Pay for an eSIM on Arbitrum with ETH, USDT or USDC

You can pay for a HelloSIM travel eSIM on the Arbitrum network with ETH, USDT or USDC by choosing "Pay with crypto" at checkout and selecting the coin with Arbitrum as the network on the secure payment page. Because Arbitrum and Ethereum addresses look exactly the same, the one thing to check twice is that your wallet or exchange really sends on Arbitrum.

Arbitrum is a layer-2 network built on top of Ethereum. It uses the same wallets, the same 0x address format and the same coin, ETH, for network fees. That shared design makes it familiar, and it is also why most Arbitrum payment mistakes are network mix-ups. This guide covers the three ways to pay on Arbitrum and the checks that prevent them.

Which coins can I use to pay on Arbitrum?

Three options on HelloSIM's payment page run on Arbitrum:

• Ethereum (ETH) on Arbitrum: ETH held on the Arbitrum network. ETH on Ethereum and ETH on BNB Smart Chain are separate options on the same page.
• Tether (USDT) on Arbitrum: one of eight networks HelloSIM accepts for USDT.
• USD Coin (USDC) on Arbitrum: one of five networks HelloSIM accepts for USDC.

The payment page shows the current list of coins and networks, and it can change. Plans are priced in euros, and the page converts the euro price into your chosen coin at the moment of payment. USDT and USDC are designed to track the US dollar, so their figure will not match the euro price; send the figure the page shows, not one you calculated yourself.

Arbitrum or Ethereum: why the address does not tell you

An Arbitrum address starts with 0x and looks identical to an Ethereum address, and the same wallet usually shows the same address on both networks. The balances are still separate: ETH or USDC on Ethereum is not on Arbitrum just because the address matches. A wallet or exchange will accept the payment address on either network without warning, because it looks valid on both.

The payment page, not the address, tells you which network a payment belongs to. A transfer on a different network from the one shown can leave the payment incomplete, and blockchain transfers cannot be recalled once sent.

• In a wallet: switch the network selector to Arbitrum before you paste the address, and check that the balance on screen is your Arbitrum balance.
• On an exchange: choose Arbitrum in the withdrawal network list yourself. Wallets and exchanges often call it "Arbitrum One"; if you see more than one network with Arbitrum in the name and are unsure which one matches, ask HelloSIM support before you send.
• If your funds are on Ethereum: do not send them to a request created for Arbitrum. Create the request for Ethereum instead, since ETH, USDT and USDC are all accepted on Ethereum too.

How to pay for an eSIM on Arbitrum, step by step

1. 1Check your Arbitrum balance. Confirm that your ETH, USDT or USDC is on Arbitrum and, for a stablecoin sent from your own wallet, that you also hold some ETH on Arbitrum.
2. 2Choose a plan and go to checkout. Pick a single-country plan from 190+ countries, a regional plan or a Global plan, enter your email address and select "Pay with crypto". Guest checkout works; an account helps you manage eSIMs and top up later.
3. 3Select the coin with Arbitrum as the network. The page shows a payment address, a QR code and the exact amount.
4. 4Set Arbitrum in your wallet or exchange. Then scan the QR code or copy the address and amount.
5. 5Send the exact amount. From an exchange, check the amount that will arrive after the withdrawal fee.
6. 6Wait for confirmation. The eSIM is issued when the payment is confirmed on the blockchain. It appears in your account or the app, and the QR code is emailed.
7. 7Install over Wi-Fi before you travel. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination, so buying early is fine.

Do I need ETH to send USDT or USDC on Arbitrum?

Yes, if you send from your own wallet. Network fees on Arbitrum are paid in ETH, and it has to be ETH on Arbitrum: ETH sitting on Ethereum cannot pay a fee on Arbitrum. Without a small ETH balance on Arbitrum next to your stablecoin, the transfer usually cannot be sent.

When you pay with ETH itself, the fee comes out of the same balance, so keep a little more than the amount shown. Either way, network fees are paid by the sender, on top of the amount shown.

From an exchange, the exchange handles the network side, but many exchanges subtract their withdrawal fee from the amount you type. Make sure the amount that arrives equals the amount on the payment page. Sending less can leave the payment incomplete; overpaying still completes the order.

USDC and USDC.e on Arbitrum

Some Arbitrum wallets show two USDC balances: native USDC and an older bridged version, often labelled USDC.e. They are separate tokens. If you are not sure which one you hold, ask HelloSIM support before you start a payment request, not after the transfer has gone out.

Timing, minimum and refunds

The minimum for any crypto payment is €1.00. A payment request stays open for 1 hour; if it expires, start a new one from checkout and never send to the expired request. Confirmation time depends on the coin and network, and HelloSIM does not promise a specific number of minutes, so buy before your travel day.

All sales are final: there are no refunds once an order is paid. If you buy data regularly, you can also use ETH, USDT or USDC on Arbitrum to add money to your HelloSIM wallet balance, from €1.00, and pay for later eSIMs and top-ups from that balance.

What you need to pay on Arbitrum

• An email address for the eSIM and its QR code
• A phone that supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked
• ETH, USDT or USDC on the Arbitrum network
• Some ETH on Arbitrum for the fee, if you send from your own wallet
• Wi-Fi to install the eSIM

Stay connected on the right network

On Arbitrum, the coin is the easy part. Set the network to Arbitrum in both places, keep a little ETH on Arbitrum for the fee, send the exact amount within the hour, and your eSIM will be waiting in your account.