Bridging moves your crypto from one blockchain to another. It's essential for using L2 networks, accessing DeFi on different chains, and taking advantage of lower fees.
What is bridging?
When you bridge crypto, you lock your tokens on one chain and receive equivalent tokens on another. For example: you bridge ETH from Ethereum to Arbitrum. Your ETH on Ethereum gets locked in a bridge contract, and you receive ETH on Arbitrum.
Which bridge should you use?
It depends on your route. Use our Bridge Comparison tool to compare fees, speed, and security for your specific needs.
Top bridges in 2026:
| Bridge | Best For | Speed | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across Protocol | Speed + cost | 1-5 min | Audited, insured |
| Hop Protocol | L2 to L2 transfers | 1-5 min | Audited |
| Official bridges | Maximum security | 10 min - 7 days | Native security |
| deBridge | Solana ↔ EVM | 2-10 min | Audited |
Step-by-step: Bridge ETH from Ethereum to Arbitrum
- Get gas on both chains — you need ETH on Ethereum to initiate the bridge, and a tiny amount of ETH on Arbitrum for future transactions
- Go to your bridge (e.g., bridge.arbitrum.io or across.to)
- Connect your wallet — MetaMask, Rabby, etc.
- Select source chain (Ethereum) and destination (Arbitrum)
- Enter amount — start with a small test amount
- Review fees and time — the bridge will show estimated cost and duration
- Approve the transaction — your wallet will ask you to confirm
- Wait for confirmation — track progress on the bridge's status page
- Verify arrival — check your wallet on Arbitrum to confirm tokens arrived
Safety checklist before bridging
Follow our full Chain Migration Checklist for a comprehensive safety guide. Key points:
- ✅ Verify you're on the official bridge website
- ✅ Send a small test transaction first
- ✅ Make sure you have gas on the destination chain
- ✅ Set specific (not unlimited) token approvals
- ✅ Revoke bridge approvals after completing the transfer
Use our Signature Decoder to understand exactly what you're approving.
Common bridging mistakes
- Not having gas on the destination chain — your bridged tokens arrive but you can't use them
- Using an unverified bridge — always check audit status and TVL
- Bridging unsupported tokens — not all tokens exist on every chain
- Impatience — official bridges (Arbitrum, Optimism) take longer but are the safest
Related tools
- Bridge Comparison — compare bridges for your route
- Chain Migration Checklist — full safety checklist
- Gas Fee Estimator — check costs before bridging
- L2 Fee Comparison — compare destination chain fees
- Signature Decoder — understand bridge approvals
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