Blockchain Fee Comparison: Gas Fees Across 15+ Chains

Why Blockchain Fees Vary

Every blockchain charges users a fee to process transactions, but the amount varies wildly depending on the network's architecture, consensus mechanism, and current demand. A simple token transfer on Ethereum can cost anywhere from $1 to $20 depending on network congestion, while the same transfer on Solana costs a fraction of a cent. Understanding why fees differ is the first step toward choosing the right chain for your use case.

The core tradeoff is between decentralization and throughput. Layer 1 blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum prioritize security and decentralization, which limits how many transactions the network can process per second. When demand exceeds capacity, users bid against each other for block space, driving fees higher. Layer 2 networks and alternative L1s solve this by processing transactions off the main chain or using different consensus designs that increase throughput at the cost of some decentralization.

Fee structures also vary by design. Bitcoin uses a weight-based fee market measured in satoshis per virtual byte (sat/vB). Ethereum uses a two-part system called EIP-1559 with a base fee and priority tip. Solana charges a fixed base fee plus optional priority fees. Some networks like Tron use an energy and bandwidth model instead of traditional gas. And newer protocols like Spark eliminate fees entirely for end users.

Fee Comparison by Chain

The following table provides a snapshot of average transaction fees across major blockchains. These are typical costs for a simple transfer (sending tokens from one address to another) under normal network conditions.

Keep in mind that these are averages under normal conditions. During periods of high demand, fees on congestion-sensitive chains like Bitcoin and Ethereum can spike dramatically. The interactive comparison tool above lets you filter and sort chains to find the best option for your needs.

How Gas Fees Work

The term "gas" originated with Ethereum but has become a general shorthand for transaction fees across blockchains. Each network has its own fee mechanism, and understanding how they work helps explain why costs vary so much.

Ethereum: EIP-1559

Since the London upgrade in August 2021, Ethereum uses a two-part fee structure called EIP-1559. Every transaction pays a base fee that is algorithmically determined by network demand. When blocks are more than 50% full, the base fee increases; when they are less than 50% full, it decreases. The base fee is burned (destroyed), reducing ETH supply over time.

On top of the base fee, users can add a priority tip to incentivize validators to include their transaction sooner. During normal conditions, a small tip of 1-2 gwei is sufficient. During peak congestion (NFT mints, token launches, market crashes), tips can spike to 50 gwei or more, pushing total transaction costs above $50.

Bitcoin: Fee Market (sat/vB)

Bitcoin fees are based on transaction size rather than computational complexity. Fees are measured in satoshis per virtual byte (sat/vB). A standard Bitcoin transaction is roughly 140-250 vBytes, so at a fee rate of 10 sat/vB, the total cost would be 1,400-2,500 satoshis (roughly $1-2 at current prices). During periods of high demand, fee rates can exceed 100 sat/vB, pushing simple transaction costs above $10.

Bitcoin's fee market is a pure auction: miners select the highest-paying transactions from the mempool. There is no algorithmic base fee like Ethereum's EIP-1559. This makes fees highly variable and somewhat unpredictable, especially during sudden demand spikes from ordinals inscriptions or large-scale consolidation events.

Solana: Fixed Base + Priority

Solana charges a fixed base fee of 5,000 lamports (0.000005 SOL) per signature, which works out to a fraction of a cent. Users can optionally add priority fees to get faster inclusion during periods of congestion. The priority fee system was introduced to help manage demand during high-activity periods like popular token launches. Even with priority fees, Solana transactions rarely exceed a few cents.

Tron: Energy and Bandwidth

Tron uses a unique resource model instead of traditional gas fees. Transactions consume either bandwidth (for simple transfers) or energy (for smart contract interactions). Users can stake TRX to earn free bandwidth and energy, or they can burn TRX to pay for resources directly. A USDT transfer on Tron without staked resources typically costs 30-60 TRX in energy fees ($1-3), making it more expensive than it appears at first glance.

Layer 1 vs Layer 2 Fees

The distinction between Layer 1 and Layer 2 fees is critical for understanding the blockchain fee landscape. Layer 1 fees are paid directly to the base chain (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana). Layer 2 fees include two components: the L2 execution cost and the L1 data posting cost.

Ethereum rollups like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base bundle hundreds of transactions together and submit compressed data to Ethereum. The cost of that L1 data submission is split across all transactions in the batch, making each individual transaction much cheaper than transacting directly on Ethereum. With the introduction of EIP-4844 (proto-danksharding) in March 2024, L2s can now post data to dedicated "blob" space on Ethereum at significantly reduced costs, dropping L2 fees by 10-100x in many cases.

Bitcoin Layer 2s work differently. The Lightning Network uses payment channels that only touch the Bitcoin blockchain when channels are opened or closed, allowing thousands of intermediate transactions to happen off-chain for near-zero fees. Spark takes this further by eliminating transaction fees entirely. Users can send Bitcoin and USDB stablecoins instantly with no gas costs, making it the lowest-fee option in the entire blockchain ecosystem.

Fee Optimization Strategies

Regardless of which blockchain you use, there are strategies to minimize the fees you pay:

Time your transactions:

• Bitcoin and Ethereum fees fluctuate significantly throughout the day and week. Weekends and late-night hours (US time) typically see lower fees on both networks. Use a fee estimator to check current rates before sending.
• Avoid transacting during major network events (NFT mints, token launches, airdrop claims) when competition for block space drives fees to extreme levels.

