Basics · Beginner lesson · about 2 minutes
Gas fees
The cost of asking a network to process work.
The short answer
A gas fee pays miners or validators for including a transaction or executing smart-contract work. Fees vary with demand, network design, and transaction complexity.
In plain English
A gas fee pays miners or validators for including a transaction or executing smart-contract work. Fees vary with demand, network design, and transaction complexity.
The details differ by network and service, so use the linked sources and the project’s own documentation when a decision depends on current behavior.
What can go wrong
Read this before you act.
A failed transaction can still cost money, and the asset being moved may not be the asset used to pay the fee.
Check your understanding
A few questions. Not a test.
Pick an answer to see why it's right or wrong. There's no score to unlock.
Sources and corrections
This lesson is a starting point. The two sites below are good general places to learn more. Please tell us if something needs fixing.