Arbitrum Swap Fee Calculator
Calculate how much you'll save on swap fees by using Arbitrum instead of Ethereum mainnet. Compare costs for different transaction amounts and see how various DEXs on Arbitrum stack up.
DEX Comparison on Arbitrum
Average fee: 0.25%
Volume share: 35%
Average fee: 0.30%
Volume share: 28%
Average fee: 0.20% (for futures)
Volume share: 18%
There’s no such thing as "Arbswap" - at least not as a single exchange. If you’re searching for it, you’re probably looking for the best way to swap tokens on Arbitrum One. That’s the real story here. Arbitrum One isn’t an exchange like Binance or Coinbase. It’s the backbone. The highway. The ultra-fast, super-cheap layer built on top of Ethereum that lets decentralized exchanges (DEXs) run smoothly without breaking your bank.
What Arbitrum One Actually Is
Arbitrum One is a Layer-2 scaling solution. Think of it like a parallel road that connects directly to Ethereum’s main highway. All the traffic - trades, swaps, staking - happens here instead of on Ethereum itself. That’s why gas fees drop from $15-$50 down to just $0.30-$1.50 per swap. It uses something called an optimistic rollup, which bundles hundreds of transactions off-chain, then snaps them onto Ethereum as one big batch. The result? Faster, cheaper, and just as secure.Launched in August 2021 by Offchain Labs, Arbitrum One now handles over 1.2 million daily transactions - more than any other Ethereum Layer-2. Its Total Value Locked (TVL) sits at $6.8 billion as of May 2025, meaning billions in crypto are actively being traded and staked here. That’s not small. That’s dominance.
The Real DEXs on Arbitrum
You don’t trade on "Arbswap." You trade on DEXs that run on Arbitrum. The big players:- Camelot DEX - Handles about 35% of all Arbitrum DEX volume. Popular for its fee-sharing model: 50% of swap fees go back to liquidity providers. Average liquidity per major pair (like ETH/USDC) is $8.2 million.
- Uniswap V3 - The OG DEX, now on Arbitrum. Holds 28% of volume. Offers concentrated liquidity, which means deeper pools and better prices - but it’s trickier for beginners.
- GMX - Not a regular swap platform. It’s for perpetual futures trading. Holds 18% of volume. Great if you’re trading leveraged positions.
- Baltex.io - Not a DEX, but a bridge aggregator. Lets you swap tokens across chains (like from Ethereum to Arbitrum) in one click. Saves time and gas.
These platforms support over 1,850 token pairs. You can swap ARB, ETH, USDC, WETH, and hundreds of lesser-known tokens - all with minimal fees.
Why Gas Fees Are a Game-Changer
Let’s say you want to swap 0.5 ETH for ARB. On Ethereum mainnet? You’d pay around $22 in gas. On Arbitrum? $0.42. That’s not a typo. That’s 97% cheaper.This isn’t just nice to have - it’s the reason retail traders are flooding in. According to TokenFlow data, 87% of Arbitrum DEX users say low fees are their #1 reason for using it. For people trading $50-$5,000 at a time, this makes DeFi actually usable. On Ethereum, small trades barely make sense after fees. On Arbitrum? They’re profitable.
Gas on Arbitrum runs at 0.05-0.1 gwei. On Ethereum? 10-50 gwei. The math is brutal. Even if you’re swapping every day, your monthly gas bill stays under $10.
Speed, Security, and the Sequencer Problem
Transactions on Arbitrum settle in 2-3 seconds. That’s nearly instant. Ethereum mainnet? 15-30 seconds, sometimes longer during congestion.Security? Solid. Arbitrum inherits Ethereum’s security by design. Every transaction is eventually settled on Ethereum. There’s a 7-day challenge window where anyone can dispute fraudulent activity. It’s not perfect - but it’s the best trade-off between speed and safety we’ve got right now.
Here’s the catch: the Sequencer. This is the system that orders and processes your trades. Right now, it’s still run by Offchain Labs - the company that built Arbitrum. That means, technically, they could delay or censor transactions. It’s not happened yet. But institutional traders know this is a risk. J.P. Morgan gave Arbitrum a 4.2/5 for retail use, but only 2.8/5 for institutions. Why? Centralization.
Offchain Labs says they’ll fully decentralize the Sequencer by Q4 2025. Until then, it’s a single point of control. For most retail users? Not a big deal. For high-frequency traders or hedge funds? A dealbreaker.
How to Get Started
You don’t need to be a coder. Here’s how to start swapping on Arbitrum:- Get a wallet - MetaMask or Trust Wallet work fine.
