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How to Swap WBTC Cross-Chain

Move your Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) between different blockchain networks. Garden Finance enables seamless cross-chain transfers without requiring you to unwrap to Bitcoin first.
This guide covers transferring WBTC between different networks such as Ethereum to Arbitrum, Arbitrum to Ethereum, or to other supported chains. The process typically completes in under 30 seconds.

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Supported Networks

Garden Finance supports WBTC on multiple networks:

Ethereum

Mainnet WBTC
Most established with highest liquidity
Higher gas fees but maximum DeFi compatibility

Arbitrum

Layer 2 WBTC
Lower fees and faster transactions
Growing DeFi ecosystem

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What You’ll Need

1

Wallet Requirements

  • EVM Wallet: MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or other EVM-compatible wallet
  • Source Network: WBTC on the blockchain you’re moving from
  • Destination Network: Gas tokens for the destination network (if needed)
2

Network Assets

  • WBTC tokens on the source network
  • Gas fees for transaction approval (ETH on Ethereum, ARB on Arbitrum)

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Common Cross-Chain Routes

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Ethereum to Arbitrum

Moving WBTC from Ethereum to Arbitrum for lower transaction costs.
1

Connect Wallet

  1. Visit Garden Finance
  2. Connect your EVM wallet containing Ethereum WBTC
  3. Ensure your wallet is connected to Ethereum network
2

Configure Cross-Chain Swap

  1. Send Section: Select WBTC on Ethereum
  2. Receive Section: Select WBTC on Arbitrum
  3. Enter the amount you want to transfer
  4. The interface will show you the receiving address (same as your sending address on different network)
3

Review Transfer Details

  • Source: WBTC on Ethereum
  • Destination: WBTC on Arbitrum
  • Rate: Should be approximately 1:1 (minus fees)
  • Gas Cost: Ethereum gas fees for approval
  • Completion Time: Usually under 30 seconds
4

Execute Transfer

  1. Click Swap to initiate the transfer
  2. Approve the WBTC transaction in your wallet
  3. Pay the Ethereum gas fees
  4. Monitor progress on the Garden interface
5

Verify Receipt

  1. Switch your wallet to Arbitrum network
  2. Check that WBTC appears in your wallet on Arbitrum
  3. You can now use WBTC in Arbitrum DeFi protocols

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Arbitrum to Ethereum

Moving WBTC from Arbitrum back to Ethereum mainnet.
1

Setup

  1. Connect your wallet to Garden Finance
  2. Switch your wallet to Arbitrum network
  3. Ensure you have WBTC on Arbitrum and enough ARB for gas
2

Configure Reverse Swap

  1. Send: WBTC on Arbitrum
  2. Receive: WBTC on Ethereum
  3. Enter transfer amount
3

Complete Transfer

  1. Approve the transaction (low Arbitrum gas fees)
  2. Wait for completion
  3. Switch wallet to Ethereum to see received WBTC

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Why Move WBTC Cross-Chain?

Cost Optimization

Lower Fees: Move to Arbitrum for cheaper DeFi transactions
Batch Operations: Perform multiple operations on L2 then return to mainnet

Ecosystem Access

Different DeFi Protocols: Access unique opportunities on each network
Liquidity Arbitrage: Take advantage of price differences between chains

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Network Comparison

AspectEthereumArbitrum
Gas FeesHigh during congestionVery low
Transaction Speed12-15 seconds1-2 seconds
DeFi EcosystemMost matureGrowing rapidly
SecurityHighest (Layer 1)Inherits Ethereum security
WBTC LiquidityHighestGood and growing

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Advanced Strategies

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DeFi Arbitrage

  1. Monitor Rates: Watch for rate differences between networks
  2. Move Capital: Transfer WBTC to the network with better opportunities
  3. Execute Strategy: Participate in farming, lending, or trading
  4. Return Profits: Move gains back to preferred network

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Cost Management

  1. Batch Transactions: Accumulate transactions on Arbitrum
  2. Strategic Timing: Move during low Ethereum gas periods
  3. Fee Planning: Consider gas costs in your profit calculations

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Security Considerations

Same Address: Your WBTC will appear at the same wallet address on the destination network. Garden’s atomic swaps ensure safe cross-chain transfers.
Network Verification: Always verify you’re on the correct network before initiating transfers. Sending to wrong networks may result in permanent loss.
Gas Requirements: Ensure you have gas tokens on both source and destination networks for optimal experience.

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Fees and Timing

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Fee Structure

  • Source Network Gas: Pay gas on the network you’re sending from
  • Garden Protocol Fee: Small percentage for the cross-chain service
  • No Double Bridge Fees: Direct cross-chain transfer without multiple bridge hops

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Timing Expectations

  • Approval: Immediate wallet confirmation
  • Processing: 30 seconds typical completion time
  • Finality: Near-instant availability on destination network

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

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Transaction Stuck

  • Check Network: Ensure wallet is on correct source network
  • Gas Price: Increase gas price if transaction is pending
  • Cancel & Retry: Cancel stuck transaction and retry with higher gas

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Wrong Network

  • Prevention: Double-check network selection before confirming
  • Recovery: If sent to wrong network, contact Garden support immediately
  • Verification: Always verify destination network in Garden interface

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Insufficient Balance

  • Gas Tokens: Ensure you have ETH (Ethereum) or ARB (Arbitrum) for gas
  • WBTC Balance: Verify you have enough WBTC plus a small buffer for precision
  • Fee Reserve: Keep some gas tokens for future transactions

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After Your Cross-Chain Transfer

1

Verify Receipt

Switch your wallet to the destination network and confirm WBTC arrival
2

Update Portfolio

Your portfolio trackers should reflect the new network location
3

Explore Opportunities

Research DeFi protocols available on your new network

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Moving to Arbitrum

  • DeFi Farming: Lower fees for yield farming strategies
  • Active Trading: Cheaper transactions for frequent trading
  • Experimentation: Test strategies with lower gas costs

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Moving to Ethereum

  • Blue-Chip DeFi: Access to most established protocols
  • Maximum Liquidity: Largest liquidity pools and trading volume
  • New Protocol Access: Many protocols launch on Ethereum first

BTC to WBTC

Wrap Bitcoin to get WBTC for cross-chain transfers

WBTC to BTC

Unwrap WBTC back to native Bitcoin

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Need Help?

Cross-chain WBTC transfers open up new DeFi opportunities across different networks. Always verify network compatibility before interacting with new protocols.