USDC and USDT: two stablecoin ledgers
USDC is an issued dollar-oriented stablecoin with canonical, native, and bridged variants across networks. Contract events and issuer controls differ from a network-native gas asset. USDT is issued through ERC-20, TRC-20, SPL, and other network-specific contracts. The ticker does not determine the token standard, contract, issuer controls, or destination address model. The route changes both asset identity and network representation; dollar-oriented pricing does not remove issuer controls, liquidity spread, contract, or receiving-network checks.
USDC input identity and handling
USDC is classified as a stablecoin for this route. USDC uses a network-specific contract asset on Base. The Base side is contract-tracked rather than a native gas balance. The source wallet sends the exact USDC native or contract representation selected by the route; contract USDC can require approval and the chain’s native gas asset.
USDT output identity and receiving
Tether is classified as a stablecoin for this route. USDT uses a network-specific contract asset on zkSync Era. The recorded zkSync Era representation uses 6 decimal places. Confirm whether the output is ERC-20, TRC-20, SPL, or another USDT standard; a wallet supporting one standard may not credit another.
Base to zkSync Era L2 handoff
This route crosses two L2 execution environments. Base settles to ethereum, while zkSync Era settles to ethereum; each side keeps its own gas balance, token contracts, transaction hash, and settlement progress.
Base source execution
Base is a L2 EVM network in the Ethereum ecosystem. ETH pays source-side network gas on Base. EVM 0x account address A Base source transaction is sequenced on the OP Stack rollup and later settles to Ethereum; Base ETH and Base token approvals remain on the L2 ledger.
zkSync Era destination execution
zkSync Era is a L2 EVM network in the Ethereum ecosystem. ETH pays destination-side network gas on zkSync Era. EVM 0x account address A zkSync Era receipt belongs to EraVM account state and uses ETH for later fees; proof settlement to Ethereum remains distinct from L2 delivery.
Mistakes specific to USDC Base to USDT zkSync Era
Route-specific mistakes include sending on a network other than Base; using a destination that is not valid for zkSync Era; running out of ETH before the source transaction is submitted; selecting a stablecoin by ticker without checking its network contract. A Base source transaction is sequenced on the OP Stack rollup and later settles to Ethereum; Base ETH and Base token approvals remain on the L2 ledger. The source wallet sends the exact USDC native or contract representation selected by the route; contract USDC can require approval and the chain’s native gas asset. A zkSync Era receipt belongs to EraVM account state and uses ETH for later fees; proof settlement to Ethereum remains distinct from L2 delivery. Confirm whether the output is ERC-20, TRC-20, SPL, or another USDT standard; a wallet supporting one standard may not credit another.