Bridge Assets via Native Bridge
This page covers step-by-step instructions for using the Horizen native bridge.
- You need a Web3 wallet (MetaMask, Rabby, or Coinbase Wallet)
- Deposits: Ensure your wallet has ETH on Base (mainnet) or Base Sepolia (testnet)
- Withdrawals: Ensure your wallet has ETH on Horizen and enough ETH to cover gas on Base when you return to claim
- Always test with a small amount first
Deposit: Base → Horizen
Use this flow to move ETH from Base into Horizen Chain. The estimated time is a few minutes after Base confirmation
Steps
1. Open the bridge
Go to https://hub.horizen.io/ (mainnet) or https://hub-testnet.horizen.io/
(testnet) in your browser.
2. Connect your wallet
Click Connect Wallet and approve the connection in your wallet. Make sure your wallet is set to Base (mainnet) or Base Sepolia (testnet) before connecting.
3. Set the direction
In the From field, select Base. In the To field, select Horizen.
4. Enter the amount
Enter the amount of ETH you want to bridge. Leave enough ETH in your Base wallet to cover the transaction gas fee.
5. Confirm the transaction
Click Confirm and approve the transaction in your wallet. The transaction is submitted to Base.
6. Wait for arrival
Your ETH will arrive on Horizen within a few minutes. You can verify the balance by checking your wallet address on the Horizen explorer:
- Mainnet:
https://explorer.horizen.io/ - Testnet:
https://explorer-testnet.horizen.io/
If your wallet is not yet configured for Horizen, add the network first. See Network Configuration → for the RPC details.
Withdrawal: Horizen → Base
Use this flow to move ETH from Horizen Chain back to Base.
Withdrawals take a minimum of 7 days to complete due to the optimistic rollup challenge window. This is the security mechanism of the bridge.
You will need to return to the bridge after 7 days to complete a second transaction (the Claim) on Base. Funds are not automatically sent to your Base wallet.
Estimated time: 7 days minimum from initiation to receipt on Base
Step 1 - Initiate the Withdrawal on Horizen
1. Open the bridge
Go to https://hub.horizen.io/ (mainnet) or https://hub-testnet.horizen.io/
(testnet).
2. Connect your wallet
Click Connect Wallet and approve the connection. Make sure your wallet is set to Horizen (mainnet) or Horizen Testnet.
3. Set the direction
In the From field, select Horizen. In the To field, select Base.
4. Enter the amount
Enter the amount of ETH you want to withdraw. Leave enough ETH in your Horizen wallet to cover the gas fee for this transaction.
5. Confirm the transaction
Click Confirm and approve the transaction in your wallet. This submits the withdrawal transaction on Horizen. Once confirmed, the 7-day challenge window begins.
Keep a record of your transaction hash. You can look up the transaction on the Horizen explorer to confirm it was included.
Step 2 - Claim on Base (after 7 days)
After the 7-day challenge window has passed, you must return to the bridge to release your funds on Base. The bridge will show a Claim button for any pending withdrawal that is ready.
1. Return to the bridge
Go to https://hub.horizen.io/ and connect the same wallet you used to initiate
the withdrawal.
2. Locate your pending withdrawal
The bridge will display your pending withdrawal with a Claim button once the 7-day window has elapsed.
3. Switch to Base
Switch your wallet to Base (mainnet) before claiming. The claim transaction is executed on Base.
4. Submit the claim
Click Claim and approve the transaction in your wallet. This calls the
OptimismPortal contract on Base, which releases your ETH.
5. Confirm receipt
Your ETH will arrive in your Base wallet once the claim transaction is confirmed. You can verify this on Basescan.
Troubleshooting
My deposit hasn't arrived after 10 minutes
Check the transaction status on the Horizen block explorer using your wallet address. If the deposit transaction is confirmed on Base but has not appeared on Horizen, wait a few more minutes — the Sequencer may be slightly delayed. If the issue persists, check the Horizen Discord for any known network issues.
I can't see my Claim button after 7 days
Make sure you are connected with the same wallet address used to initiate the withdrawal, and that your wallet is set to Base. If the claim button is still not visible, the 7-day window may not have fully elapsed — check the initiation transaction timestamp on the explorer.
I accidentally closed the browser during the withdrawal
Your withdrawal is recorded on-chain. Return to https://hub.horizen.io/, reconnect
the same wallet, and the pending withdrawal will be visible. You do not need to
re-initiate anything.
I sent ETH to the bridge contract address directly
Do not interact with bridge contracts directly unless you are using the official bridge UI or the OP Stack SDK. Direct contract calls require specific parameters and incorrect usage can result in lost funds. If you have done this, contact the Horizen team immediately via Discord.