eth_sendTransaction - Base RPC Method

Creates and sends a new transaction from an unlocked account on Base. The node signs the transaction server-side using the private key associated with the from address.

Why Base? Build on Coinbase's L2 with 54% of L2 market revenue and direct access to 110M+ Coinbase users with $8B+ TVL, $0.08 gas fees, built-in Coinbase distribution, and seamless fiat rails.

Security Warning: Public Dwellir endpoints do not manage unlocked accounts for you. On shared infrastructure, eth_sendTransaction commonly returns an unsupported-method response or an account-management error such as unknown account, depending on the client. For production applications, sign transactions client-side and use eth_sendRawTransaction instead.

When to Use This Method

eth_sendTransaction is useful for consumer app developers, SocialFi builders, and teams seeking easy fiat onramps in development scenarios:

• Local Development — Send transactions quickly on local nodes (Hardhat, Anvil, Ganache) without managing private keys
• Testing Workflows — Rapidly prototype and test contract interactions on dev networks
• Scripted Deployments — Deploy contracts on private or permissioned networks with unlocked accounts

Code Examples

Common Use Cases

1. Local Development with Hardhat

Send transactions using Hardhat's pre-funded unlocked accounts:

async function devTransfer(provider, from, to, value) {
  const txHash = await provider.send('eth_sendTransaction', [{
    from,
    to,
    value: '0x' + value.toString(16),
    gas: '0x5208' // 21000
  }]);

  const receipt = await provider.waitForTransaction(txHash);
  console.log(`Transfer confirmed in block ${receipt.blockNumber}`);
  return receipt;
}

2. Contract Deployment on Dev Network

Deploy contracts without managing private keys locally:

async function deployContract(provider, from, bytecode) {
  const txHash = await provider.send('eth_sendTransaction', [{
    from,
    data: bytecode,
    gas: '0x4C4B40' // 5,000,000
  }]);

  const receipt = await provider.waitForTransaction(txHash);
  console.log(`Contract deployed at: ${receipt.contractAddress}`);
  return receipt.contractAddress;
}

3. Batch Transfers in Testing

Send multiple test transactions on Base dev networks:

async function batchTransfer(provider, from, recipients) {
  const hashes = [];

  for (const { to, value } of recipients) {
    const hash = await provider.send('eth_sendTransaction', [{
      from,
      to,
      value: '0x' + value.toString(16),
      gas: '0x5208'
    }]);
    hashes.push(hash);
  }

  return hashes;
}

Error Handling

Common errors and solutions:

Related Methods

• eth_sendRawTransaction — Broadcast a pre-signed transaction (recommended for production)
• eth_signTransaction — Sign without sending (requires unlocked account)
• eth_estimateGas — Estimate gas cost before sending