Reading on-chain
Gas: why your fees differ by the minute
Transaction fees are an auction for scarce block space. Understanding the auction often halves the cost of the same action.
Block space is scarce
Each block has a maximum. When demand exceeds space, the offered fee decides inclusion order.
Fees follow demand, not the amount you send: sending ten euro costs the same as ten thousand.
Gas limit versus fee per gas
Gas is the amount of computation your action needs; a simple transfer uses little, a complex swap a lot.
The price per unit fluctuates; total cost is usage times price plus an optional priority tip.
- Gas limit: how much work the action needs
- Base fee: the current network price
- Priority fee: paying for precedence
Paying structurally less
Schedule non-urgent transactions during quiet hours and use layer-2 networks for small amounts.
Bundle actions: one larger transfer beats five small ones.
Fees on bitcoin
Bitcoin charges per byte, not per amount, so transactions with many small inputs cost more.
Consolidating small inputs during quiet periods saves a lot later.
Recommended by our newsroom
External parties. Block #9 does not hold or manage your assets at these providers. Not investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
Why are crypto fees sometimes so high?
Because block space is limited and users bid against each other during peaks.
How can I lower gas fees?
Transact during quiet hours, use layer-2 for small amounts and bundle actions.
Do I get gas back on a failed transaction?
No — the network performed the computation, so the fee is spent.
Read next
Reading a transaction in the block explorer
Hash, confirmations, gas, status and addresses: what every field means and how to judge a stuck transaction.
The mempool: the network's waiting room
How the queue of unconfirmed transactions works, how to pick the right fee and what to do when stuck.
When is a crypto payment truly final?
Why exchanges wait for multiple blocks, what finality means under proof-of-stake and how many confirmations suffice.