Complete Guide to Adding the Arbitrum Network to MetaMask: Connecting to the Layer 2 Future

Arbitrum, as a leading Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution, has attracted a large number of users and developers with its extremely high transaction speeds and very low network fees.

As of January 9, 2026, its native governance token ARB is priced at $0.21 on Gate, with a market capitalization maintained above $1.19 billion, demonstrating the ongoing vitality of its ecosystem.

This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to add the Arbitrum network to MetaMask, and further introduce how to securely and conveniently transfer assets from Gate exchange into this network, helping you seamlessly explore the vast DApps and airdrop opportunities on Arbitrum.

01 Understanding Arbitrum: Why do you need to add this network?

Before starting technical operations, understanding the value of Arbitrum is crucial. It is not an independent blockchain but a Layer 2 scaling solution built on Ethereum.

Its core goal is to address the long-standing congestion and high Gas fees faced by the Ethereum mainnet.

Using a technology called Optimistic Rollup, Arbitrum shifts much of the transaction computation and storage off-chain, only submitting the final results back to the Ethereum mainnet for security confirmation.

This design offers two major benefits: extremely fast transaction speeds with near-instant confirmation; and very low transaction costs, usually just a fraction of the Ethereum mainnet.

For users, this means you can trade tokens, participate in DeFi farming, mint NFTs, and enjoy the same level of security as on the Ethereum mainnet at nearly zero cost.

As of January 9, 2026, the total value locked (TVL) in the Arbitrum ecosystem has approached $1.5 billion, firmly establishing its position as a leader in Layer 2, with network effects and wealth opportunities continuing to explode.

02 Two core methods to add Arbitrum to MetaMask

Integrating the Arbitrum network into your MetaMask wallet is the first step to exploring its ecosystem. You have two main and secure options: an automated shortcut or manual configuration.

Method 1: One-click addition via Chainlist (recommended)

This is the fastest and least error-prone method, especially suitable for beginners.

Chainlist is a trusted website aggregating various blockchain network information, recommended by MetaMask. Simply visit chainid.network, connect your MetaMask wallet, search for “Arbitrum One,” then click the “Add to MetaMask” button. The wallet will automatically prompt for confirmation, and once approved, the network will be added successfully.

The advantage of this method is that all network parameters (such as RPC URL, Chain ID) are verified, eliminating the need for manual input and avoiding connection failures caused by incorrect parameters.

Method 2: Manual network parameter addition

If you prefer to have full control or if Chainlist is temporarily inaccessible, manual addition is a reliable choice. You need to open the network list in MetaMask, select “Add Network,” and fill in the exact parameters provided by the official Arbitrum documentation:

• Network Name: Arbitrum One
• New RPC URL:
• Chain ID: 42161
• Currency Symbol: ETH
• Block Explorer URL:

After completing and saving, “Arbitrum One” will appear in your MetaMask network dropdown menu. Note that adding networks on mobile does not automatically sync with browser extensions, and vice versa, so you need to add on each device separately.

03 Depositing assets from Gate to Arbitrum network

After successfully adding the network, your wallet balance on Arbitrum will show as zero. You need to inject “fuel” from outside to start interacting. Withdrawing directly from centralized exchanges like Gate is currently the most mainstream and convenient way to fund your account.

Taking ETH (the main circulating and Gas token on Arbitrum) as an example, the process is very straightforward:

1. Log into your Gate account and go to the asset withdrawal page.
2. Select ETH as the withdrawal currency.
3. In the withdrawal network selection, it is crucial to choose “Arbitrum One” or “Arbitrum.”
4. Paste the recipient address copied from your MetaMask Arbitrum network, confirm the amount and fee, then submit the withdrawal request.

Security reminder: Be sure to double-check that the withdrawal network is Arbitrum. If you mistakenly select “ERC-20” (Ethereum mainnet), assets will not be lost but will be sent to the same address on the Ethereum mainnet.

At that point, you will need to pay high Ethereum mainnet Gas fees, and bridging assets via cross-chain bridges to Arbitrum will become more complex and costly.

04 Getting started on Arbitrum: Basic operations and advanced exploration

Once assets are displayed in your MetaMask Arbitrum balance, the real exploration begins. You can access the thriving DeFi ecosystem on Arbitrum, such as decentralized exchanges SushiSwap or the native leader Camelot, to swap ETH for other ecosystem tokens.

When connecting to any DApp website, ensure that MetaMask’s top network switch is set to “Arbitrum One.”

Some projects like Uniswap are also deployed on Arbitrum, offering better trading experiences than on the mainnet. Advanced users can focus on yield farms, NFT markets, and blockchain games unique to Arbitrum.

An important technical detail is that any operation (such as trading, approval, staking) on the Arbitrum network requires paying Gas fees, settled in ETH. Therefore, it’s essential to keep a small amount of ETH in your wallet as “fuel,” which is why withdrawing ETH from Gate is the most direct way to get started.

Future outlook

With your first asset successfully arriving from Gate to your MetaMask Arbitrum address, the subtle change in your wallet balance is more than just a transfer completion. Data shows that the daily on-chain trading volume on Arbitrum often exceeds $90 million, with frequent on-chain address activity.

On native DEXs like Camelot, new assets that have not yet been listed on major exchanges are brewing the next market narrative. The quiet ETH balance in your wallet is now connected to this high-speed, low-cost, large-value network, waiting for your every interaction to activate it.