Ethereum Transfers with Para

This walkthrough covers sending basic Ethereum transfers using Para with both Ethers v6 and Viem v2. You’ll learn transaction construction, gas estimation, and signing patterns for each library.

Prerequisites

You need an authenticated Para client and basic knowledge of Ethereum transactions.

Core Dependencies

Ethers v6
Viem v2

npm install @getpara/react-sdk @getpara/ethers-v6-integration ethers

npm install @getpara/react-sdk @getpara/viem viem

Provider Setup

RPC Configuration

Ethers v6
Viem v2

import { ethers } from "ethers";

const RPC_URL = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_HOLESKY_RPC_URL || 
  "https://ethereum-holesky-rpc.publicnode.com";

// Create JSON RPC provider
const provider = new ethers.JsonRpcProvider(RPC_URL);

import { createPublicClient, http } from "viem";
import { holesky } from "viem/chains";

const RPC_URL = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_HOLESKY_RPC_URL || 
  "https://ethereum-holesky-rpc.publicnode.com";

// Create public client for read operations
const publicClient = createPublicClient({
  chain: holesky,
  transport: http(RPC_URL)
});

Para Signer Setup

Ethers v6
Viem v2

import { createParaEthersSigner } from "@getpara/ethers-v6-integration";
import { useAccount, useClient } from "@getpara/react-sdk";

// Get Para client and account
const client = useClient();
const { data: account } = useAccount();

// Create Para Ethers signer
let signer: ParaEthersSigner | null = null;

if (account?.isConnected && provider && client) {
  signer = createParaEthersSigner({ para: client, provider: provider });
}

import { createParaViemAccount, createParaViemClient } from "@getpara/viem";
import { useAccount, useClient } from "@getpara/react-sdk";

// Get Para client and account
const client = useClient();
const { data: account } = useAccount();

// Create Para Viem account and wallet client
let walletClient: any = null;

if (account?.isConnected && client) {
  const viemAccount = createParaViemAccount(client);
  
  walletClient = createParaViemClient(client, {
    account: viemAccount,
    chain: holesky,
    transport: http(RPC_URL)
  });
}

Transaction Construction

Basic Transaction Parameters

Ethers v6
Viem v2

import { parseEther, toBigInt } from "ethers";

const constructTransaction = async (
  toAddress: string, 
  ethAmount: string,
  userAddress: string
) => {
  // Get transaction parameters
  const nonce = await provider.getTransactionCount(userAddress);
  const feeData = await provider.getFeeData();
  const gasLimit = toBigInt(21000); // Standard ETH transfer gas
  const value = parseEther(ethAmount);

  // Construct transaction object
  const transaction = {
    to: toAddress,
    value: value,
    nonce: nonce,
    gasLimit: gasLimit,
    maxFeePerGas: feeData.maxFeePerGas,
    maxPriorityFeePerGas: feeData.maxPriorityFeePerGas,
    chainId: 17000, // Holesky chain ID
  };

  return transaction;
};

import { parseEther, parseGwei } from "viem";

const constructTransaction = (
  toAddress: `0x${string}`,
  ethAmount: string,
  userAddress: `0x${string}`
) => {
  // Construct transaction object
  const transaction = {
    account: userAddress,
    to: toAddress,
    value: parseEther(ethAmount),
    chain: holesky,
    maxFeePerGas: parseGwei("100"),        // Custom max fee
    maxPriorityFeePerGas: parseGwei("3")   // Custom priority fee
  };

  return transaction;
};

Gas Estimation

Estimate Transaction Cost

Ethers v6
Viem v2

import { formatEther } from "ethers";

const estimateTransactionCost = async (
  userAddress: string,
  ethAmount: string
) => {
  // Get current balance
  const balanceWei = await provider.getBalance(userAddress);
  
  // Get fee data
  const feeData = await provider.getFeeData();
  const gasLimit = toBigInt(21000);
  
  // Calculate max gas cost
  const maxGasFee = gasLimit * (feeData.maxFeePerGas ?? toBigInt(0));
  const amountWei = parseEther(ethAmount);
  const totalCost = amountWei + maxGasFee;
  
  return {
    balance: formatEther(balanceWei),
    amount: formatEther(amountWei),
    estimatedGas: formatEther(maxGasFee),
    totalCost: formatEther(totalCost),
    hasSufficientBalance: totalCost <= balanceWei
  };
};

import { formatEther, parseEther } from "viem";

const estimateTransactionCost = async (
  userAddress: `0x${string}`,
  toAddress: `0x${string}`,
  ethAmount: string
) => {
  // Get current balance
  const balance = await publicClient.getBalance({ address: userAddress });
  const amountWei = parseEther(ethAmount);
  
