Add funds to your wallet

Once your wallet is set up, the next step is putting some dollars in it. The Buy button on the Wallet tab walks you through it. Here is what each step looks like and what to pick.

Open the Buy screen

On the Wallet tab, tap Buy (the first of the three action buttons under your Available Balance). The Buy screen opens.

Pick your region and currency

At the top of the screen is a currency selector. Tap it to pick your country. Arca uses this to:

Show the list of partners that work where you live.
Decide which payment methods are available (bank transfer, debit card, Apple Pay, and similar).
Quote you a price in your local currency.

If you move around, you can come back and change the selection any time.

Enter an amount

Type how much you want to buy. You enter the amount in your local currency, and Arca uses partner quotes to decide which providers are available. If a partner has a minimum or maximum for that amount, the app shows that message before you continue. Start with a small amount if it is your first time.

Pick what you are buying

Below the amount input, you will see the token and network you are buying. By default this starts as USDC on Base, which is the most common choice and works for most people. Tap that row to open Select a Stablecoin. The sheet shows the networks and tokens that the current partners support, so you may be able to switch to USDT or to receive on Optimism.

USDC and USDT are both digital dollars, each backed so that one token equals one US dollar. USDC is issued by Circle, USDT by Tether. If you want to compare the two, see the USDC vs USDT guide. The network (Base or Optimism) is simply where your dollars are recorded. You do not have to understand the networks in detail. Default settings work for nearly everyone.

Pick a provider

Arca does not sell dollars directly. It shows you partner offers, and you pick whichever one works best for you. The provider row shows the partner’s logo, name, and fee. If more than one provider is available, the provider sheet lists them and marks the first quote as Best quote.

If only one partner is available in your country, it is picked for you. If none are available, the app tells you and suggests trying a different currency.

Continue to payment

Tap Continue to payment. Arca creates the order and opens the partner’s checkout in your phone’s browser. You finish the purchase on the partner’s site with your bank, card, or Apple Pay, depending on what they support.

You can close the checkout window when you are done. The Arca app keeps running in the background.

When your dollars arrive

Your dollars arrive in your Arca wallet a short time after the partner confirms the payment. Cards and Apple Pay are usually the fastest. Bank transfers take longer, especially on a first purchase, because the partner confirms your account.

Your balance updates on the Wallet tab as soon as the dollars land. The purchase also appears in Activity with the partner’s name, the amount, and a timestamp.

If something does not go through

If the partner declines your payment, it happens on their side, not inside Arca. Check your bank or card app for any hold. Try a different card or a smaller amount. If the money left your bank but has not arrived in Arca after the expected time, open Activity and tap the transaction for details. The team can trace any pending order.

What is next

Send to a wallet — make your first transfer.
Verify your identity — complete the optional identity check for supported partners that request it.