A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Arbitrum Cross-Chain Bridge for Ethereum Scaling Network

Source: Arbitrum

This tutorial assumes that you have already downloaded a web3 wallet (such as MetaMask) and that your Ethereum mainnet wallet address has ETH or other tokens. If you do not have a wallet yet, please visit our Ecosystem Map and download a wallet.

Step 1: Join the Arbitrum One Network

• Network Name: Arb1
• RPC: https://arb1.arbitrum.io/rpc
• Chain ID: 42161
• Currency Symbol: ETH
• Block Explorer URL: https://arbiscan.io

Method 1: One-Click Connection

Visit the cross-chain bridge and click on "Add Switch to Arbitrum Network" in the middle of the page to add the Arbitrum network to your wallet with one click.

Method 2: Manual Connection

Click to open the Metamask extension > Select "Ethereum Mainnet" > Click "Custom RPC" and enter the network information in the bottom right.

Step 2: Bridge ETH or Other Tokens to Layer 2 (L1 -> L2)

Using Arbitrum One (Layer 2 network), you need to bridge your Ethereum mainnet assets to Arbitrum One via the cross-chain bridge.

1. Confirm that your wallet is connected to the Ethereum mainnet.

2. Select and add the token you want to bridge from the TOKEN LIST.

3. Enter the amount you want to bridge in the "L1" field and click "Deposit," then follow the prompts from Metamask.

4. After submitting the transaction through Metamask, you will receive your assets on Arbitrum One in approximately 10 minutes to one hour, depending on network congestion.

While waiting for your assets on Arbitrum One, please ensure that Metamask is switched to the Arbitrum One network to check for incoming assets promptly.

Step 3: Discover DApps

There are a variety of DApps, wallets, tools, and more applications in the Arbitrum ecosystem!

Please visit the official ecosystem map Arbitrum One Portal to discover more Layer 2 applications!

Step 4: Withdraw ETH or Other Tokens (L2 -> L1)

Official cross-chain bridge withdrawals require a 7-day challenge period; you can only use your bridged assets after this period.

1. Ensure that Metamask is switched to the Arbitrum One network.

2. Select and add the token you want to bridge from the TOKEN LIST.

3. Enter the amount you want to bridge in the "L2" field and click "Deposit," then follow the prompts from Metamask.

Official cross-chain bridge withdrawals require a 7-day challenge period; you can only use your bridged assets after this period.

4. After the 7-day challenge period, click "Claim" to view your assets in your wallet.

Unpredictable Risks

Smart Contract Risks

Any smart contract may have potential vulnerabilities, which could lead to loss of funds.

Price Risks

Due to the price volatility of the tokens themselves, the value of ETH or other tokens after bridging (L1 → L2 or L2 → L1) may not remain consistent with their value before bridging.