gas fee
Cost paid to process a transaction on a blockchain network.
A gas fee is the amount of cryptocurrency you pay to execute a transaction on a blockchain, primarily Ethereum. The term “gas” refers to the computational work required to validate and record your transaction on the network. Miners or validators who process transactions charge these fees, which vary based on network demand and transaction complexity.
When you see gas fees mentioned in headlines, it usually signals whether using the network is cheap or expensive at that moment. High gas fees mean the network is congested and transactions are costly; low fees mean it’s less busy. Understanding gas fees matters because they directly impact whether using blockchain services is economical for everyday transactions versus large transfers.
Written once as a plain-English reference, not as advice. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell anything.