What are Ethereum Gas Fees?

Since its launch on July 30, 2015, the Ethereum network has grown in popularity. Today Ethereum is the second most popular cryptocurrency by market cap behind Bitcoin.

In this blog post will discuss Ethereum and gas fees on the network.

Ethereum Gas Fees

Ethereum gas fees are the cost of executing a transaction on the Ethereum blockchain. They are calculated based on the computational power and memory needed to complete a specific action. Gas fees are paid by the user who initiates the transaction and is paid in gwei, a denomination of Ether. One gwei is equal to 0.000000001 ETH.

Gas fees are used to incentive validators to include the user’s transaction in the Ethereum blockchain. The higher the gas fee, the more likely the transaction will be included in the next block. Gas fees are essential to Ethereum and help keep the network secure and reliable.

Gas fees are dynamic and are determined by the amount of current network traffic and computational power needed to complete the transaction. 

When executing a transaction, users can specify the gas price they are willing to pay. Validators might not include the transaction in future blocks if the amount is too low. On the other hand, if the gas fee is too high, the transaction will most likely be included in a future block but they will be overpaying for the transaction.

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Gas and the Ethereum Virtual Machines (EVMs)

Ethereum virtual machines, or EVMs, are used to execute solidity code on Ethereum and other blockchains. Most blockchains and L2 solutions are EVM compatible, allowing easy migration to and from the Ethereum network. There are exceptions, for example Solana and Aptos are non-EVM compatible blockchains.

All EVM-compatible blockchains require gas to process transactions. The amount of gas and the form of currency paid can vary from chain to chain.

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How Gas Works in Ethereum

Gas is the internal pricing for running a transaction or contract in Ethereum. It is a unit that measures the amount of computational effort required to execute a certain operation on the Ethereum network.

The Ethereum network requires each transaction to be accompanied by a certain amount of gas. Gas is necessary to ensure malicious actors cannot overwhelm the network with low-value transactions. If a transaction is sent with an insufficient amount of gas, it will be rejected by the network.

Gas is used to pay validators for their work in processing the transaction on the blockchain. When a transaction is sent to the Ethereum network, the sender must set a gas price to incentivize validators to include the transaction. This gas price is the amount of Ether the transaction's sender must pay.

Gas is also used to provide incentives for validators to process transactions quickly. If a transaction is sent with a higher gas price than other transactions, it will be prioritized by validators, who will receive a greater reward for processing it.

In addition to providing an incentive for validators to process transactions quickly, gas also serves as a deterrent to spam transactions. If a user sends many transactions with a low gas price, they will be forced to pay a large amount of Ether. This discourages users from spamming the network with low-value transactions.

Gas is an important element of the Ethereum network, as it protects it from malicious actors and provides incentives for validators to process transactions quickly. Without gas, it would be difficult to maintain a functional and secure Ethereum network.

How are Gas Fees Calculated in Ethereum?

Gas fees in Ethereum are calculated using Gas Limit * Gas Price per Unit.

If the gas limit is 20,000 and the price per unit is 200 Gwei, the calculation would be 20,000 * 200 = 4,000,000 Gwei or 0.004 ETH.

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Ethereum Gas Fees After the Merge

“The Merge” was an event in the Ethereum network that occurred on the 6th of September, 2022. Essentially, the Merge was the transition of Ethereum from a Proof-of-Work (PoW) network to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) network. Ethereum achieved the change in consensus mechanisms by merging Ethereum’s mainnet with a separate PoS network called the beacon chain.

While The Merge was a major technical success, there have been no significant changes to gas costs. The Ethereum average gas price remains close to its 5-year average of 26.54 gwei. 

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How to Spend Less on Gas Fees in Ethereum?

Research the network fees of different Ethereum wallets. Some wallets have higher transaction fees than others, so it pays to do your homework. Consider using a wallet that allows for custom gas fees. Doing so can lower the fee you pay for each transaction on Ethereum.

Automated tools such as GasNow can estimate the optimal gas price before making a transaction. Sometimes gas fees on Ethereum can differ according to the time of day. 

Best Time for Ethereum Gas Fees 

Ethereum gas fees can vary depending on the time of day and whether it is a weekday or weekend. During weekdays Ethereum gas fees are at their lowest between 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM (EST). Most of North and South America is asleep at these times, Europe is waking up, and Asia is wrapping up their day.

Ethereum gas fees tend to be even lower on weekends.

Typically the best time to send a transaction on the Ethereum network is on Saturday or Sunday between 2:00 AM - 3:00 AM (EST). 

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Setting Max ETH Gas Fees

When transacting on the Ethereum blockchain, users can set gas fees to the maximum for faster transactions. Certain transactions that interact with smart contracts are more complicated and require more computational power than a typical transaction. As such, users should consider a higher gas limit for interactions with smart contracts. 

The standard limit on Ethereum’s gas fees is 21,000 units.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Ethereum gas fees are the cost of executing a transaction on the Ethereum blockchain. Gas fees are paid in gwei, a denomination of ether, and are used as an incentive for validators to include the user’s transaction in the Ethereum blockchain. Gas also provides incentives for validators to process transactions quickly and as a deterrent to spam transactions. 

Gas fees are calculated based on the amount of computational power needed to complete the transaction and can be lower on weekends and between midnight and 4:00 AM on weekdays. 

Furthermore, users can set a maximum gas fee for faster transactions and consider a higher gas limit when interacting with smart contracts. All of these features are essential to the Ethereum network and help keep the network secure and reliable.

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FAQs

Can you Avoid Ethereum Gas Fees? 

All transactions on the Ethereum network require gas fees for the transaction to be recorded on the blockchain.

When are Ethereum Gas Fees at Their Lowest?

Typically the best time to send a transaction on the Ethereum network is on Saturday or Sunday between 2:00 AM - 3:00 AM (EST). 

Are Ethereum Gas Fees Tax Deductible?

Taxes on cryptocurrencies, including gas fees, can vary between different countries and at times, between regions or districts. It is always good advice to look into your local laws and taxes in regard to cryptocurrency and consider hiring a professional accountant.

Will Ethereum Gas Fees go Down?

Gas fees on the Ethereum network can vary slightly depending on network usage. However, it seems unlikely that gas fees on Ethereum will see any significant deviation from its average.

Who Gets Gas Fees on Ethereum?

Validators that operate a node on the Ethereum network receive gas fees. Doing so incentivizes Ethereum holders to stake 32 ETH and become a validator while securing Ethereum’s network.