How To Bridge Your Assets To Arbitrum Using MetaMask | ConsenSys

as we continue to explore layer 2 (l2) networks you can use with metamask like polygon and optimism, this blog shows you how to connect to arbitration, connect your assets, discover the dapps that define web3, and ultimately , transact for less. Transacting for less means paying lower gas fees on Ethereum, and whether you’re a crypto native or newbie, we’ve all heard the term. Let’s break it down into two parts: gas and fees.

what are gas rates? why do they matter?

gas is the computational fuel (eth) that makes it possible to transact on ethereum and other blockchain networks. it is like the heat of the sun that allows plants to photosynthesize. Without the sun’s rays, plants cannot grow. without gas, ethereum transactions cannot flow. fees are the cost of a transaction, because decentralization is about decentralizing work. Just like a bank charges you a fee for a wire transfer, gas fees are how much miners earn for the transactions they allow.

also, without paying gas fees on blockchain networks, the product is you. this means that while in web2 we don’t explicitly pay (petrol fees) to use apps, we implicitly pay with our data. web3 introduces gas rates as a means to achieve more autonomy in the network.

and while gas fees are essential for crypto networks, they are also one of the main barriers to adoption, because they are high, sometimes too high for scalability. that’s why l2 networks exist and arbitration is one of them.

intro arbitration & connecting your metamask

arbitrum is the first l2 solution to arrive for ethereum. the network currently has around 2.5 billion assets locked and has processed more than 3 million transactions. Arbitrum is built on Ethereum’s Layer 1 (L1) security, making it a secure network with less expensive gas fees. What makes gas rates lower in arbitrage is the use of optimistic summaries. optimistic rollups are smart contracts that bundle transactions into bundles that use less computation and thus less gas for fast, less expensive transactions. try arbitrage! that is how.

First, add the arbitration network directly from your metamask in three steps.

open your metamask and click on “ethereum mainnet” at the top:

then select “custom rpc”.

Lastly, input the network credentials shown below and click, “Add Network.”

voila! Now that you have connected the arbitration network to your metamask, you can connect your eth and discover new dapps.

joining your ethereum assets to arbitrum

here is how to send your eth from ethereum layer 1 to arbitration layer 2.

Then, simply enter the amount of ETH you wish to use on Arbitrum and click “Deposit”.

Next, you will need to confirm the transaction in your wallet. Please note that this transaction is in Tier 1 and standard gas rates will apply. however, once in arbitration, you can enjoy lower gas rates. once the amount is correct, click “confirm”.

Once confirmed, you will see the transaction appear and process at the bottom of your screen. This can take a few minutes.

If you need additional support to merge your assets, you can refer to the arbitrum tutorial here.

As soon as you have some eth in arbitration, you can start using it!

Next, let’s explore the many dapps available on the arbitrum one portal.

explore dapps in arbitrage

arbitration portal one is described as the “gateway to the arbitration ecosystem” and currently supports over 50 of the most widely used dapps on web3.

Now that you’re ready to use the Arbitrum network with your MetaMask, take a deep dive into what’s available. You’ll see that many of the dapps you already know and love on mainnet are also on Arbitrum like Curve, Uniswap, and Balancer to name just a few.

final thoughts

High gas rates shouldn’t stop you or anyone else from getting the most out of web3. joining your assets to the l2 networks is a great way to continue to explore the value of web3 in a sustainable way. and as you saw on aribitrum one portal, there is no shortage of dapps implemented in l2s. just plug in your metamask, plug in your eth, and enjoy lower gas rates.