Bridging ETH to PulseChain From Coinbase or Binance: Complete CEX → Pulse Guide

December 1, 2025 — Got ETH sitting on Coinbase or Binance and want to bridge it to PulseChain? You're not alone—67% of bridge users start with funds on centralized exchanges. This complete guide walks you through the entire process: withdrawing from your exchange, setting up MetaMask, and bridging to PulseChain. Expected time: 30 minutes. Total cost: $15-25 in fees. Let's get started.

💡 New to bridging? Start with our complete ETH to PulseChain bridge guide for the basics, then come back here for CEX-specific instructions.

The 2-Phase Process: CEX → PulseChain

Important: You CANNOT bridge directly from Coinbase/Binance to PulseChain. Here's why:

• Exchanges don't support PulseChain withdrawals (yet)
• Bridges require wallet connection (exchanges aren't wallets)
• You need a self-custody wallet (like MetaMask) as the middle step

The Complete Journey

1. Phase 1: Exchange → MetaMask (10-30 minutes)
2. Phase 2: MetaMask → PulseChain Bridge (10-15 minutes)

Phase 1: Withdrawing ETH from Your Exchange

Option A: Withdrawing from Coinbase

Step 1: Open Coinbase & Navigate to ETH

1. Log in to Coinbase (web or mobile app)
2. Go to "My Assets" or "Portfolio"
3. Find and click "Ethereum (ETH)"
4. Click "Send" or "Withdraw"

Step 2: Choose Network (CRITICAL!)

⚠️ Network Selection is CRITICAL: You MUST select "Ethereum (ERC-20)" network. If you select wrong network (like Polygon or BSC), your funds will be lost.

• ✅ Select: "Ethereum" or "ERC-20"
• ❌ Avoid: Polygon, BSC, Arbitrum, Optimism (different networks)

Step 3: Enter Your MetaMask Address

You'll need your MetaMask wallet address:

1. Open MetaMask (browser extension or mobile app)
2. Make sure you're on Ethereum Mainnet network
3. Click your account name at the top
4. Click the copy icon to copy your address
5. Paste into Coinbase withdrawal field

Your address looks like: 0x1234...5678 (42 characters starting with 0x)

Step 4: Enter Amount

How much to withdraw?

• Minimum recommended: 0.1 ETH ($350+ at current prices)
• Why minimum? Withdrawal fee ($5-8) + bridge gas ($12-18) = $17-26 total
• Break-even: $26 fees on $100 = 26% loss (not economical)
• Sweet spot: 0.3-1 ETH (fees become 2-8% of total)

Step 5: Review Fees & Confirm

Coinbase withdrawal fees (as of Dec 2025):

• Network fee: $5-15 (varies with ETH gas prices)
• Coinbase fee: Usually $0 for ETH withdrawals
• Total: Expect $5-15 to withdraw

Double-check:

• ✅ Correct network (Ethereum/ERC-20)
• ✅ Correct address (starts with 0x)
• ✅ Sufficient amount (>0.1 ETH recommended)

Click "Confirm Withdrawal"

Step 6: Wait for Confirmation

• Typical time: 10-30 minutes
• Track status: Coinbase shows "Pending" → "Complete"
• Check MetaMask: Your ETH will appear once confirmed

Option B: Withdrawing from Binance

Step 1: Navigate to Withdrawal

1. Log in to Binance
2. Go to "Wallet" → "Fiat and Spot"
3. Find "ETH" and click "Withdraw"

Step 2: Select Network (CRITICAL!)

⚠️ Binance Network Warning: Binance offers MULTIPLE networks for ETH. You MUST select "Ethereum (ERC20)" or you'll lose your funds.

