Cross-chain · Ethereum → Base

Swap WBTC from Ethereum to ETH on Base

Swap WBTC from Ethereum to ETH on Base. A chain 8453 wallet that needs gas can spend wrapped bitcoin on Ethereum and receive native ETH on Base.

WBTC at 0x2260FAC5E5542a773Aa44fBCfeDf7C193bc2C599 is an 8 decimal ERC-20 on Etherscan, not a coin on the Bitcoin chain. Native ETH on Base is marked 0xEeeeeEeeeEeEeeEeEeEeeEEEeeeeEeeeeeeeEEeE and shows up as the gas balance on Basescan for chain id 8453. You approve the WBTC contract and pay that approval in ETH on Ethereum. Blocks there are about 12 seconds. You do not import the destination placeholder. The ETH you receive can pay later fees on Base. It is not the WETH predeploy and it is not bitcoin.

Diagram for Swap WBTC from Ethereum to ETH on Base
WBTC leaves Ethereum. ETH is what can arrive on Base.

Base gas is the reason

Wrapped bitcoin cannot pay a chain 8453 fee. If the next signature has to happen on Base, the wallet needs native ETH there. This pair turns WBTC you already hold on Ethereum into that gas coin. It is the wrong shape if you wanted USDC or WETH to arrive instead.

This never becomes a bitcoin send

A Bitcoin address will not accept WBTC, and it will not accept Base ETH. Etherscan is where 0x2260FAC5E5542a773Aa44fBCfeDf7C193bc2C599 decreases. Basescan is where the native ETH balance on chain id 8453 increases. How cross-chain bridges work describes that split.

Use the Ethereum pool when you are staying

If you want ETH, WETH, USDC, or USDT on mainnet, sell WBTC there. This route is the wrong tool for those balances. If you already hold Base assets and only need a little ETH, swap those assets on chain 8453. Bridge from Ethereum when the wrapped bitcoin is still on mainnet.

Leave ETH for the next click

The coin you receive is the fee token on Base, so it can pay a follow-up trade. Spending all of it strands any other token in the same wallet. The placeholder is not a contract to import.

Legal

Risk disclosure

XAUConnect is a non-custodial swap aggregator. Digital assets are volatile and may lose value rapidly. Content on this page is educational and not investment advice. Verify every contract address on the official block explorer before approving a transaction.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to swap WBTC from Ethereum to ETH on Base?

WBTC at 0x2260FAC5E5542a773Aa44fBCfeDf7C193bc2C599 is an 8 decimal ERC-20 on Etherscan, not a coin on the Bitcoin chain. Native ETH on Base is marked 0xEeeeeEeeeEeEeeEeEeEeeEEEeeeeEeeeeeeeEEeE and shows up as the gas balance on Basescan for chain id 8453.

Should I import the received ETH by contract?

No. Native ETH on Base uses 0xEeeeeEeeeEeEeeEeEeEeeEEEeeeeEeeeeeeeEEeE and appears as the gas balance once the wallet is on chain id 8453. Importing that string creates a junk row. Confirm the increase on Basescan. The ERC-20 you approve is WBTC, on Etherscan.

What is WBTC if it is not bitcoin?

An ERC-20 at 0x2260FAC5E5542a773Aa44fBCfeDf7C193bc2C599, 8 decimals, on Ethereum. This route can spend that contract. It cannot move coins on the Bitcoin network. If your goal is a Bitcoin wallet, stop. If your goal is ETH gas on Base funded from that ERC-20, this is the pair.

Why is ETH on Ethereum still required?

Because the spend starts on chain id 1. WBTC cannot pay Ethereum gas, and the ETH you will receive on Base does not exist on Ethereum yet. Hold ETH for the approval and the send. Blocks are about 12 seconds. After arrival, that new ETH covers chain id 8453.

Live execution

Trade on XAUConnect

Open the swap page with this cross-chain route pre-selected, then connect your wallet on the source chain to quote and execute. You keep the keys.

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