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Get started with token bridging

Token bridging is a fundamental aspect of any child chain protocol. It allows projects to quickly integrate with the Arbitrum ecosystem by leveraging their existing parent chain tokens.

I want to deposit or withdraw tokens

If your token is already configured for bridging, use these guides:

These guides work for any token that's already bridgeable, regardless of which gateway type was configured.

I want to make my token bridgeable

If you're setting up bridging for a new token, you have three gateway options to choose from:

Use the standard gateway if you want:

  • Automatic deployment of a standard ERC-20 token on Arbitrum
  • No pre-configuration required
  • The simplest setup process

For additional information, see standard ERC-20 gateway in the conceptual docs.

2. Generic-custom gateway (for custom token logic)

Use the generic-custom gateway if you need:

  • Custom functionality in your child chain token
  • Control over the child chain token implementation
  • Additional features beyond standard ERC-20

For additional information, see Arbitrum generic custom gateway in the conceptual docs.

3. Custom gateway (for advanced use cases)

Use a custom gateway if you need:

  • Specialized gateway logic beyond what standard gateways provide
  • Custom handling of deposits and withdrawals
  • Advanced features like child chain-minted tokens being withdrawable to parent chain

For additional information, see other types of gateways in the conceptual docs.

Example code

You can find complete examples demonstrating:

Learn more