Cross-chain · Ethereum → Base

Swap WETH from Ethereum to ETH on Base

Swap WETH from Ethereum to ETH on Base. Wrapped ETH on Ethereum is the input, and native ETH on chain 8453 is what arrives.

This is not an unwrap. Unwrapping spends 0xC02aaA39b223FE8D0A0e5C4F27eAD9083C756Cc2 and returns native ETH on Ethereum, which Etherscan shows as a gas balance. This route spends that same WETH contract and delivers native ETH on Base, marked 0xEeeeeEeeeEeEeeEeEeEeeEEEeeeeEeeeeeeeEEeE, which Basescan shows as the gas coin of chain id 8453. You still need ETH on chain id 1 to start. The ETH you receive can pay later fees on Base. It cannot pay the mainnet transaction. Blocks on Ethereum are about 12 seconds. The 0x4200 WETH predeploy is not the output. Read the native line on Basescan.

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

Unwrap locally if you want mainnet ETH

This route is the wrong tool for getting native ETH back on Ethereum. The WETH contract already has a withdraw function, and the ETH it returns stays on chain id 1. Open this page when a Base wallet needs its own ETH for gas. Those are different receipts, on different explorers.

WETH in, native ETH out

You approve 0xC02aaA39b223FE8D0A0e5C4F27eAD9083C756Cc2 on Etherscan. You watch the native line on Basescan, not an ERC-20. The placeholder 0xEeeeeEeeeEeEeeEeEeEeeEEEeeeeEeeeeeeeEEeE means ETH on chain id 8453 here. On Ethereum that same string would have meant the gas coin you are not receiving.

Gas to leave Ethereum

Chain id 1 charges ETH and blocks about every 12 seconds. WETH cannot pay that. Ethereum is where the approval is signed. After arrival, the received ETH is the fee token on Base. Leave a remainder if you still need to move other tokens.

Not the WETH predeploy

If a pool asks for 0x4200000000000000000000000000000000000006, this route delivered the gas coin instead. Switch outputs. A wallet still set to Ethereum will not show the Base ETH this pair sends.

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 WETH from Ethereum to ETH on Base?

This is not an unwrap. Unwrapping spends 0xC02aaA39b223FE8D0A0e5C4F27eAD9083C756Cc2 and returns native ETH on Ethereum, which Etherscan shows as a gas balance.

If I want ETH, why not just unwrap?

Unwrap when the ETH should be mainnet gas. Withdrawing from 0xC02aaA39b223FE8D0A0e5C4F27eAD9083C756Cc2 stays on Ethereum. This route delivers native ETH on Base, chain id 8453, marked 0xEeeeeEeeeEeEeeEeEeEeeEEEeeeeEeeeeeeeEEeE. The ticker matches and the chain does not. Pick unwrap for chain id 1.

Will the received ETH pay Base fees?

Yes. Native ETH is the gas token on chain id 8453. That is the reason to pick this output instead of the WETH predeploy. It will not pay the Ethereum fee that spent the WETH. Keep a little of the received ETH unspent for the next signature. Look on Basescan.

What should I approve?

Only the WETH contract at 0xC02aaA39b223FE8D0A0e5C4F27eAD9083C756Cc2 on Etherscan. Keep native ETH for the mainnet gas. There is no destination token to import, because the output is the native balance. Switch the wallet to Base, chain id 8453, to see it.

Live execution

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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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