• ✅ Select: "Ethereum (ERC20)"
• ❌ Avoid: BEP20 (BSC), Arbitrum One, Optimism, Polygon

Step 3: Enter MetaMask Address

Same as Coinbase instructions above:

1. Copy your MetaMask address (on Ethereum Mainnet)
2. Paste into Binance "Address" field
3. Binance may ask you to verify via email/SMS

Step 4: Enter Amount

Binance withdrawal fees (as of Dec 2025):

• Network fee: 0.0025-0.006 ETH (~$8-20)
• Minimum withdrawal: 0.01 ETH
• Recommended: 0.1+ ETH to make fees worthwhile

Step 5: Security Verification

Binance requires additional verification:

• Email verification code
• SMS verification code (if enabled)
• 2FA code (Google Authenticator/Authy)

Step 6: Wait for Processing

• Binance processing: 5-15 minutes
• Network confirmation: 5-15 minutes
• Total time: 10-30 minutes

Phase 2: Bridging MetaMask → PulseChain

Step 1: Confirm ETH Arrived in MetaMask

1. Open MetaMask
2. Make sure you're on Ethereum Mainnet
3. Check your ETH balance (should show withdrawn amount minus fees)

If ETH hasn't arrived after 30 minutes:

• Check withdrawal status on exchange
• Look up transaction on Etherscan.io (use TX hash from exchange)
• Wait for all confirmations (12 confirmations = ~3 minutes)

Step 2: Navigate to PulseChain Bridge

1. Go to https://pulse-bridge.com
2. Click "Enter App" or scroll to Bridge section
3. Click "Connect Wallet"
4. Select "MetaMask"
5. Approve connection in MetaMask popup

Step 3: Configure Bridge Settings

• From: Ethereum (should be auto-selected)
• To: PulseChain
• Token: ETH
• Amount: How much to bridge (see recommendations below)

How Much Should You Bridge?

⚠️ Important: Don't bridge ALL your ETH! You need ETH remaining on Ethereum for future gas fees.

Recommended approach:

• If you have 0.1 ETH: Bridge 0.08 ETH, keep 0.02 ETH for gas
• If you have 0.5 ETH: Bridge 0.45 ETH, keep 0.05 ETH
• If you have 1+ ETH: Bridge desired amount, keep 0.05-0.1 ETH

Why keep ETH on Ethereum?

• Future bridge transactions require gas
• Token approvals cost gas ($5-10 each)
• You might want to bridge tokens later

Step 4: Review Bridge Transaction

The bridge will show:

• You're sending: X ETH (from Ethereum)
• You'll receive: X ETH (on PulseChain)
• Gas fee: $12-25 (varies with network congestion)
• Estimated time: 10-15 minutes

Step 5: Approve & Bridge

1. Click "Bridge"
2. MetaMask popup appears showing gas fee
3. Review gas fee (adjust gas if needed)
4. Click "Confirm" in MetaMask
5. Wait for transaction confirmation

Step 6: Track Bridge Progress

The bridge shows real-time status:

1. ✅ Transaction submitted
2. ✅ Confirmed on Ethereum (2-5 min)
3. ✅ Processing bridge (5-10 min)
4. ✅ Arriving on PulseChain (1-2 min)
5. ✅ Complete!

Step 7: Add PulseChain to MetaMask

To see your bridged ETH, add PulseChain network:

1. Open MetaMask
2. Click network dropdown (currently "Ethereum Mainnet")
3. Click "Add Network" → "Add Network Manually"
4. Enter PulseChain details:

• Network Name: PulseChain
• RPC URL: https://rpc.pulsechain.com
• Chain ID: 369
• Currency Symbol: PLS
• Block Explorer: https://scan.pulsechain.com

Click "Save"

Step 8: Verify Bridged ETH

1. Switch to PulseChain network in MetaMask
2. Your bridged ETH should appear
3. Token name: "Ethereum from Ethereum" or similar
4. If not visible, add token manually (see FAQ below)

Complete Cost Breakdown

Example: Bridging 0.5 ETH from Coinbase

Step	Cost
Coinbase Withdrawal Fee	$8.50
Bridge Gas Fee	$14.20
Total Fees	$22.70
Starting Amount (0.5 ETH)	$1,750
Fee Percentage	1.3%

Is It Worth It?

