What is Ethereum Gas?
Think of gas as fuel for your Ethereum transactions
The Car Analogy
Just like a car needs gasoline to run, Ethereum transactions need "gas" to execute. Every action on Ethereum—sending ETH, swapping tokens, minting NFTs—requires computational power, and gas is how you pay for it.
Why Does Gas Exist?
Gas serves two important purposes:
- •Prevents spam: If transactions were free, bad actors could flood the network with useless transactions.
- •Pays validators: The people who secure Ethereum and process transactions get compensated through gas fees.
Gas Limit vs Gas Price
There are two parts to understanding gas:
Gas Limit
The maximum amount of gas you're willing to use. Simple ETH transfers use 21,000 gas. Complex smart contract interactions use more.
Gas Price
How much you pay per unit of gas, measured in gwei. Higher prices = faster transactions.
Total fee = Gas Limit × Gas Price
Key Takeaway
Gas is the fee you pay to use the Ethereum network. The busier the network, the higher the gas prices. Use this site to find the best gas price for your needs!