Transaction Execution

After getting a quote and handling any required approvals, you need to execute the actual transfer transaction. This page covers chain verification, gas handling, signing, and broadcasting.

The Transaction Request

The quote response includes a ready-to-use transactionRequest object:

{
  "transactionRequest": {
    "to": "0x1231DEB6f5749EF6cE6943a275A1D3E7486F4EaE",
    "data": "0x4630a0d8...",
    "value": "0x0",
    "gasLimit": "0x55730",
    "gasPrice": "0x5d21dba00",
    "chainId": 1
  }
}

Field	Description
`to`	LI.FI contract address
`data`	Encoded function call
`value`	Native token amount (hex, in wei)
`gasLimit`	Estimated gas limit (hex)
`gasPrice`	Suggested gas price (hex, optional)
`chainId`	Chain ID for the transaction

Pre-Execution Checklist

Before sending the transaction:

Wallet is connected to the correct chain (transactionRequest.chainId)
User has sufficient native token for gas
User has sufficient fromToken balance
Token approval is confirmed (if ERC20)
Quote is still valid (not expired)

Step 1: Verify Chain

Ensure the wallet is on the correct chain before sending:

JavaScript (viem)

import { createWalletClient, http } from 'viem';
import { mainnet, arbitrum, optimism, polygon, base } from 'viem/chains';

const CHAIN_MAP = {
  1: mainnet,
  42161: arbitrum,
  10: optimism,
  137: polygon,
  8453: base
};

async function ensureCorrectChain(walletClient, targetChainId) {
  const currentChainId = await walletClient.getChainId();
  
  if (currentChainId !== targetChainId) {
    console.log(`Switching from chain ${currentChainId} to ${targetChainId}`);
    
    await walletClient.switchChain({ id: targetChainId });
    
    // Verify switch succeeded
    const newChainId = await walletClient.getChainId();
    if (newChainId !== targetChainId) {
      throw new Error(`Failed to switch to chain ${targetChainId}`);
    }
  }
  
  return true;
}

Python (web3.py)

def ensure_correct_chain(web3, target_chain_id):
    current_chain = web3.eth.chain_id
    
    if current_chain != target_chain_id:
        raise Exception(
            f"Wrong chain. Connected to {current_chain}, need {target_chain_id}"
        )
    
    return True

Step 2: Estimate Gas (Optional)

The quote includes a gasLimit, but you can re-estimate for accuracy:

async function estimateGas(publicClient, txRequest, fromAddress) {
  try {
    const gasEstimate = await publicClient.estimateGas({
      account: fromAddress,
      to: txRequest.to,
      data: txRequest.data,
      value: BigInt(txRequest.value || '0x0')
    });
    
    // Add 20% buffer
    return (gasEstimate * 120n) / 100n;
  } catch (error) {
    // Fall back to quote's gasLimit
    console.log('Using quote gasLimit:', txRequest.gasLimit);
    return BigInt(txRequest.gasLimit);
  }
}

The quote’s gasLimit is usually accurate. Only re-estimate if you need precise gas costs or are optimizing for gas efficiency.

Step 3: Build the Transaction

Convert the quote’s transaction request into a sendable transaction:

JavaScript (viem)

function buildTransaction(txRequest, gasLimit) {
  return {
    to: txRequest.to,
    data: txRequest.data,
    value: BigInt(txRequest.value || '0x0'),
    gas: gasLimit || BigInt(txRequest.gasLimit),
    chainId: txRequest.chainId
  };
}

Gas Price Options

You can use the quote’s suggested gas price or fetch current prices:

// Option 1: Use quote's gas price
const tx = {
  ...buildTransaction(txRequest),
  gasPrice: BigInt(txRequest.gasPrice)
};

// Option 2: Let wallet determine gas price (recommended)
const tx = buildTransaction(txRequest);
// Don't set gasPrice - wallet will use current market rate

// Option 3: Use EIP-1559 (for supported chains)
const tx = {
  ...buildTransaction(txRequest),
  maxFeePerGas: parseGwei('50'),
  maxPriorityFeePerGas: parseGwei('2')
};

Step 4: Sign and Send

JavaScript (viem)

async function executeTransaction(walletClient, publicClient, txRequest) {
  // Ensure on correct chain
  await ensureCorrectChain(walletClient, txRequest.chainId);
  
  // Build transaction
  const tx = {
    to: txRequest.to,
    data: txRequest.data,
    value: BigInt(txRequest.value || '0x0'),
    gas: BigInt(txRequest.gasLimit)
  };
  
  // Send transaction
  console.log('Sending transaction...');
  const hash = await walletClient.sendTransaction(tx);
  console.log(`Transaction sent: ${hash}`);
  
  // Wait for confirmation
  console.log('Waiting for confirmation...');
  const receipt = await publicClient.waitForTransactionReceipt({ 
    hash,
    confirmations: 1
  });
  
  if (receipt.status !== 'success') {
    throw new Error(`Transaction failed: ${hash}`);
  }
  
  console.log(`Transaction confirmed in block ${receipt.blockNumber}`);
  
  return {
    hash,
    receipt
  };
}

Python (web3.py)

def execute_transaction(web3, tx_request, private_key):
    account = web3.eth.account.from_key(private_key)
    
    # Build transaction
    tx = {
        'to': tx_request['to'],
        'data': tx_request['data'],
        'value': int(tx_request.get('value', '0x0'), 16),
        'gas': int(tx_request['gasLimit'], 16),
        'nonce': web3.eth.get_transaction_count(account.address),
        'chainId': tx_request['chainId']
    }
    
