Token Transfers: Canton as Source

This tutorial demonstrates how to transfer LINK tokens from Canton testnet to Ethereum Sepolia using the ccip-starter-kit-canton.

Introduction

This tutorial covers a token-only transfer from Canton to Ethereum Sepolia without an attached data payload. When you transfer tokens using CCIP:

  1. Tokens are burned or locked in the token pool on Canton.
  2. Equivalent tokens are minted or released on Sepolia after destination execution.
  3. CCIP fees are collected on Canton in Amulet (default) or LINK.

The prod testnet lane maps Canton LINK to Sepolia TEST.

What You Will Build

In this tutorial, you will:

  • Run canton2any:token to send LINK from Canton to Sepolia.
  • Pay CCIP fees in Amulet or LINK.
  • Monitor the transfer in the CCIP Explorer.
  • Verify TEST token balance on Sepolia after execution.

Understanding Token Transfers (canton2any)

Key points for token-only transfers from Canton:

  • Burn and mint: LINK is burned on Canton; TEST is minted on Sepolia for the configured lane.
  • Fee payment: CCIP fees are paid on Canton. Default fee token is Amulet; pass --feeToken link to pay in LINK.
  • No data payload: Token-only transfers omit the data field.
  • Token pool: The SDK fetches disclosures from the token pool operator EDS and obtains a TokenPoolTicket during send.

See the Canton as Source flow in the overview.

How the Script Works

The scripts/canton2any/ccipSendToken.ts script:

  1. Loads Canton config, authenticates to the ledger, and connects.
  2. Parses --amount (human-readable LINK, e.g. 0.001), --feeToken, --evmReceiver, and --no-exec.
  3. Builds a message with tokenAmounts for the Canton LINK instrument and submits via CantonChain.sendMessage.
  4. Prints the CCIP Message ID, explorer links, and optional manual-exec hint.

Running the Token Transfer

Prerequisites Check

  1. Complete prerequisites.

  2. Verify LINK and Amulet balances:

    Terminal
    npm run check-balance -- --chain canton --token link
npm run check-balance -- --chain canton --token amulet

  3. Set EVM_PRIVATE_KEY if you will verify Sepolia balances or run manual execution.

Execute the Script

Send 0.001 LINK from Canton to Sepolia (default receiver):

Terminal
npm run canton2any:token -- --amount 0.001

Pay CCIP fee in LINK:

Terminal
npm run canton2any:token -- --amount 0.001 --feeToken link

Skip auto-execution on Sepolia:

Terminal
npm run canton2any:token -- --amount 0.001 --no-exec

Understanding the Output

🪙 Sending 0.001 LINK from Canton → Sepolia
   Executor: default (auto-execution on Sepolia when an executor is configured)
🆔 CCIP Message ID: 0x…
🔗 CCIP Explorer: https://ccip.chain.link/#/side-drawer/msg/0x…
📜 Canton transaction: https://lighthouse.testnet.cantonloop.com/transactions/…

Verification and Monitoring

CCIP Explorer

Track the full message lifecycle using the CCIP Explorer URL from the output.

Manual execution on Sepolia

If you used --no-exec:

Terminal
npm run canton2any:manual-exec -- <cantonUpdateId | messageId>

Pass either the Canton update ID (📜 Canton transaction / Lighthouse link) or the CCIP Message ID (🆔 CCIP Message ID, 0x…) from the send output — canton2any:manual-exec accepts both.

Verify TEST balance on Sepolia

After successful execution, check the Sepolia wallet that received TEST:

Terminal
npm run check-balance -- --chain sepolia --token test

Or inspect the receiver address on Sepolia Etherscan.

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