Optimism Bridge: The Fastest Way to  Bridge to Optimism in 2025

Optimism is more than just another Layer 2—it's a bold vision for scaling Ethereum efficiently while keeping transaction fees low.

As one of the leading optimistic rollups, Optimism delivers high-speed and cost-effective transactions without sacrificing Ethereum's security. With major DeFi protocols and NFT marketplaces thriving on the network, the best time to bridge over is now.

In this guide, you'll learn:

But not all bridges are created equal. Whether you're looking for the cheapest way to bridge to Optimism or need near-instant transfers, this guide will help you choose the right solution for your needs.

Optimism has quickly become one of the most popular scaling solutions in the Ethereum ecosystem. With over $475 million in Total Value Locked (TVL), growing adoption, and a rollup architecture that keeps fees low, it's become a go-to for traders, builders, and general users navigating DeFi and NFTs. As more OP Stack chains come online, bridging to Optimism means gaining access to a broadening Superchain.

This momentum is partly driven by programs like Optimism's Retrocative Public Goods Funding model, which has distributed millions in grants to projects building on the network. As a result, the L2 has seen significant adoption across multiple sectors:

Additionally, prominent L2s like Base and Mode are integrating into the Superchain, creating a unified ecosystem where users can easily move assets and interact across optimistic rollup chains. By reducing capital inefficiencies and driving down costs through shared architecture, Optimism has positioned itself as one of Ethereum’s most composable and cost-effective scaling solutions.

As adoption accelerates, those who bridge into the ecosystem now are well-positioned to benefit from the next wave of growth before liquidity and opportunities consolidate further. 

Before choosing how to bridge to Optimism, it's important to understand your options. Here's what you need to know about the primary bridging solutions:

The Superbridge is the native protocol-level option for moving assets between Ethereum and Optimism. While secure and reliable, it follows Optimism's optimistic rollup security model:

This security-first design ensures that invalid transactions can be disputed before finalization on Ethereum, offering trust minimization at the cost of convenience.

Note: While the native bridge itself remains live and secure, OP Labs has shifted access to third-party interfaces like Brid.gg. This transition supports Optimism's focus on long-term Superchain resilience.

The Standard Bridge makes sense when:

When choosing a bridge to Optimism, three factors matter most: speed, cost, and security. Here's how your options compare:

As you can see, the choice comes down to your priorities. The native bridge offers the security of Ethereum's consensus but with significant withdrawal delays, while Across provides near-instant transfers in both directions with competitive fees.

If you need faster transactions, lower costs, and seamless crosschain interoperability, Across delivers the most efficient way to bridge to and from Optimism. 

Across uses an Intents-based bridging architecture secured by an Optimistic Oracle (OO). Unlike traditional bridges that require waiting for messages to be relayed between chains, Across works differently: 

This approach means you get your funds immediately while the system handles verification in the background. The result: dramatically faster transfers without compromising security.

If you're curious about how it works under the hood, we’ve written extensively about crosschain interoperability and the role of intents. The short version: Across delivers secure, cost-efficient finalization without compromising on speed.

Bridging to and from Optimism with Across offers several advantages: 

For traders and active users who need immediate access to their funds, Across eliminates the frustration of waiting days for withdrawals when using the Standard Bridge.

Bridging assets to Optimism is straightforward with Across. 

Here's a step-by-step guide: 

Navigate to the Across’ Optimism bridge app and connect your wallet. 

Specify your origin (from) chain and destination (to) chain for bridging. For this example, we'll bridge from Ethereum Mainnet to Optimism. 

At this stage, specify how much ETH or which tokens you'd like to bridge. The interface will display:

Review the transaction details, then click "Confirm transaction" (or "Switch network and confirm" if your wallet is connected to a different network). 

The transaction will process in seconds, and you'll receive confirmation once your assets arrive on Optimism. 

That's it! 

The entire process typically takes less than a minute from start to finish, with the actual bridging happening in seconds. 

Note: To bridge from Optimism back to Ethereum or to another L2, simply reverse the origin and destination chains in Step 2. The process remains the same, and you'll still enjoy the same fast settlement times.

As Optimism and the Superchain continue to expand, having a reliable, fast, and cost-effective bridging solution becomes increasingly important. While the Standard Bridge offers security through Ethereum's validation, the 7-day withdrawal period creates significant friction for users who need liquidity now. 

Across solves this fundamental challenge through its Intents-based architecture, allowing you to: 

Whether you're looking to explore DeFi opportunities on Velodrome, mint NFTs on Zora, or take advantage of Optimism's low transaction fees, Across provides the most efficient path into the ecosystem. 

Ready to experience seamless bridging? 

Try Across today and see why it's become the preferred Optimism bridge.

For more information on Optimism, bridging, and crosschain transactions, check out these resources:

If you're new to bridging, check out these guides:

How do you bridge from Optimism back to ETH?

To move assets from Optimism back to Ethereum, you can use either:

What tokens can I bridge to Optimism?

Across supports bridging ETH, USDC, USDT, DAI, and several other major tokens to Optimism. The Optimism native bridge supports most ERC-20 tokens that exist on both networks.

Do I need to have ETH on Optimism before bridging?

If you're bridging to Optimism for the first time, you don't need to have ETH there already. When bridging ETH, you'll receive enough to pay for transactions. If bridging other tokens, consider bridging a small amount of ETH first for gas fees.

How long does bridging take?

What are the costs of bridging to Optimism?

Bridging costs depend on network conditions:

What happens if my bridge transaction fails?

With Across, failed transactions are rare. If an issue occurs, the transaction should revert, and funds remain in your wallet. Your funds are never at risk since our relayers front the capital to complete transactions for users. 

Can I bridge directly between Optimism and other L2s?

Yes, Across supports direct bridging between Optimism and other networks like Arbitrum, Base, and Polygon. This avoids the need to bridge through the Ethereum Mainnet, saving time and gas fees.

Is the Optimism bridge secure?

Yes, but security depends on the bridge: