How to Move ETH from Arbitrum to Base

Mar 6, 2026

3 min read

Arbitrum and Base are both Ethereum Layer 2s — but they're separate networks that don't share liquidity or state. Moving ETH between them requires crosschain execution.

With Relay, it's a single step. No manual bridging, no 7-day challenge periods, no intermediate Ethereum mainnet hop.

Why Move ETH from Arbitrum to Base?

Arbitrum and Base have complementary ecosystems:

• Arbitrum is home to GMX, Camelot, and a deep perpetuals and DeFi ecosystem

• Base is Coinbase-backed, with Aerodrome, Morpho, and strong retail and consumer app activity

Users move ETH between them to access different protocols, take advantage of better yields, or follow liquidity as it shifts across the OP/Arb ecosystem.

How to Move ETH from Arbitrum to Base

Step 1: Go to Relay

Go to relay.link. No account or KYC required.

Step 2: Connect your wallet

Connect any EVM wallet — MetaMask, Rainbow, Coinbase Wallet, or any WalletConnect-compatible wallet. Relay is non-custodial — the protocol coordinates execution, you remain in control.

Step 3: Set your route

• From: ETH on Arbitrum
• To: ETH on Base

Enter the amount. Relay shows the exact amount you'll receive before you confirm, including any fees. There are no hidden charges.

Step 4: Confirm

Approve the transaction in your wallet. Relay executes the crosschain send — ETH moves from Arbitrum to Base in under 3 seconds.

How Is This Different from the Canonical Bridge?

The official route from Arbitrum to Ethereum (and then to Base) involves:

1. Waiting for the Arbitrum 7-day challenge period on withdrawal
2. Paying Ethereum mainnet gas
3. Then bridging from Ethereum to Base

This is slow and expensive. Most users doing active DeFi work across Arbitrum and Base use a protocol like Relay instead — instant, cheap, and no intermediate steps.

Do I Need ETH on Base First?

No. Relay includes gas abstraction — you don't need to hold ETH on Base to receive ETH there. The protocol covers destination chain gas as part of the execution.

Other Routes You Can Use

Once you're connected, Relay handles routes in any direction:

• Base → Arbitrum
• Arbitrum → Optimism
• Base → Ethereum mainnet
• Arbitrum → Solana
• Any supported chain to any other supported chain

No need to switch protocols or find a different bridge for each route.

Why Use Relay?

No 7-day wait. Intent-based execution settles in under 3 seconds — not days.

No mainnet hop. Relay routes directly between L2s without going through Ethereum mainnet.

Non-custodial. No single party holds your funds during execution.

Exact quotes. You see precisely what you'll receive before confirming.

No KYC. Connect your wallet and go.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Arbitrum to Base move take? Under 3 seconds in most cases. Relay's 2.7 second median covers the full crosschain route between L2s.

Can I move USDC instead of ETH? Yes. Relay supports USDC, ETH, and many other tokens across both chains. Set your preferred token in the from/to fields.

Is this safe? Relay is non-custodial — no centralised entity holds your funds. The protocol uses an intent-based model where fillers provide liquidity on the destination chain and are reimbursed through smart contracts.