How to bridge crypto to Base or Arbitrum safely

Do you need a bridge?

Base and Arbitrum are "layer 2" networks built on Ethereum, with much lower fees. Many exchanges let you withdraw directly on them. If yours does, skip bridging.

Official bridges

Base and Arbitrum each have an official bridge, linked from their official websites. Deposits from Ethereum usually arrive in minutes. Withdrawals back to Ethereum through an official bridge can take about a week.

Third-party bridges

Well-known bridges and aggregators move funds faster, including between layer 2s. They add contract and operator risk. Use only well-established ones, reached through official links.

Step by step

1. Add the destination network to your wallet.
2. Keep a little ETH for fees on the source network.
3. Open the bridge, connect your wallet, choose source, destination and amount.
4. Check the fee and arrival time, then confirm.
5. Track it with the bridge's status page or a block explorer.

Tax

Some treat bridging as a transfer of one VDA for another, others as moving the same asset. The law doesn't say. Wrapping, bridging and tax.

Sources

• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (helpline 1930)
• Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU-IND)

• bridges
• layer 2
• onchain