How to Buy ETH on Base

Mar 9, 2026

3 min read

ETH on Base is the gas token for the Base ecosystem — and the starting point for most Base DeFi activity. Relay lets you acquire ETH on Base from any supported asset or chain, without an account or KYC.

What Is ETH on Base?

Base is an Ethereum Layer 2 built by Coinbase. ETH on Base is the same ETH you hold on Ethereum mainnet, settled on the Base network. It's used to:

• Pay gas fees on Base transactions
• Trade on Base DEXes like Aerodrome and Uniswap
• Provide liquidity in Base DeFi protocols
• Hold as a base asset in your Base wallet

Base has among the lowest gas fees of any major EVM chain, making ETH go further here than on Ethereum mainnet.

How to Buy ETH on Base with Relay

Step 1: Go to Relay

Open relay.link in your browser. No sign-up, no account, no KYC required.

Step 2: Connect your wallet

Connect any EVM wallet — MetaMask, Rainbow, Coinbase Wallet, or any compatible wallet. Relay is non-custodial: your assets remain in your wallet throughout the transaction.

Step 3: Select ETH on Base as your output

Choose the asset you're starting from — USDC, SOL, ETH on another chain, or any supported token — and select ETH as your output token. Set the destination chain to Base.

Step 4: Confirm and receive

Review the exact amount of ETH you'll receive and confirm. Relay's intent-based execution settles in seconds. Most crosschain transactions complete in under 3 seconds.

Which Chains Can I Buy ETH on Base From?

Relay supports 85+ chains as source options. Common starting points:

• From Ethereum mainnet — Move ETH from L1 to Base in one step, no wrapping
• From Solana — Convert SOL or USDC on Solana directly to ETH on Base
• From Arbitrum or Optimism — Move ETH between L2s without routing through Ethereum mainnet
• From any EVM chain — Any token on any supported chain can route to ETH on Base

Why Use Relay to Get ETH on Base?

No KYC. Connect your wallet and go. No email, no account, no identity verification required.

Non-custodial. Relay never holds your funds. The protocol coordinates execution through smart contracts — you remain in control throughout.

Fast. 2.7 second median crosschain execution. No waiting for bridge windows or challenge periods.

Exact output. You see the exact amount of ETH you'll receive before confirming — no hidden fees or slippage surprises.

Any starting asset. You don't need to already have ETH to get ETH on Base. Start from USDC, SOL, or any supported token.

Reliable. $20B+ in volume processed. 99.9%+ fill rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need ETH to pay gas when buying ETH on Base?

No. Relay handles gas abstraction — you don't need ETH pre-funded on Base or any destination chain. The execution cost is factored into the quote you see before confirming.

Is ETH on Base the same as ETH on Ethereum?

Yes — it's the same asset, settled on the Base network. You can move it back to Ethereum mainnet at any time using Relay.

How long does it take to get ETH on Base?

Most transactions complete in under 3 seconds. The 2.7 second median applies to the full crosschain route regardless of your source chain.