- Add Arbitrum One - In MetaMask, go to Settings > Networks > Add Network. Use these details: Network Name: Arbitrum One, New RPC URL: https://arbitrum-one-rpc.publicnode.com, Chain ID: 42161, Symbol: ETH, Block Explorer: https://arbiscan.io
- Bridge your ETH or tokens - Go to the official Arbitrum Bridge. Send from Ethereum to Arbitrum. Takes 8-10 minutes. Gas cost: $0.50-$2.50.
- Or use Baltex.io - If you’re swapping from another chain (like Base or Polygon), Baltex lets you do it in 3-5 minutes with a small 0.3-0.5% slippage fee.
- Go to a DEX - Open Camelot or Uniswap V3 in your wallet. Connect. Swap.
First-time users take about 17 minutes on average to complete their first swap. Most of that time is spent figuring out how to bridge assets. Once you’ve done it once, it’s easy.
What Goes Wrong - And How to Fix It
It’s not all smooth sailing. Here are the top issues:- Failed transactions - During big price swings (like when ETH surges), the network gets busy. Your swap might fail. Solution: Increase your gas limit slightly. Use Arbiscan’s gas estimator.
- Wrong network selected - You send ETH to Arbitrum, but your wallet is still on Ethereum. Result? Lost funds. Always double-check your network before sending.
- Confusing interfaces - Uniswap V3’s concentrated liquidity is powerful but overwhelming for new users. Stick with Camelot if you’re starting out.
- Withdrawal delay - If you want to move assets back to Ethereum, it takes 7 days. No way around it. Plan ahead.
Community resources help. Arbitrum’s Discord has 87,000 active members. Reddit’s r/Arbitrum has 142,000 users sharing tips daily. There’s no shortage of help.
Arbitrum vs. the Competition
How does Arbitrum stack up against other Layer-2s?| Feature | Arbitrum One | Optimism | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Transactions | 1.2 million | 375,000 | 520,000 |
| TVL | $6.8 billion | $2.4 billion | $2.1 billion |
| DEX Market Share | 42% | 21% | 18% |
| Avg. Swap Gas Fee | $0.30-$1.50 | $0.40-$1.80 | $0.50-$2.00 |
| Sequencer Decentralized? | No (Q4 2025) | Yes | Yes |
Arbitrum leads in volume, TVL, and user adoption. Optimism and Base are catching up, but Arbitrum has the edge in developer activity and liquidity depth. If you want the deepest pools and most trading pairs, Arbitrum is still the go-to.
Who Should Use Arbitrum DEXs?
Perfect for:- Retirees or students swapping $100-$2,000 monthly
- People tired of paying $20+ in gas on Ethereum
- Anyone who wants to hold their own keys and avoid centralized exchanges
- Users trading tokens not listed on Coinbase or Kraken
- You’re doing high-frequency trading (Arbitrum’s 2-3 second finality is too slow)
- You need sub-millisecond order execution (CEXs like Binance are better)
- You’re a hedge fund and need full decentralization now
- You’re uncomfortable with a 7-day withdrawal wait
Most retail traders fall squarely in the "perfect for" category. That’s why Arbitrum is growing 467% year-over-year in TVL. It’s not a fad. It’s the new normal for small-to-medium crypto trading.
What’s Next for Arbitrum
The future is bright. The Stylus upgrade (launched April 2025) lets developers build DEXs in Rust and C++, not just Solidity. That opens the door for faster, more secure apps.Arbitrum Orbit, launching in Q3 2025, will let companies create their own custom L3 networks connected to Arbitrum One. Imagine a DEX built just for institutional traders - with lower risk, faster settlement, and compliance tools. That’s the next phase.
And the ARB token? It doesn’t pay for gas. It’s for voting on upgrades. The DAO has $487 million in treasury funds to spend on ecosystem growth - from developer grants to new DEX projects. That’s serious money backing this network.
By 2027, Gartner predicts 65% of all Ethereum DEX volume will be on Layer-2s. Arbitrum is positioned to own half of that.
Is Arbswap a real crypto exchange?
No, Arbswap doesn’t exist as a standalone exchange. The term likely comes from mixing "Arbitrum" and "swap." You trade on DEXs like Camelot, Uniswap V3, or GMX that run on Arbitrum One - a Layer-2 scaling network for Ethereum.
How much does it cost to swap on Arbitrum?
Swapping tokens on Arbitrum costs between $0.30 and $1.50, depending on network activity. That’s 97% cheaper than Ethereum mainnet, where the same trade can cost $15-$50. Gas fees are paid in ETH, not ARB.
How do I get ETH onto Arbitrum?
Use the official Arbitrum Bridge (bridge.arbitrum.io) or a cross-chain aggregator like Baltex.io. The bridge takes 8-10 minutes and costs $0.50-$2.50. Baltex completes the transfer in 3-5 minutes with a small 0.3-0.5% slippage fee.
