Canonical Bridge · Review
ActiveArbitrum Bridge Review 2026: Canonical Ethereum to L2 Route
Arbitrum Bridge is the canonical channel that moves ETH and ERC-20 tokens between Ethereum mainnet and the Arbitrum rollup. DefiLlama shows about $3.5 billion in TVL, which makes it a major piece of Ethereum Layer-2 infrastructure.
By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated
DappsAtlas score
8.0/10
Excellent
Our verdict on Arbitrum Bridge
8.0/10Arbitrum Bridge suits anyone who wants to move ETH or ERC-20 tokens between Ethereum and Arbitrum using the native, canonical route. Its main strength is that role: it is the official channel, with roughly $3.5 billion in TVL and two listed audits. The main caveats are that fee details are not published publicly, withdrawals back to Ethereum are subject to rollup timing, and bridge contracts always carry smart-contract risk. It is not a multi-chain router.
Score breakdown
How Arbitrum Bridge scores
- Security
- 8.0/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Fees
- n/a
- Features
- 6.0/10
Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.
What is Arbitrum Bridge?
Arbitrum Bridge is the official channel connecting Ethereum mainnet (Layer-1) with the Arbitrum Rollup (Layer-2). DefiLlama describes it as a secure channel that lets users transfer assets such as ETH or ERC-20 tokens between the two layers.
It is categorized as a canonical bridge and shows about $3.47 billion in TVL on Ethereum, up roughly 4.3% over the past seven days. DefiLlama lists ARB as the associated token and shows two audits.
The bridge is reached through the Arbitrum Portal, which presents itself as a gateway to apps, Layer-2 bridging, technical resources, Web3 jobs and the community. Its homepage is brief, so more detailed product information is not available here.
How Arbitrum Bridge works
A canonical bridge is the official route between a Layer-1 and its Layer-2. On Arbitrum Bridge, assets deposited on Ethereum are held in bridge contracts, and the matching assets become available on the Arbitrum Rollup.
Moving back works in the other direction: assets on Arbitrum are withdrawn so that the funds on Ethereum can be released. Because Arbitrum is an optimistic rollup, withdrawals to Ethereum generally involve a waiting period, though the project does not give specifics.
The value held in the contracts is what DefiLlama counts as TVL. Since the Ethereum-side contracts secure the assets, the safety of the bridge depends on the correctness of its smart contracts and the rollup's design.
5 features
Key features
01
Two-way L1/L2 transfers
Moves assets between Ethereum mainnet and the Arbitrum Rollup in both directions.
02
ETH and ERC-20 support
Supports ETH and ERC-20 tokens, as described by DefiLlama.
03
Canonical bridge design
Classified as a canonical bridge, meaning it is the native route between Ethereum and Arbitrum rather than a third-party service.
04
Arbitrum Portal access
The bridge is reached through the Arbitrum Portal, which also lists apps, technology information, jobs and community links.
05
Audits listed
DefiLlama lists two audits for the project.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Canonical bridge connecting Ethereum directly with Arbitrum, so it is the native route rather than a third-party service.
- About $3.47 billion in TVL indicates heavy use and trust.
- Supports ETH and ERC-20 token transfers in both directions.
- Two audits are listed on DefiLlama.
- Accessible through the Arbitrum Portal, which also points to apps and ecosystem resources.
Watch out for
- Withdrawals from Arbitrum to Ethereum follow the rollup challenge period, so they are not instant, a general trait of optimistic rollups that the project does not detail.
- Fee levels are not published publicly, so users cannot judge costs in advance.
- Bridge contracts hold a large amount of value, which makes them an attractive target for attackers.
- It only connects Ethereum and Arbitrum, so users who need other chains must use other bridges or routes.
- Only two audits are listed in the data, and public sources give no details on who performed them or what they found.
Arbitrum Bridge fees
Fees are not published. Bridging between Ethereum and Arbitrum normally involves an Ethereum gas fee on the originating or settlement side and a small fee on Arbitrum, and the bridge interface in the portal would show the estimate before a transfer is confirmed.
Public sources give no mention of a separate protocol fee, so none is claimed here. Users should check the quoted costs in their wallet before signing.
Is Arbitrum Bridge safe?
DefiLlama lists two audits, but the project does not name the auditors or summarize their findings. Public sources also report no incidents. The bridge uses smart contracts to hold assets, so contract risk and bridge-specific risk apply, even for a canonical design.
Users keep custody of their keys through their own wallet. They should verify the official portal address, avoid look-alike sites, and confirm transaction details before signing. This review is research-based and does not constitute financial advice.
6 steps
How to get started with Arbitrum Bridge
- 1
Open the Arbitrum Portal from the official address and go to the bridge section.
- 2
Connect a compatible Ethereum wallet and make sure it is on the right network.
- 3
Choose the direction: Ethereum to Arbitrum to deposit, or Arbitrum to Ethereum to withdraw.
- 4
Select ETH or the ERC-20 token and enter the amount.
- 5
Review the estimated gas fees and timing shown in the interface.
- 6
Confirm the transaction in your wallet and follow its status until the funds arrive.
Who Arbitrum Bridge is for
This bridge is for users who hold assets on Ethereum and want to use Arbitrum apps, or who want to return assets from Arbitrum to Ethereum. It fits those who prefer the official route to third-party bridges and who are comfortable signing wallet transactions and paying gas.
Arbitrum Bridge FAQs
What is Arbitrum Bridge?