  // Estimate gas for the specific transaction
  const estimatedGas = await publicClient.estimateGas({
    account: userAddress,
    to: toAddress,
    value: amountWei
  });
  
  // Get current gas price
  const gasPrice = await publicClient.getGasPrice();
  const estimatedGasCost = estimatedGas * gasPrice;
  const totalCost = amountWei + estimatedGasCost;
  
  return {
    balance: formatEther(balance),
    amount: formatEther(amountWei),
    estimatedGas: formatEther(estimatedGasCost),
    totalCost: formatEther(totalCost),
    hasSufficientBalance: totalCost <= balance
  };
};

Transaction Validation

Balance and Parameter Checks

Ethers v6
Viem v2

const validateTransaction = async (
  userAddress: string,
  toAddress: string,
  ethAmount: string
) => {
  // Basic parameter validation
  if (!ethers.isAddress(toAddress)) {
    throw new Error("Invalid recipient address");
  }
  
  if (parseFloat(ethAmount) <= 0) {
    throw new Error("Amount must be greater than 0");
  }
  
  // Check balance and gas
  const estimation = await estimateTransactionCost(userAddress, ethAmount);
  
  if (!estimation.hasSufficientBalance) {
    throw new Error(
      `Insufficient balance. Need ${estimation.totalCost} ETH, have ${estimation.balance} ETH`
    );
  }
  
  return true;
};

import { isAddress } from "viem";

const validateTransaction = async (
  userAddress: `0x${string}`,
  toAddress: string,
  ethAmount: string
) => {
  // Basic parameter validation
  if (!isAddress(toAddress)) {
    throw new Error("Invalid recipient address");
  }
  
  if (parseFloat(ethAmount) <= 0) {
    throw new Error("Amount must be greater than 0");
  }
  
  // Check balance and gas
  const estimation = await estimateTransactionCost(
    userAddress, 
    toAddress as `0x${string}`, 
    ethAmount
  );
  
  if (!estimation.hasSufficientBalance) {
    throw new Error(
      `Insufficient balance. Need ${estimation.totalCost} ETH, have ${estimation.balance} ETH`
    );
  }
  
  return true;
};

Sending Transactions

Execute Transfer

Ethers v6
Viem v2

const sendEthTransfer = async (
  toAddress: string,
  ethAmount: string,
  userAddress: string
) => {
  // Validate transaction
  await validateTransaction(userAddress, toAddress, ethAmount);
  
  // Construct transaction
  const transaction = await constructTransaction(toAddress, ethAmount, userAddress);
  
  // Send transaction using Para signer
  const txResponse = await signer.sendTransaction(transaction);
  
  console.log("Transaction sent:", txResponse.hash);
  
  // Wait for confirmation
  const receipt = await txResponse.wait();
  
  console.log("Transaction confirmed:", receipt.hash);
  console.log("Block number:", receipt.blockNumber);
  console.log("Gas used:", receipt.gasUsed.toString());
  
  return {
    hash: receipt.hash,
    blockNumber: receipt.blockNumber,
    gasUsed: receipt.gasUsed.toString(),
    status: receipt.status === 1 ? "success" : "failed"
  };
};

const sendEthTransfer = async (
  toAddress: `0x${string}`,
  ethAmount: string,
  userAddress: `0x${string}`
) => {
  // Validate transaction
  await validateTransaction(userAddress, toAddress, ethAmount);
  
  // Send transaction using Para wallet client
  const hash = await walletClient.sendTransaction({
    account: userAddress,
    to: toAddress,
    value: parseEther(ethAmount),
    chain: holesky,
    maxFeePerGas: parseGwei("100"),
    maxPriorityFeePerGas: parseGwei("3")
  });
  
  console.log("Transaction sent:", hash);
  
