How to wrap Ethereum (wETH) in MetaMask

Wrapped Ethereum (wETH) is an ERC-20 token that enables ETH to be used across DeFi platforms by locking ETH in a smart contract and minting wETH 1:1.

Aug 13, 2025 at 11:36 am

Understanding Wrapped Ethereum (wETH)

Wrapped Ethereum (wETH) is a tokenized version of native Ethereum (ETH) that conforms to the ERC-20 standard, enabling it to be used in decentralized applications (dApps), decentralized exchanges (DEXs), and lending protocols that require ERC-20 compatibility. While native ETH is used to pay for gas and interact with the Ethereum blockchain, it does not follow the ERC-20 token structure. This limitation prevents ETH from being directly used in many DeFi protocols. By wrapping ETH into wETH, users gain interoperability across platforms that require ERC-20 tokens.

The wrapping process is essentially a 1:1 conversion where ETH is locked in a smart contract, and an equivalent amount of wETH is minted. The reverse process, known as unwrapping, burns the wETH and releases the original ETH back to the user. This mechanism is trustless and decentralized, relying on audited smart contracts maintained by reputable projects like WETH.io, which is widely recognized and used across the Ethereum ecosystem.

Prerequisites for Wrapping ETH in MetaMask

Before wrapping ETH, ensure the following prerequisites are met:

• You have a MetaMask wallet installed as a browser extension or mobile app.
• Your wallet is connected to the Ethereum Mainnet. Confirm this by checking the network dropdown in MetaMask.
• You possess enough ETH to wrap, keeping in mind that a small amount must be reserved for gas fees.
• You have access to a decentralized exchange (DEX) or a dedicated wETH service, such as Uniswap or the official WETH contract interface.

It is critical to verify that you are interacting with the legitimate wETH contract address: 0xC02aaA39b223FE8D0A0e5C4F27eAD9083C756Cc2. Interacting with fake contracts can result in irreversible loss of funds.

Accessing the wETH Contract via MetaMask

To wrap ETH using the official wETH contract, follow these steps:

• Open MetaMask and ensure you are on the Ethereum Mainnet.
• Navigate to a blockchain explorer like Etherscan.io.
• Search for the wETH contract address: 0xC02aaA39b223FE8D0A0e5C4F27eAD9083C756Cc2.
• On the contract page, locate the "Contract" tab and click "Write Contract".
• Click "Connect to Web3" and authorize MetaMask to connect.
• Once connected, expand the "deposit()" function. This function is used to wrap ETH into wETH.

The deposit() function has no input fields because it automatically wraps the ETH amount specified in the transaction value. You will specify how much ETH to wrap in the next step.

Executing the Wrap Transaction

After accessing the deposit() function on Etherscan:

• In the "value" field, enter the amount of ETH you wish to wrap. This field accepts ETH, not wETH.
• Select the unit (e.g., ETH) from the dropdown menu next to the value field.
• Click "Write" to initiate the transaction.
• MetaMask will pop up with a transaction confirmation window.
• Review the details: the to address should match the wETH contract, and the value should reflect the ETH amount you entered.
• Adjust the gas fee if necessary by clicking "Edit" to set a custom gas price or limit.
• Confirm the transaction by clicking "Confirm" in MetaMask.

Once confirmed, the transaction will be broadcast to the Ethereum network. You can track its status on Etherscan using the transaction hash provided by MetaMask.

Adding wETH to Your MetaMask Wallet

After the transaction is successful, wETH will not automatically appear in your MetaMask wallet. You must manually add it as a token:

• Open MetaMask and click on the "Import Tokens" button at the bottom of the assets list.
• Switch to the "Custom Token" tab.
• Paste the wETH contract address: 0xC02aaA39b223FE8D0A0e5C4F27eAD9083C756Cc2 into the Token Contract Address field.
• The Token Symbol (WETH) and Decimals of Precision (18) should auto-populate.
• Click "Next", then "Add Tokens".

The wETH balance will now be visible in your wallet, matching the amount you wrapped. This token can now be used in any DeFi application that accepts ERC-20 tokens.

Alternative Method: Wrapping via Uniswap

Another common way to wrap ETH is through Uniswap, a popular decentralized exchange:

• Go to app.uniswap.org and connect your MetaMask wallet.
• Ensure you are on the Ethereum network.
• Navigate to the "Swap" tab.
• In the "From" field, select ETH.
• In the "To" field, search for wETH and select the token with the verified contract address.
• Enter the amount of ETH you want to wrap.
• Click "Swap", then review the details in the pop-up.
• Confirm the transaction in MetaMask, including gas fees.

Uniswap routes this swap through its internal wETH wrapper, effectively performing the same 1:1 conversion. This method is often preferred for its user-friendly interface and integration with other DeFi tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I unwrap wETH back to ETH using the same methods?

Yes. On Etherscan, use the "withdraw(uint256)" function in the wETH contract and specify the amount of wETH to unwrap. On Uniswap, swap wETH back to ETH. The process burns wETH and releases ETH to your wallet.

Is wrapping ETH reversible?

Yes, the process is fully reversible. You can unwrap wETH at any time to retrieve the original ETH. No fees are charged by the wETH contract, though standard gas fees apply.

Does wrapping ETH cost a lot in gas fees?

Gas fees depend on network congestion and the gas price you set. During peak times, fees can be high. You can reduce costs by setting a lower gas price, though this may delay transaction confirmation.

Can I use wETH on Layer 2 networks like Arbitrum or Optimism?

Yes, but you must bridge wETH to those networks using their respective bridges. wETH on Ethereum cannot be used directly on Layer 2 chains without cross-chain transfer.