Preparation
Essential Requirements
Ethereum Wallet
- Sufficient ETH balance in your wallet to cover gas fees.
Key Considerations
- First-time Arbitrum users: Deposit ETH first, as token approvals and transactions on Arbitrum also require ETH for gas fees.
- Gas fees for Ethereum-to-Arbitrum deposits are paid in ETH and vary based on network congestion.
- Withdrawing assets from Arbitrum to Ethereum follows the same process in reverse.
- Comparison of third-party bridges vs. Arbitrum’s official bridge:
| Feature | Arbitrum Bridge (Official) | cBridge | Hop.exchange |
|-----------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| Fees | Gas only | Gas + service fee | Gas + service fee |
| Withdrawal Time | 7–8 days | 5–20 minutes | 5–20 minutes |
| Supported Networks | Ethereum | Avalanche, BNB Chain, Ethereum, Fantom, Optimism, Polygon | Ethereum, Gnosis, Optimism, Polygon |
👉 Compare bridge fees and speeds
Token Deposit Guide
Web Browser Method (Metamask + Arbitrum Bridge)
Step 1: Connect Wallet
- Visit the Arbitrum Bridge.
- Click "Login" and connect your Metamask wallet.
Step 2: View Balances
After connecting, check your Layer 1 (Ethereum) and Layer 2 (Arbitrum) balances.
Step 3: Select Token & Deposit
- Search for your token by name or contract address.
- Enter the deposit amount and confirm gas fees.
- Click "Deposit" and approve the transaction in Metamask.
Step 4: Confirm Completion
- Wait ~10 minutes for processing.
- Switch your wallet network to Arbitrum to see the deposited tokens.
Mobile Method (imToken + Hop.Exchange)
Step 1: Switch Network
- Open imToken and select "Arbitrum" from the network menu.
Step 2: Initiate Deposit
- Tap "Deposit" and choose Hop.Exchange.
Step 3: Connect Wallet
- Click "Connect a Wallet" → "Show More" → Select imToken.
Step 4: Complete Transfer
- Enter token amount, approve the transaction, and wait for confirmation.
👉 Explore faster mobile deposits
FAQ
1. Why does Arbitrum’s official bridge take 7 days to withdraw?
Arbitrum uses a challenge period for security, delaying withdrawals to prevent fraud.
2. Can I use USDC or other stablecoins?
Yes, most ERC-20 tokens are supported. Check the bridge’s token list.
3. Are gas fees lower on Arbitrum?
Yes! Arbitrum’s Layer 2 reduces fees significantly compared to Ethereum.
Next Steps
After depositing, try Tokenlon’s limit orders on Arbitrum with zero fees.
Need help? Join the Tokenlon Discord.
Pro Tip: Bookmark bridges like Hop for faster withdrawals when timing matters.
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