Gas fees used to feel like the worst part of crypto to me. Like, why am I paying so much just to send some ETH? 😤
But here’s the truth — gas fees are the **fuel** that powers the whole Ethereum network. Without them, nobody would bother verifying transactions or running smart contracts.
Every action costs “gas” — more complex stuff = more gas. It’s like paying for the work miners/validators do to keep the chain honest and secure.
Since the 2021 London upgrade, fees got a little more predictable with a “base fee” that gets burned (making ETH more scarce) plus a “tip” to speed things up.
Lesson? Understanding gas means you can save money by timing your transactions right or choosing simpler actions.
In crypto, knowing how the engine runs lets you play smarter, not harder.