Think of gas fees like paying for fuel when you drive your car. On the Ethereum blockchain, they’re the transaction costs you pay to use the network.
Why “Gas”? It’s how the Ethereum network measures the amount of work it takes to complete your transaction – sending crypto, using a smart contract, etc.
Who Gets Paid?
Miners and validators who keep the Ethereum network running get the gas fees. How Much? It changes! Gas fees go up when the network is busy, and down when it’s slow. They’re paid in ETH, the native currency of Ethereum.
Why Do We Need Gas Fees?
- Paying the Workers: They make sure the network is secure and your transactions go through.
- Stopping Spammers: If transactions were free, someone could flood the network and slow everything down. Gas fees prevent this.
The Big Idea: Gas fees are like the toll you pay to use the Ethereum highway. The amount depends on how busy the road is at the moment.
