What is ETH?
ETH is the native currency of Ethereum. Every transaction on Ethereum pays its gas fee in ETH, and since the Merge in September 2022 ETH is also what validators stake to secure the network under proof of stake.
Arbitrum, Base, Optimism and Linea are layer 2 networks that settle to Ethereum and also use ETH for gas. That makes ETH the asset you need on most networks ChainBridge supports, either to pay fees or as the most liquid side of a pair.
ETH itself is not an ERC-20 token. Many protocols use WETH, an ERC-20 version redeemable 1:1 for ETH at any time. Aggregators wrap and unwrap when a route needs it, so you can swap ETH directly.
Where you can swap ETH
ETH is in the default token list on these networks. ChainBridge compares 0x, KyberSwap and ParaSwap on each of them and keeps the route that leaves you the most after fees and gas.
- Ethereum
- Arbitrum
- Base
- Optimism
- BNB Chain
- Linea
Native ETH on Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Optimism and Linea. On BNB Chain, ETH is a bridged BEP-20 token, not native ETH. On Polygon, use WETH.
Common pairs
| Pair | Why traders use it |
|---|---|
| ETH / USDC | The deepest pair on most networks and the reference for the ETH price. |
| ETH / USDT | Same use as USDC; pick the stablecoin you already hold. |
| ETH / WBTC | Rotate between Ether and Bitcoin exposure without leaving Ethereum. |
| ETH → native BTC | Cross-chain through THORChain from Ethereum or Base, delivered to your Bitcoin address. |
Risks to know
Price volatility
ETH regularly moves several percent in a day. If you need a fixed dollar amount later, a stablecoin is the safer place to park it.
Bridged versions
ETH on BNB Chain and WETH on Polygon are issued by bridges. Their value depends on the bridge staying solvent, unlike native ETH on Ethereum and its rollups.
Running out of gas
Swapping all your ETH leaves nothing to pay for the next transaction on that network. Keep a small reserve, or use a gasless swap where it is available.
How to swap ETH on ChainBridge
Connect your wallet
ChainBridge never holds your funds: the swap executes from your own wallet.
Pick ETH and the token to swap against
Choose the network, then the two tokens and the amount.
Compare the quote
Check the amount you receive, the minimum after slippage, the price impact and every fee. See reading a swap quote.
Review and sign
The transaction is simulated and the token is screened before you sign. A predicted revert or an unsellable token blocks the swap.
FAQ
Is ETH the same as WETH?
They have the same value. WETH is an ERC-20 token that wraps ETH 1:1, so smart contracts can treat it like any other token. You can unwrap WETH back to ETH at any time, paying only gas.
How much ETH should I keep for gas?
On layer 2 networks a swap usually costs cents, so a few dollars of ETH covers many transactions. On Ethereum mainnet a swap can cost several dollars when the network is busy. The network fee is shown in every quote before you sign.
Can I swap ETH to native Bitcoin?
Yes. On Ethereum or Base, choose Bitcoin as the destination network in the swap card and enter your Bitcoin address. The swap goes through THORChain and real BTC is sent to that address.