Choose the right chain for the job:

• For high-value, security-critical transfers, paying higher fees on Bitcoin or Ethereum L1 may be worth the additional security guarantees.
• For everyday payments and smaller transfers, Layer 2 networks offer the same assets at a fraction of the cost. A USDC transfer on Base costs less than a penny compared to several dollars on Ethereum L1.
• For Bitcoin-native transactions, Spark eliminates fees entirely while maintaining instant settlement, making it ideal for payments of any size.

Batch when possible:

• On Bitcoin, consolidating multiple outputs into a single transaction can significantly reduce total fees. Instead of sending five separate transactions, batching them into one saves four sets of overhead bytes.
• On Ethereum, some protocols and wallets support multicall patterns that combine multiple operations into a single transaction, sharing the base fee across all actions.

Use native fee tokens wisely:

• On Tron, staking TRX for energy can eliminate USDT transfer fees entirely for frequent users. The upfront capital requirement makes this worthwhile mainly for businesses processing many transactions.
• On Solana, maintaining a small SOL balance for priority fees ensures your transactions are included quickly even during peak periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which blockchain has the lowest fees?

Spark has the lowest fees of any major blockchain: zero. Transactions on Spark are completely free, with no gas costs for sending Bitcoin or USDB. Among fee-charging networks, Solana has the lowest L1 fees at approximately $0.001 per transaction. Ethereum L2s like Base and Arbitrum typically cost $0.01-0.10. Bitcoin and Ethereum L1 have the highest and most variable fees, ranging from $1 to $20 or more depending on congestion.

Why are Ethereum fees so high?

Ethereum fees are high because the network has limited throughput (roughly 15-30 transactions per second) combined with enormous demand from DeFi, NFTs, and token transfers. The EIP-1559 fee mechanism adjusts the base fee based on block utilization: when blocks are consistently full, the base fee ratchets upward. During peak periods, users also bid up priority tips to get their transactions included faster. The solution for most users is to use Ethereum Layer 2 networks (Arbitrum, Base, Optimism) which offer 10-100x lower fees while inheriting Ethereum's security.

How do Layer 2 fees work?

Layer 2 fees have two components: the L2 execution cost (processing the transaction on the rollup) and the L1 data cost (posting compressed transaction data back to Ethereum for security). The L2 execution cost is typically very small, often less than a cent. The L1 data cost varies depending on Ethereum gas prices but is shared across many transactions in a batch. Since EIP-4844 introduced blob space in March 2024, L1 data costs for rollups have dropped significantly, making L2 transactions cheaper than ever.

What is EIP-1559?

EIP-1559 is the Ethereum fee mechanism introduced in August 2021 with the London hard fork. It replaced the simple first-price auction model with a two-part system: a base fee that is algorithmically adjusted based on network demand, and an optional priority tip paid to validators. The base fee is burned (permanently destroyed), which makes ETH deflationary when network activity is high enough. EIP-1559 improved fee predictability but did not reduce fees: total costs still depend on network congestion.

Are Solana fees really $0.001?

Yes, under normal conditions. Solana's base transaction fee is fixed at 5,000 lamports (0.000005 SOL) per signature, which at current SOL prices works out to roughly $0.001 or less. During periods of extreme congestion, users may add priority fees to ensure inclusion, but even with priority fees, Solana transactions rarely exceed a few cents. The low fee is possible because Solana processes thousands of transactions per second using its Proof-of-History consensus mechanism.

How do Bitcoin fees work?

Bitcoin fees are based on transaction size in virtual bytes (vB), not the dollar amount being sent. A transaction sending $10 costs the same in fees as one sending $10 million. Users set a fee rate in satoshis per virtual byte (sat/vB), and miners select the highest-paying transactions from the mempool. Typical fee rates range from 5-50 sat/vB depending on demand, translating to roughly $0.50-$5 for a standard transaction. During extreme congestion, fee rates can spike above 200 sat/vB.

What is the cheapest way to send crypto?

The cheapest way to send crypto depends on what you are sending. For Bitcoin and dollar-denominated transfers, Spark offers completely free instant transactions for both BTC and USDB. For ERC-20 tokens, using an Ethereum L2 like Base or Arbitrum costs $0.01-0.10 compared to $1-20 on Ethereum L1. For stablecoin transfers specifically, USDC on Solana costs under a penny, while USDT on Tron costs $1-3 in energy fees despite its reputation for being "cheap."

Will blockchain fees go down?

Fees on Layer 1 chains like Bitcoin and Ethereum are unlikely to decrease substantially because demand for block space tends to grow alongside adoption. However, Layer 2 solutions are making the effective cost of transacting much lower. Ethereum's roadmap includes full danksharding, which will further reduce L2 data posting costs. Bitcoin's Layer 2 ecosystem, including Lightning and Spark, already offers near-free or completely free transactions. The long-term trend is toward cheap execution on L2s with expensive settlement on L1s: users get low fees while still benefiting from the security of the underlying base chain.

This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Fee data is approximate and based on typical network conditions as of early 2026. Actual transaction costs vary depending on network congestion, transaction complexity, and gas prices at the time of execution. Always check current fee estimates before sending transactions.