zeroknowledge

What you will need beforehand:

  • Laptop ideally (iPhone will work as well and same processes apply below)
  • MetaMask in your browser (or MetaMask app on iPhone)
  • MetaMask wallet w/ enough ether in it for gas costs

What you will need to know beforehand:

  • Ethereum Mainnet and Layer 1 mean the same
  • Optimistic Ethereum and Layer 2 mean the same
  • In the process written out below. I write the Step # first, and then I show the diagram below it.

Goal: Transfer funds from MetaMask wallet from Ethereum mainnet to Optimistic Ethereum.

Why: The future of Ethereum lives on Layer 2. Where transactions happen in milliseconds, and savings on transactions / gas costs are 10x –> 100x. There are, and will be, many different Layer 2 networks. Networks, like Optimism, enable the blockchain world to experiment more and have a heavier appetite for change – while keeping the base layer of Ethereum (Ethereum Mainnet) credibly neutral.

Connecting your MetaMask wallet to the Layer 2, Optimistic Ethereum network:

This will allow your wallet to connect to the Optimistic Ethereum network. So when you transfer your funds over, you will be able to see them in your wallet. However, you need to connect to the Optimistic Ethereum network first in order for those funds to be visible:

Step 1: Click on MetaMask. Notice how our wallet is currently connected to Ethereum Mainnet. Now let’s connect to Layer 2..

Step 2: Click the dropdown at the top where it says “Ethereum Mainnet”. You’ll notice I already have the Optimistic Ethereum network connected to my wallet. You will not see that there in yours. Instead, you want to click “Add Network” at the bottom”

Step 3: Once you click “Add Network” your browser will open up a separate screen shown below. Fill in the following fields:

Click “Save”

Step 4: If you open up MetaMask again, in the network dropdown at the top, you should now be able to click “Optimistic Ethereum” as a dropdown option. Your balances should be 0. Since you have not yet transferred any funds over from Layer 1 yet onto Layer 2. Let’s do that now.

Transferring Funds from Ethereum Mainnet to Optimistic Ethereum

Step 1: Log into MetaMask and choose the “Ethereum Mainnet” network to connect to. Ensure you already have some ether (eth), as depositing into Optimism and traveling from Layer 1 –> Layer 2 will incur some non-trivial gas costs.

Step 2: Go to https://www.optimism.io (click Connect wallet when prompted, and connect your MetaMask wallet).

Step 3: Click “DEPOSIT NOW”

Step 4: Choose what coins you are going to deposit. There will be a list that is shown through the dropdown. So ensure you are sending the right coins over. Also, if your MetaMask wallet is properly connected, you will be able to see it on the top right (see below).

Step 5: Initiate the deposit when prompted. After confirming and signing the tx with your MetaMask wallet, you will see the starting deposit screen below.

Step 6: Your deposit is now en route to the Layer 2, Optimistic Ethereum network. Confirmations will take place before finalization and before you can see the funds in your MetaMask wallet. This could take anywhere between 10-20 minutes, perhaps shorter perhaps longer. Nothing you need to do here.

Step 7: Once enough time has passed and confirmations are final, the deposit is complete.

If you open up your MetaMask wallet, and connect it to the “Optimistic Ethereum” network, you should see your fund balances in there that you transferred. Note, however, that if you haven’t added the coin into the token listing of the wallet, the balance for that particular coin won’t show up. That doesn’t mean your funds aren’t there. It just means you haven’t added the token to the wallet interface yet to actually see the balances.

You are now one of the first live players in the world of Layer 2 cryptosystems.

Use Uniswap and other dapps currently live to test out the world of Layer 2, and the world of Optimistic Etheruem.

Omnium Rerum Principia Parva Sunt

(The beginnings of all things are small)