  // Wait for confirmation
  const receipt = await publicClient.waitForTransactionReceipt({ hash });
  
  console.log("Transaction confirmed:", receipt.transactionHash);
  console.log("Block number:", receipt.blockNumber);
  console.log("Gas used:", receipt.gasUsed.toString());
  
  return {
    hash: receipt.transactionHash,
    blockNumber: receipt.blockNumber,
    gasUsed: receipt.gasUsed.toString(),
    status: receipt.status === "success" ? "success" : "failed"
  };
};

Complete Implementation Example

Full Transfer Function

Ethers v6
Viem v2

import { ethers, parseEther, formatEther, toBigInt } from "ethers";
import { createParaEthersSigner } from "@getpara/ethers-v6-integration";

class EthersTransferService {
  private provider: ethers.JsonRpcProvider;
  private signer: ParaEthersSigner;
  
  constructor(rpcUrl: string, paraClient: any) {
    this.provider = new ethers.JsonRpcProvider(rpcUrl);
    this.signer = createParaEthersSigner({ para: paraClient, provider: this.provider });
  }
  
  async transfer(toAddress: string, ethAmount: string, fromAddress: string) {
    try {
      // Validate inputs
      if (!ethers.isAddress(toAddress)) {
        throw new Error("Invalid recipient address");
      }
      
      // Check balance
      const balance = await this.provider.getBalance(fromAddress);
      const amount = parseEther(ethAmount);
      const feeData = await this.provider.getFeeData();
      const gasLimit = toBigInt(21000);
      const maxGasFee = gasLimit * (feeData.maxFeePerGas ?? toBigInt(0));
      
      if (balance < amount + maxGasFee) {
        throw new Error("Insufficient balance for transfer and gas");
      }
      
      // Construct and send transaction
      const nonce = await this.provider.getTransactionCount(fromAddress);
      
      const transaction = {
        to: toAddress,
        value: amount,
        nonce: nonce,
        gasLimit: gasLimit,
        maxFeePerGas: feeData.maxFeePerGas,
        maxPriorityFeePerGas: feeData.maxPriorityFeePerGas,
        chainId: 17000
      };
      
      const txResponse = await this.signer.sendTransaction(transaction);
      const receipt = await txResponse.wait();
      
      return {
        success: true,
        hash: receipt.hash,
        blockNumber: receipt.blockNumber,
        gasUsed: receipt.gasUsed.toString()
      };
      
    } catch (error) {
      console.error("Transfer failed:", error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

import { 
  createPublicClient, 
  createParaViemClient, 
  createParaViemAccount,
  http, 
  parseEther, 
  formatEther, 
  parseGwei,
  isAddress 
} from "viem";
import { holesky } from "viem/chains";

class ViemTransferService {
  private publicClient: any;
  private walletClient: any;
  
  constructor(rpcUrl: string, paraClient: any) {
    this.publicClient = createPublicClient({
      chain: holesky,
      transport: http(rpcUrl)
    });
    
    const account = createParaViemAccount(paraClient);
    this.walletClient = createParaViemClient(paraClient, {
      account,
      chain: holesky,
      transport: http(rpcUrl)
    });
  }
  
  async transfer(
    toAddress: `0x${string}`, 
    ethAmount: string, 
    fromAddress: `0x${string}`
  ) {
    try {
      // Validate inputs
      if (!isAddress(toAddress)) {
        throw new Error("Invalid recipient address");
      }
      
      // Check balance and estimate gas
      const balance = await this.publicClient.getBalance({ address: fromAddress });
      const amount = parseEther(ethAmount);
      
      const estimatedGas = await this.publicClient.estimateGas({
        account: fromAddress,
        to: toAddress,
        value: amount
      });
      
      const gasPrice = await this.publicClient.getGasPrice();
      const estimatedGasCost = estimatedGas * gasPrice;
      
      if (balance < amount + estimatedGasCost) {
        throw new Error("Insufficient balance for transfer and gas");
      }
      
      // Send transaction
      const hash = await this.walletClient.sendTransaction({
        account: fromAddress,
        to: toAddress,
        value: amount,
        chain: holesky,
        maxFeePerGas: parseGwei("100"),
        maxPriorityFeePerGas: parseGwei("3")
      });
      
      const receipt = await this.publicClient.waitForTransactionReceipt({ hash });
      
      return {
        success: true,
        hash: receipt.transactionHash,
        blockNumber: receipt.blockNumber,
        gasUsed: receipt.gasUsed.toString()
      };
      