    # Get gas price
    tx['gasPrice'] = web3.eth.gas_price
    
    # Sign transaction
    signed = web3.eth.account.sign_transaction(tx, private_key)
    
    # Send transaction
    print('Sending transaction...')
    tx_hash = web3.eth.send_raw_transaction(signed.rawTransaction)
    print(f'Transaction sent: {tx_hash.hex()}')
    
    # Wait for confirmation
    print('Waiting for confirmation...')
    receipt = web3.eth.wait_for_transaction_receipt(tx_hash)
    
    if receipt['status'] != 1:
        raise Exception(f'Transaction failed: {tx_hash.hex()}')
    
    print(f'Confirmed in block {receipt["blockNumber"]}')
    
    return {
        'hash': tx_hash.hex(),
        'receipt': receipt
    }

Step 5: Handle the Result

After execution, save the transaction hash for status polling:

const { hash: txHash } = await executeTransaction(walletClient, publicClient, quote.transactionRequest);

// Save for status polling (only txHash is required, others speed up response)
const statusParams = {
  txHash,                                    // Required
  fromChain: quote.action.fromChainId,       // Recommended for faster response
  toChain: quote.action.toChainId,           // Optional
  bridge: quote.tool                         // Optional (e.g., "stargateV2")
};

// Now poll for cross-chain status
// See: Status & Recovery page

Complete Execution Flow

async function executeQuote(quote, walletClient, publicClient) {
  const { transactionRequest, action, tool, estimate } = quote;
  
  // 1. Verify chain
  await ensureCorrectChain(walletClient, transactionRequest.chainId);
  
  // 2. Handle approval if needed
  await ensureApproval(quote, walletClient, publicClient);
  
  // 3. Execute main transaction
  const tx = {
    to: transactionRequest.to,
    data: transactionRequest.data,
    value: BigInt(transactionRequest.value || '0x0'),
    gas: BigInt(transactionRequest.gasLimit)
  };
  
  const hash = await walletClient.sendTransaction(tx);
  
  // 4. Wait for source chain confirmation
  const receipt = await publicClient.waitForTransactionReceipt({ 
    hash,
    confirmations: 1 
  });
  
  if (receipt.status !== 'success') {
    throw new Error('Transaction reverted');
  }
  
  // 5. Return data for status polling
  return {
    txHash: hash,
    bridge: tool,
    fromChain: action.fromChainId,
    toChain: action.toChainId,
    receipt
  };
}

Error Handling

Common Execution Errors

Error	Cause	Solution
`insufficient funds`	Not enough ETH for gas + value	Check balance before sending
`nonce too low`	Pending transaction exists	Wait or speed up pending tx
`gas too low`	Gas limit insufficient	Increase gas limit
`execution reverted`	Contract rejected transaction	Quote may be stale, get new quote
`replacement fee too low`	Trying to replace pending tx	Increase gas price

Retry Logic

async function executeWithRetry(quote, walletClient, publicClient, maxRetries = 2) {
  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < maxRetries; attempt++) {
    try {
      return await executeQuote(quote, walletClient, publicClient);
    } catch (error) {
      const message = error.message.toLowerCase();
      
      // Don't retry these errors
      if (message.includes('insufficient funds') ||
          message.includes('user rejected') ||
          message.includes('denied')) {
        throw error;
      }
      
      // Quote might be stale - get new quote and retry
      if (message.includes('reverted') && attempt < maxRetries - 1) {
        console.log('Transaction reverted, fetching new quote...');
        quote = await getQuote(originalParams);
        continue;
      }
      
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

Gas Optimization Tips

Use EIP-1559 where supported - More predictable gas costs
Don’t over-estimate gas - Quote’s gasLimit is usually accurate
Check gas prices - High gas times may make transfers expensive
Consider L2s - Arbitrum, Optimism, Base have much lower gas costs

// Check if gas cost is reasonable
const gasCostWei = BigInt(txRequest.gasLimit) * BigInt(txRequest.gasPrice);
const gasCostEth = Number(gasCostWei) / 1e18;

if (gasCostEth > 0.01) { // More than 0.01 ETH
  console.log(`Warning: High gas cost: ${gasCostEth} ETH`);
}

Token Approvals - Handle ERC20 approvals
Status & Recovery - Poll transfer status
Five-Call Recipe - Complete workflow

​The Transaction Request

​Pre-Execution Checklist

​Step 1: Verify Chain

​JavaScript (viem)

​Python (web3.py)

​Step 2: Estimate Gas (Optional)

​Step 3: Build the Transaction

​JavaScript (viem)

​Gas Price Options

​Step 4: Sign and Send

​JavaScript (viem)

​Python (web3.py)

​Step 5: Handle the Result

​Complete Execution Flow

​Error Handling

​Common Execution Errors

​Retry Logic

​Gas Optimization Tips

​Related Pages

The Transaction Request

Pre-Execution Checklist

Step 1: Verify Chain

JavaScript (viem)

Python (web3.py)

Step 2: Estimate Gas (Optional)

Step 3: Build the Transaction

JavaScript (viem)

Gas Price Options

Step 4: Sign and Send

JavaScript (viem)

Python (web3.py)

Step 5: Handle the Result

Complete Execution Flow

Error Handling

Common Execution Errors

Retry Logic

Gas Optimization Tips

Related Pages