What Circle CCTP is
CCTP (Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol) is Circle’s own way of moving USDC between chains. USDC is burned on the source chain and the same amount of native USDC is minted on the destination chain, so you receive the USDC that Circle issues there.Routes for 1,000 USDC from Arbitrum to Base
Test quotes on October 19, 2026 (about 16:55 UTC) returned eight routes. The live quote shows current numbers.
From Ethereum to Base, the same eight routes were offered with similar amounts. CCTP Standard showed 999.95 USDC and CCTP Fast 999.85 USDC.
How to bridge USDC with CCTP
1
Open L2Pass Swap
Go to swap.l2pass.com, choose USDC on the source network (for example Arbitrum) and USDC on the destination network (for example Base), then enter the amount and set the address that will receive the USDC.
2
Pick Fast or Standard
Find the USDC native bridge cards. Choose Fast if you want the USDC in under a minute, or Standard if you can wait about 20 minutes for a lower network fee. Compare them with the other route cards.
3
Approve and sign
Sign the transaction in your wallet on the source network. If this is your first USDC transfer through the route, your wallet may ask for a token approval first.
4
Track the transfer
If the app asks for a final step on the destination network, follow it; an unfinished transfer can be resumed from the app later. You can check that the USDC has arrived by looking up the receiving address on a block explorer for the destination network, such as Basescan for Base.
Things to know
- Gas on the source chain. You pay gas in ETH on Ethereum, Arbitrum or Base. The CCTP network fee is deducted from the amount shown, so you do not need ETH on the destination chain to receive.
- Fixed output. CCTP delivers the exact amount shown, so slippage does not apply.
- Wallet only. CCTP needs a transaction signed in your wallet. To pay from an exchange, use L2Pass RFQ, which takes a deposit to a one-time address.
- Refunds. On-chain routes revert if they fail, and gas is not refundable.
- No partial fills. A transfer completes in full or does not execute.
FAQ
How long does a CCTP transfer take?
How long does a CCTP transfer take?
In test quotes on October 19, 2026, CCTP Fast took about 38 to 50 seconds and CCTP Standard about 19.5 minutes. Route cards show the current estimate.
How much does it cost to bridge USDC with CCTP?
How much does it cost to bridge USDC with CCTP?
There is a 0% L2Pass fee on stablecoin swaps. In test quotes for 1,000 USDC, the network fee was 0.05 USDC on Standard and 0.15 to 0.19 USDC on Fast, plus source gas in ETH.
Is USDC bridged with CCTP the same as native USDC?
Is USDC bridged with CCTP the same as native USDC?
Yes. CCTP burns USDC on the source chain and mints native USDC issued by Circle on the destination chain.
Which is the fastest way to move USDC from Arbitrum to Base?
Which is the fastest way to move USDC from Arbitrum to Base?
In test quotes on October 19, 2026, Relay showed about 2 seconds and Aori about 3 seconds, with slightly different amounts. Compare the route cards for your amount.