diff --git a/.changeset/unlucky-tips-jam.md b/.changeset/unlucky-tips-jam.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ac4ab73190
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/unlucky-tips-jam.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"hardhat": patch
+---
+
+Added hardfork histories for Optimim and Arbitrum chains
diff --git a/packages/hardhat-core/src/internal/core/config/default-config.ts b/packages/hardhat-core/src/internal/core/config/default-config.ts
index ba77864c52..986b360821 100644
--- a/packages/hardhat-core/src/internal/core/config/default-config.ts
+++ b/packages/hardhat-core/src/internal/core/config/default-config.ts
@@ -141,6 +141,32 @@ export const defaultHardhatNetworkParams: Omit<
         ]),
       },
     ],
+    // TODO: the rest of this config is a temporary workaround,
+    // see https://github.com/NomicFoundation/edr/issues/522
+    [
+      10, // optimism mainnet
+      {
+        hardforkHistory: new Map([[HardforkName.SHANGHAI, 0]]),
+      },
+    ],
+    [
+      11155420, // optimism sepolia
+      {
+        hardforkHistory: new Map([[HardforkName.SHANGHAI, 0]]),
+      },
+    ],
+    [
+      42161, // arbitrum one
+      {
+        hardforkHistory: new Map([[HardforkName.SHANGHAI, 0]]),
+      },
+    ],
+    [
+      421614, // arbitrum sepolia
+      {
+        hardforkHistory: new Map([[HardforkName.SHANGHAI, 0]]),
+      },
+    ],
   ]),
 };