• Bridging $100: $22.70 fee = 22.7% loss ❌ Not economical
• Bridging $350 (0.1 ETH): $22.70 fee = 6.5% ⚠️ Marginal
• Bridging $1,750 (0.5 ETH): $22.70 fee = 1.3% ✅ Reasonable
• Bridging $3,500 (1 ETH): $22.70 fee = 0.65% ✅ Great

Common Issues & Solutions

Issue 1: "Insufficient Funds for Gas" When Bridging

Cause: You tried to bridge ALL your ETH, leaving nothing for gas

Solution: Reduce bridge amount by 0.02-0.05 ETH

Issue 2: Withdrawal Stuck "Processing" on Exchange

Cause: Exchange security review (common for first withdrawal)

Solution:

• Wait 30-60 minutes
• Check email for verification requests
• Contact exchange support if stuck >2 hours

Issue 3: Can't See Bridged ETH on PulseChain

Solution: Manually add token to MetaMask:

1. Make sure you're on PulseChain network
2. Click "Import Tokens"
3. Enter bridged ETH contract address (provided by bridge)
4. Token should appear

Issue 4: Selected Wrong Network on Exchange

Cause: Withdrew to BSC/Polygon instead of Ethereum

Solution:

• If already sent: Funds are on wrong network but recoverable
• Add that network to MetaMask
• Your ETH will appear there
• You'll need to bridge from that network (different process)

Pro Tips for CEX → PulseChain Bridging

1. Bridge During Low Gas Times

• Cheapest: Saturday/Sunday 2-6 AM EST
• Most expensive: Weekdays 9 AM - 12 PM EST
• Savings: Up to 50% on gas fees

2. Batch Your Withdrawals

• Don't withdraw multiple times (each costs $5-15)
• Accumulate on exchange, withdraw once
• Save $10-30 on withdrawal fees

3. Consider Alternative Exchanges for Lower Fees

Withdrawal fee comparison:

• Coinbase: $5-15 (dynamic)
• Binance: 0.0025-0.006 ETH ($8-20)
• Kraken: 0.0025 ETH (~$8.75)
• Gemini: Free (10 free withdrawals/month)

4. Use Gemini's Free Withdrawals

If you're planning to bridge regularly:

1. Open Gemini account
2. Transfer ETH from Coinbase/Binance to Gemini
3. Withdraw for FREE to MetaMask
4. Save $5-15 per withdrawal

Security Checklist

Before Withdrawing from Exchange

• ✅ Double-check MetaMask address (copy-paste, don't type)
• ✅ Verify network is "Ethereum" or "ERC-20"
• ✅ Test with small amount first (0.01 ETH)
• ✅ Save transaction hash for tracking

Before Bridging

• ✅ Confirm ETH arrived in MetaMask
• ✅ Keep 0.02-0.05 ETH for gas
• ✅ Verify you're on official bridge URL
• ✅ Review gas fees (if >$30, wait for lower gas)

FAQ: CEX to PulseChain

Q: Can I bridge directly from Coinbase to PulseChain?

A: No. You must withdraw to a self-custody wallet (MetaMask) first, then bridge. Exchanges don't support direct PulseChain withdrawals.

Q: How long does the entire process take?

A: Total time: 20-45 minutes

• Exchange withdrawal: 10-30 min
• Bridge transaction: 10-15 min

Q: What's the minimum amount worth bridging?

A: Recommended minimum: 0.1 ETH (~$350). Below that, fees (6-22%) make it uneconomical.

Q: What if I selected the wrong network on Binance?

A: Your funds aren't lost, but they're on a different network (e.g., BSC). Add that network to MetaMask, and you'll see them. You'll need a different bridge to move to PulseChain.

Q: Do I need PLS for gas on PulseChain?

A: Yes! After bridging ETH, you'll need PLS for transactions. See our guide: How to Get PLS for Gas

Conclusion

Bridging from Coinbase or Binance to PulseChain requires two steps: exchange → MetaMask → PulseChain. While it adds complexity, it's the safest way to move funds from centralized custody to DeFi on PulseChain.

Quick recap:

1. Withdraw ETH from exchange to MetaMask (select Ethereum network!)
2. Wait for confirmation (10-30 min)
3. Connect MetaMask to PulseChain Bridge
4. Bridge to PulseChain (keep 0.02-0.05 ETH for gas)
5. Add PulseChain network to MetaMask to see funds

Total cost: $15-25 in fees. Total time: 30 minutes.

Ready to bridge? Follow our complete ETH to PulseChain bridge walkthrough for detailed step-by-step instructions.

Now you're ready to start using DeFi on PulseChain! 🚀