Is Arbitrum safe for large trades?
For retail trades under $5,000, yes - it’s very safe. For large institutional trades, the centralized sequencer is still a concern. Offchain Labs controls it until late 2025. Once decentralized, it’ll be much more suitable for big players.
What’s the difference between Arbitrum and Uniswap?
Arbitrum is the underlying network - the highway. Uniswap is a car that drives on it. Uniswap V3 is a DEX that operates on Arbitrum One, giving users low fees and fast trades. You can also use Camelot, GMX, or other DEXs on the same network.
Can I lose money using Arbitrum DEXs?
Yes - but not because of Arbitrum itself. Risks come from smart contract bugs, impermanent loss in liquidity pools, or sending funds to the wrong address. Always double-check token addresses and use trusted DEXs like Camelot or Uniswap V3. Never send ETH from Ethereum to Arbitrum without bridging first.
Why is the withdrawal time 7 days?
It’s a security feature. Arbitrum uses an optimistic rollup, which means transactions are assumed valid unless someone disputes them within 7 days. This prevents fraud. Once the challenge period passes, your funds are released to Ethereum. There’s no way to speed this up.
Does ARB token pay for gas?
No. ARB is only used for governance voting - like deciding on protocol upgrades or treasury spending. All transaction fees on Arbitrum are paid in ETH, just like on Ethereum mainnet.
sandeep honey
November 14, 2025 AT 15:56Arbitrum is the real deal for small traders. I swapped 0.3 ETH for ARB last week and paid like 37 cents. On Ethereum that would’ve eaten my whole trade. No joke, I’ve been using Camelot for 8 months now and never had a failed tx. Just make sure you bridge via the official site. I lost a friend who used some sketchy bridge and vanished his funds. Don’t be that guy.
Mandy Hunt
November 15, 2025 AT 00:46they told us decentralization was the future but now we’re just trading on a server farm in new jersey run by some startup that got venture cash. the sequencer is a backdoor. they can freeze your trades anytime. they already have the power. they just haven’t abused it yet. wait till the next market crash. watch how fast they pull the plug on retail. this isn’t blockchain. this is a paid ad for offchain labs.
anthony silva
November 15, 2025 AT 22:59so let me get this straight. you’re telling me the future of crypto is… cheaper gas? wow. groundbreaking. next you’ll tell me electric cars are better than gas guzzlers because they don’t smell like burning plastic. i’m crying tears of joy. also why is everyone acting like arbitrum isn’t just ethereum with a better paint job? it’s still the same broken system. just slower to break.
David Cameron
November 17, 2025 AT 00:59the real question isn’t whether arbitrum is fast or cheap. it’s whether we’re trading freedom for convenience. we traded the high cost of ethereum for the quiet control of a single company. that’s not progress. that’s surrender. we call it decentralization but we’re just moving our money to a nicer jail. the sequencer isn’t a bug. it’s the feature. they want you to feel safe while they hold the keys. the 7-day withdrawal? that’s not security. that’s a leash.
Sara Lindsey
November 17, 2025 AT 06:33you guys are overthinking this so much. just go try it. it’s not rocket science. i started with $50. bridged it. swapped for usdc. did it again. now i’m trading every week. it’s like magic. low fees. fast. no stress. you don’t need to be a genius. you just need to click the right buttons. if you’re scared, start small. you’ll be shocked how easy it gets. the community is super helpful too. seriously just do it. you won’t regret it.
alex piner
November 18, 2025 AT 03:47im so glad i found this. i was scared to try l2s cause i thought it was too complicated. i used to think crypto was just for coders. but after watching a 5 min yt video on bridging to arbitrum i did it in like 12 mins. now i swap every weekend. i even bought some shiba on camelot lol. the gas is so low i feel like im stealing from the system. thanks for the guide. you made me feel like i belong here.
Gavin Jones
November 18, 2025 AT 20:03While I appreciate the clarity of this exposition, I must respectfully note that the term 'Arbswap' is not merely a misnomer-it is symptomatic of a broader cultural tendency toward linguistic laziness in crypto discourse. The conflation of infrastructure with application is not trivial. It reflects a dangerous erosion of technical literacy among retail participants. That said, the data presented here is commendable and the practical guide is exemplary. I commend the author for their diligence.
Mauricio Picirillo
November 19, 2025 AT 11:17bro this is exactly what i needed. i was stuck on ethereum and paying $25 to swap 100 bucks of usdc. felt like getting robbed. tried arbitrum last week. 40 cents. i cried. not because i was sad. because i was free. now i swap daily. no stress. no panic. just chill trading. if you’re on eth and still paying big fees… you’re doing it wrong. go to bridge.arbitrum.io. do it now. you’ll thank me later.
