How do I install the Arbitrum skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add modbender/arbitrum in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Arbitrum safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. Capability flags: makes network calls, reads secrets. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Arbitrum?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Arbitrum free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Arbitrum?

modbender (@modbender) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Arbitrum by modbender — Agent Skill

Name: Arbitrum
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: modbender

File contents

Network Basics

Arbitrum One is an optimistic rollup — L2 scaling for Ethereum
EVM equivalent — same tools, wallets, contracts as Ethereum
ETH is the gas token — not a separate token
ARB is governance token — not used for gas
Same addresses as Ethereum — but different network, different balances

Bridging

Official bridge: bridge.arbitrum.io — most secure
Deposits (L1→L2): ~10 minutes — after Ethereum confirmation
Withdrawals (L2→L1): 7 days — optimistic rollup security delay
Third-party bridges faster — Hop, Across, Stargate, but add risk
Always bridge some ETH first — need gas on Arbitrum

The 7-Day Withdrawal

Optimistic rollups assume transactions valid — fraud proofs during 7 days
Cannot speed up native bridge withdrawal — security requirement
Plan ahead for exits — don't bridge if you need funds in <7 days
Third-party bridges use liquidity — faster but fees apply
Withdrawal can be claimed after 7 days — requires L1 transaction

Gas and Fees

Much cheaper than Ethereum mainnet — typically 10-50x lower
Two components: L2 execution + L1 data posting
L1 data costs can spike — when Ethereum is congested
Gas prices in gwei — same units as Ethereum
Fast blocks — ~0.25 seconds

ARB Token

Governance token — vote on DAO proposals
Not used for gas — ETH pays for transactions
Airdropped to early users — claiming period ended
Staking coming — ARB staking in development
Available on major exchanges — high liquidity

DeFi Ecosystem

GMX — largest perps DEX on Arbitrum
Uniswap, SushiSwap — major DEXs deployed
Aave, Radiant — lending protocols
Camelot — native Arbitrum DEX
Significant TVL — billions in value locked

Wallet Configuration

MetaMask works natively — add network from chainlist.org
Chain ID: 42161 — RPC: https://arb1.arbitrum.io/rpc
Block explorer: arbiscan.io — verify transactions
Same seed as Ethereum — different network selection

Arbitrum Nova

Separate chain from Arbitrum One — optimized for gaming/social
Lower fees than One — less security guarantees
Different bridge — don't confuse with One
Chain ID: 42170 — verify you're on correct chain

Stylus

Run Rust, C, C++ contracts — not just Solidity
WASM-based execution — alongside EVM
Coming feature — expands developer options
Same security as EVM contracts — audited runtime

Common Issues

"Insufficient ETH for gas" — need ETH, not just tokens
Wrong network — sent to Arbitrum address on Ethereum (recoverable but complex)
Withdrawal pending — 7-day wait is normal, not stuck
Transaction reverted — check slippage, approvals, balance
"Network not found" — add Arbitrum network to wallet

Sequencer

Single sequencer currently — Offchain Labs operated
Centralization concern — decentralization roadmap exists
Sequencer can't steal funds — only order transactions
If sequencer down — delayed but not lost, can force include
Decentralized sequencer coming — DAO governance

Security

Same security as Ethereum for assets — after 7-day challenge period
Smart contracts same risks — audit status matters
Fraud proof protects users — invalid state transitions challenged
Bridge is secured by Ethereum — L1 is the settlement layer
Use official bridge for large amounts — third-party bridges add risk

---name: arbitrumdescription: Assist with Arbitrum One transactions, bridging, gas optimization, and L2 ecosystem navigation.--- ## Network Basics - Arbitrum One is an optimistic rollup — L2 scaling for Ethereum - EVM equivalent — same tools, wallets, contracts as Ethereum - ETH is the gas token — not a separate token - ARB is governance token — not used for gas - Same addresses as Ethereum — but different network, different balances ## Bridging - Official bridge: bridge.arbitrum.io — most secure - Deposits (L1→L2): ~10 minutes — after Ethereum confirmation - Withdrawals (L2→L1): 7 days — optimistic rollup security delay - Third-party bridges faster — Hop, Across, Stargate, but add risk - Always bridge some ETH first — need gas on Arbitrum ## The 7-Day Withdrawal - Optimistic rollups assume transactions valid — fraud proofs during 7 days - Cannot speed up native bridge withdrawal — security requirement - Plan ahead for exits — don't bridge if you need funds in <7 days - Third-party bridges use liquidity — faster but fees apply - Withdrawal can be claimed after 7 days — requires L1 transaction ## Gas and Fees - Much cheaper than Ethereum mainnet — typically 10-50x lower - Two components: L2 execution + L1 data posting - L1 data costs can spike — when Ethereum is congested - Gas prices in gwei — same units as Ethereum - Fast blocks — ~0.25 seconds ## ARB Token - Governance token — vote on DAO proposals - Not used for gas — ETH pays for transactions - Airdropped to early users — claiming period ended - Staking coming — ARB staking in development - Available on major exchanges — high liquidity ## DeFi Ecosystem - GMX — largest perps DEX on Arbitrum - Uniswap, SushiSwap — major DEXs deployed - Aave, Radiant — lending protocols - Camelot — native Arbitrum DEX - Significant TVL — billions in value locked ## Wallet Configuration - MetaMask works natively — add network from chainlist.org - Chain ID: 42161 — RPC: https://arb1.arbitrum.io/rpc - Block explorer: arbiscan.io — verify transactions - Same seed as Ethereum — different network selection ## Arbitrum Nova - Separate chain from Arbitrum One — optimized for gaming/social - Lower fees than One — less security guarantees - Different bridge — don't confuse with One - Chain ID: 42170 — verify you're on correct chain ## Stylus - Run Rust, C, C++ contracts — not just Solidity - WASM-based execution — alongside EVM - Coming feature — expands developer options - Same security as EVM contracts — audited runtime ## Common Issues - "Insufficient ETH for gas" — need ETH, not just tokens - Wrong network — sent to Arbitrum address on Ethereum (recoverable but complex) - Withdrawal pending — 7-day wait is normal, not stuck - Transaction reverted — check slippage, approvals, balance - "Network not found" — add Arbitrum network to wallet ## Sequencer - Single sequencer currently — Offchain Labs operated - Centralization concern — decentralization roadmap exists - Sequencer can't steal funds — only order transactions - If sequencer down — delayed but not lost, can force include - Decentralized sequencer coming — DAO governance ## Security - Same security as Ethereum for assets — after 7-day challenge period - Smart contracts same risks — audit status matters - Fraud proof protects users — invalid state transitions challenged - Bridge is secured by Ethereum — L1 is the settlement layer - Use official bridge for large amounts — third-party bridges add risk

Frequently asked questions

Arbitrum