--3 min | Most users | | Hop Protocol | $0.30--$1.00 | $0.30--$1.00 | 3--8 min | Under $500 | | Orbiter Finance | $0.50--$1.00 flat | $0.50--$1.00 flat | Under 1 min | Speed | | Native (L1 route) | $7--$20 | $7--$20 | 7 days / 10--30 min | Large amounts | --- ## Step-by-Step: Bridge ETH from Arbitrum to Base (Across) 1. Open **across.to** in your browser. 2. Click **Connect Wallet** and select MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or Rabby. 3. In the **From** dropdown, select **Arbitrum**. 4. In the **To** dropdown, select **Base**. 5. Choose **ETH** as the asset. 6. Enter the amount. The interface shows the exact amount you'll receive on Base. 7. Review the fee breakdown (relayer fee + gas). 8. Click **Approve** (first time only) then **Bridge**. 9. Wait 1--3 minutes. ETH appears in your Base wallet. --- ## What If You Sent Funds to the Wrong Network? If you accidentally bridged to the wrong chain (e.g., Optimism instead of Base): 1. **Don't send another transaction.** Your funds are on the wrong L2, not lost. 2. Add the wrong network to your wallet if you haven't already. 3. Bridge from that network to Base using Across or Hop. 4. Yes, you'll pay a second bridge fee. But it's under $2 -- cheaper than the panic. --- ## Pro Tips for 2026 - **Use Across for 90% of transfers.** It's consistently the cheapest and fastest L2-to-L2 bridge in 2026. - **Check liquidity before bridging large amounts.** Across and Hop show max transfer limits based on pool depth. For $50k+, split into multiple transfers. - **Bookmark the official URLs:** across.to, app.hop.exchange, orbiter.finance. Fake bridge sites are the #1 way people lose funds. - **Never bridge through Ethereum L1 for L2-to-L2 transfers.** You'll pay 5x--10x more for no benefit. - **Use ETH for gas on both sides.** You need a small amount of ETH on Arbitrum to pay the bridge gas, and you'll receive ETH on Base for future transactions. --- ## Bottom Line **Cheapest:** Across Protocol at $0.50--$1.50 per transfer. **Fastest:** Orbiter Finance at under 1 minute. **Best for small amounts:** Hop Protocol at $0.30--$1.00. **Avoid:** The native L1 route unless you're moving $100k+ and need maximum security. Still comparing networks? Use our [Compare Network Fees](https://cryptonetworkguide.com/) tool to see live gas costs across Arbitrum, Base, Ethereum, Optimism, Polygon, and Solana side by side.