Liz Watson
November 21, 2025 AT 11:13Oh wow. So the new shiny thing is… cheaper gas? And you’re all acting like this is the second coming. Let me guess-next you’ll tell me that buying a Tesla is the same as saving the planet. Please. This isn’t innovation. It’s a marketing stunt wrapped in jargon. And don’t even get me started on that ‘Sequencer’ thing. You’re trusting a private company to not be evil. That’s not crypto. That’s capitalism with a blockchain sticker.
Rachel Anderson
November 23, 2025 AT 02:24I just spent 4 hours trying to bridge my ETH and I thought I’d lost everything. I swear I saw a ghost in the MetaMask UI. My hands were shaking. I thought I’d been hacked. Then I realized I had the wrong network selected. I cried. Not because I lost money. Because I felt so stupid. But then I did it again. And now I’m trading like a boss. Arbitrum saved my sanity. I love it. I hate it. I’m addicted. I’m a mess. But I’m here. And I’m not going back.
Hamish Britton
November 23, 2025 AT 21:24interesting breakdown. i’ve been using arbitrum since late 2022. the fees are insane compared to mainnet. but the sequencer thing… yeah. it bugs me. i don’t use it for anything big. just small swaps. i’d feel differently if i were moving millions. still, it’s the best option we’ve got for now. i check the discord every day. people are super helpful. just don’t rush the bridge. take your time.
Robert Astel
November 25, 2025 AT 11:14you know what this reminds me of? when i was a kid and my dad said we were going to buy a new car because it had better air conditioning. i thought wow this is the future. but really it was just a car with a better fan. arbitrum is the same. faster gas fees? cool. but the core problem is still there. we’re still on a centralized chain that’s just pretending to be decentralized. and the sequencer? that’s not a temporary fix. that’s the whole architecture. they built it this way on purpose. because control is more valuable than freedom. and we’re all just happy to pay 40 cents to be managed.
Andrew Parker
November 25, 2025 AT 16:14every time i see someone say "arbitrum is safe" i feel this deep sadness. like watching a child believe in santa. the sequencer is a single point of failure. and they’re not even hiding it. they’re proud of it. "we’ll decentralize it by 2025" - yeah right. that’s what they said about ethereum 2.0 in 2017. it’s 2025. we’re still waiting. and meanwhile, people are risking their life savings on a system that could vanish if offchain labs gets bought by a bank. i’m not paranoid. i’m just not stupid.
Kevin Hayes
November 27, 2025 AT 11:08The economic efficiency of Arbitrum One is undeniable. The reduction in marginal transaction cost enables previously nonviable microeconomic interactions within DeFi. This represents a structural shift in access architecture. However, the persistence of centralized sequencing introduces a fundamental tension between scalability and decentralization. The trade-off is not merely technical-it is philosophical. Can a network that defers finality to a proprietary entity be considered trustless? Or has it merely relocated trust from nodes to a corporation? The answer determines whether this is evolution or capitulation.
Katherine Wagner
November 28, 2025 AT 02:15Arbitrum is great but the sequencer is a joke. And why do people keep saying "gas fees are 30 cents"? They’re not. They’re 0.05 gwei. And you pay in ETH. Not ARB. ARB is for voting. Stop confusing the token with the network. Also the 7 day withdrawal? That’s not a feature. It’s a bug. And why is everyone acting like this is the only option? Optimism has a decentralized sequencer. Base is growing. You’re all just drinking the arbitrum kool-aid because it’s popular. Wake up.
ratheesh chandran
November 29, 2025 AT 10:34i tried arbitrum but my tx failed 3 times. i thought i was doing something wrong. then i checked my wallet and i had 0 eth. i thought i got hacked. then i realized i sent eth from ethereum to arbitrum without bridging. i lost 0.1 eth. 300 dollars. i cried for 2 hours. now i use baltex.io. it’s easier. but i still feel stupid. why does crypto have to be so hard? i just want to swap tokens. why do i need to be a computer scientist?
Hannah Kleyn
November 29, 2025 AT 20:48the more i read about arbitrum the more i realize how little i know. i thought layer 2 was just a faster version of ethereum. but now i see it’s a whole different ecosystem. the fact that camelot gives 50% of fees back to liquidity providers? that’s wild. i didn’t even know that was possible. and the stellus upgrade letting devs use rust? that’s next level. i’m not a dev but i’m fascinated. it’s like watching a city get rebuilt while people are still living in it. messy. brilliant. terrifying. i’m just here for the ride. and the 40 cent swaps. that part’s amazing.