It is the canonical bridge between Ethereum mainnet (Layer-1) and the Arbitrum Rollup (Layer-2). It lets users move ETH and ERC-20 tokens between the two networks.
Where do I access Arbitrum Bridge?
Public sources show the bridge is reached through the Arbitrum Portal, which also lists apps and other resources. Users should confirm they are on the official portal address before connecting a wallet.
How much value is locked in Arbitrum Bridge?
DefiLlama lists a TVL of about $3.47 billion, up roughly 4.3% over seven days. That is the value of assets held in the bridge contracts on Ethereum.
Does Arbitrum Bridge have a token?
DefiLlama lists ARB as the token associated with the project. The project does not say that the bridge itself requires ARB to be used.
What does it cost to use the bridge?
The project does not publish fees. Users normally pay an Ethereum network gas fee for deposits and a gas fee on the destination network for withdrawals, and the bridge interface shows estimates before confirmation.
Is Arbitrum Bridge safe?
Two audits are listed on DefiLlama, but public sources give no details on them. As with any bridge, smart-contract risk remains, so users should bridge only what they are comfortable with and check official documentation.
Compare
Arbitrum Bridge alternatives
Base Bridge is the canonical bridge for moving supported assets and data between Ethereum and Coinbase's Base layer-2 chain, with about $3B in TVL.
Polygon Bridge is the canonical route between Ethereum and the Polygon network, used by people moving assets onto Polygon via the official Portal.
Optimism Bridge is the canonical bridge between Ethereum and OP Mainnet, used to move assets to the Optimism layer 2.
Linea Bridge is the official canonical bridge and funding page for moving assets from Ethereum to the Linea layer 2, plus aggregator and exchange routes.
Mantle Bridge is the official canonical bridge for moving tokens between Ethereum and the Mantle Layer-2 network, used by Mantle users and developers.
RSK Bridge is the canonical bridge linking Rootstock (RSK) with Bitcoin and Ethereum, used to move assets and obtain rBTC for Bitcoin-based DeFi.
Same category
More Canonical Bridges
StarkGate is the official StarkWare-developed token bridge between Ethereum and Starknet, for users moving ETH and ERC-20 tokens to Starknet.
Scroll Bridge is the canonical bridge for moving assets between Ethereum and the Scroll zkEVM Layer 2, for users of either network.
Zircuit is an EVM-compatible Ethereum zk-rollup with a canonical bridge, a yield app and an LST/LRT staking hub for DeFi users and builders.
Unichain Bridge is the canonical Ethereum-to-Unichain bridge for moving assets onto Uniswap's OP Stack Layer 2, with about 3.07M USD TVL.
xDAI Stake Bridge is the canonical bridge linking Ethereum and Gnosis Chain, for users who want to move assets and STAKE into the Gnosis ecosystem.
Ink Bridge is the canonical Ethereum-to-Ink bridge for Kraken's Optimism Superchain Layer 2, aimed at users who want to use Ink's DeFi apps.
Same chain
More on Ethereum
Lido is a liquid staking protocol where users stake ETH and receive stETH, a reward-earning token usable across DeFi, governed by LDO holders.
Aave V3 is a non-custodial DeFi lending protocol on 21 chains where users earn interest on deposits or borrow against collateral.
Uniswap V4 is the latest Uniswap DEX version with hooks and concentrated liquidity, running on 22 chains for self-custody token swaps and liquidity provision.
Uniswap V3 is a non-custodial decentralized exchange protocol for token swaps and concentrated liquidity provision across 40+ chains.
DeFi Saver is a non-custodial tool for managing and automating leveraged lending positions across major DeFi protocols on Ethereum and layer-2 networks.
OKX is a major centralized crypto exchange for spot and derivatives trading, earn products and a Web3 wallet, with its own OKB token.
Guides
Guides that mention Arbitrum Bridge
Wallets and tools
Best Crypto Tools: Wallets, Research and MoreThe right crypto tools depend on what you need to do: protect assets, research markets, track DeFi, move tokens across chains or build an app. Use this guide to match a tool to the task and assess the risks before connecting a wallet.
Blockchain
Blockchain Examples and How They WorkLearn how blockchains record and verify transactions, how consensus keeps a shared ledger in sync, and how Bitcoin, Ethereum and other networks put the technology to work. See practical examples, key trade-offs and ways to assess whether a blockchain is a good fit.
Blockchain
How to Track Transactions on a BlockchainA blockchain explorer can show whether a transaction was submitted, confirmed, or failed. Learn how to find the right record, interpret its details, and follow transfers across networks without exposing more information than necessary.
Blockchain
How to Use Arbiscan to Explore Arbitrum in 2026Arbiscan is a public explorer for checking transactions, wallet addresses, tokens and contracts on Arbitrum One. Learn how to find a record, read its status and fees, and use contract data without confusing the explorer with a wallet.
Blockchain
Layer 2 vs Layer 3 Networks: How to ChooseLayer 2 and layer 3 networks both move activity away from a base blockchain, but they connect to it differently. Learn how their architecture, security, fees, bridges and trade-offs affect which network may suit you.
Blockchain
Layer 2 vs Layer 3: Key Differences in 2026Layer 2 and Layer 3 both aim to make blockchain apps cheaper and faster, but they sit at different points in a network’s architecture. Compare how they handle settlement, security, data, fees and everyday use before choosing where to transact.
How we checked
Sources
Last updated . Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.