Wrapped ETH (WETH) vs Native ETH
**Native ETH** is the L1 asset. **WETH** is ERC-20 wrapped ETH—required by many DEX routers and LP pools. Wrapping/unwrapping adds one tx and gas.
Step by step
1. Check protocol requirements
Some pools accept native ETH via router; others need WETH only.
2. Batch wrap once
Wrap a working float to avoid per-trade wrap gas.
3. Unwrap on exit
Unwrap only when leaving DeFi to cold storage if you prefer native.
ETH vs WETH
Same economic exposure; difference is contract compatibility.
- Native ETH: Default for transfers; not ERC-20.
- WETH: DeFi composability; extra wrap/unwrap gas.
Use our calculators
Common mistakes
- Sending WETH to contracts that expect native ETH
FAQ
Is WETH a different price?
Pegged 1:1; depeg rare and usually brief on mainnet.