    } catch (error) {
      console.error("Transfer failed:", error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

Key Differences

Library Comparison

Feature	Ethers v6	Viem v2
Provider Setup	`JsonRpcProvider`	`createPublicClient`
Wallet Client	`ParaEthersSigner`	`createParaViemClient`
Unit Parsing	`parseEther()`	`parseEther()`
Gas Estimation	`getFeeData()`	`estimateGas()` + `getGasPrice()`
Transaction Send	`signer.sendTransaction()`	`walletClient.sendTransaction()`
Receipt Waiting	`txResponse.wait()`	`publicClient.waitForTransactionReceipt()`
Address Validation	`ethers.isAddress()`	`isAddress()`

Gas Strategy Differences

Ethers v6
Viem v2

// Ethers uses provider fee data
const feeData = await provider.getFeeData();
const transaction = {
  maxFeePerGas: feeData.maxFeePerGas,
  maxPriorityFeePerGas: feeData.maxPriorityFeePerGas
};

// Viem allows manual gas price setting
const transaction = {
  maxFeePerGas: parseGwei("100"),
  maxPriorityFeePerGas: parseGwei("3")
};

Best Practices

Transaction Safety

Always validate recipient addresses before sending
Check balance including gas costs before transaction construction
Use appropriate gas limits (21000 for basic ETH transfers)
Handle network errors gracefully with proper try/catch blocks
Wait for receipt confirmation before considering transaction complete

Gas Optimization

Monitor network conditions for optimal gas pricing
Use EIP-1559 gas parameters for better fee prediction
Estimate gas dynamically rather than using static values
Consider gas limit buffers for complex operations

Error Handling

Common errors to handle:

Invalid recipient addresses
Insufficient balance
Network connectivity issues
Transaction reversion
Nonce management conflicts

Next Steps

ERC-20 Token Transfers

Learn to transfer ERC-20 tokens

Transaction Monitoring

Track transaction status and confirmations

Solana Transfers

Intermediate · 20 min · SOL transfers and Solana programs

EIP-712 Typed Data Signing

Intermediate · 20 min · Structured data signing

Aave v3 Integration

Advanced · 45 min · Lending, borrowing, and yield strategies

Overview

DeFi & Money Movement

Smart Accounts

Chains & Privacy

Para Templates

Agents

Ethereum Transfers with Para

Prerequisites

Core Dependencies

Provider Setup

RPC Configuration

Para Signer Setup

Transaction Construction

Basic Transaction Parameters

Gas Estimation

Estimate Transaction Cost

Transaction Validation

Balance and Parameter Checks

Sending Transactions

Execute Transfer

Complete Implementation Example

Full Transfer Function

Key Differences

Library Comparison

Gas Strategy Differences

Best Practices

Transaction Safety

Gas Optimization

Error Handling

Next Steps

ERC-20 Token Transfers

Transaction Monitoring

Solana Transfers

EIP-712 Typed Data Signing

Aave v3 Integration

Overview

DeFi & Money Movement

Smart Accounts

Chains & Privacy

Para Templates

Agents

Documentation Index

​Prerequisites

​Core Dependencies

​Provider Setup

​RPC Configuration

​Para Signer Setup

​Transaction Construction

​Basic Transaction Parameters

​Gas Estimation

​Estimate Transaction Cost

​Transaction Validation

​Balance and Parameter Checks

​Sending Transactions

​Execute Transfer

​Complete Implementation Example

​Full Transfer Function

​Key Differences

​Library Comparison

​Gas Strategy Differences

​Best Practices

​Transaction Safety

​Gas Optimization

​Error Handling

​Next Steps

ERC-20 Token Transfers

Transaction Monitoring

​Related Walkthroughs

Solana Transfers

EIP-712 Typed Data Signing

Aave v3 Integration

Prerequisites

Core Dependencies

Provider Setup

RPC Configuration

Para Signer Setup

Transaction Construction

Basic Transaction Parameters

Gas Estimation

Estimate Transaction Cost

Transaction Validation

Balance and Parameter Checks

Sending Transactions

Execute Transfer

Complete Implementation Example

Full Transfer Function

Key Differences

Library Comparison

Gas Strategy Differences

Best Practices

Transaction Safety

Gas Optimization

Error Handling

Next Steps

Related Walkthroughs