Gas Snapshot: Optimism Cheapest, Polygon Most Expensive
A recent on-chain snapshot of transaction costs highlights a dramatic disparity in gas fees across the networks we track. Optimism recorded the lowest fees while Polygon saw the highest costs in the latest measurement.
A comprehensive snapshot of current transaction costs across the major blockchain networks we monitor reveals a significant divergence in gas prices. The data, collected directly from the blockchain, shows that Optimism is currently the most cost-effective network for users, while Polygon stands out as the most expensive option at the time of measurement. This analysis covers the native gas units for each chain, providing a clear picture of the economic environment for developers and users.
The Current Landscape
The disparity in transaction fees is most evident when comparing the absolute values recorded during the latest scan. Optimism recorded a gas price of 0.001 gwei, making it the cheapest network available for transactions. In stark contrast, Polygon recorded a gas price of 277.8263 gwei, marking it as the most expensive chain in this specific comparison. These figures represent the native gas units required to process transactions on each respective network at the moment of the snapshot.
Network-Specific Details
Other networks in the tracking set also displayed varying levels of activity and cost. Arbitrum recorded a gas price of 0.0202 gwei using ETH, a rate that is currently considered cheap relative to its 24-hour range. Base followed a similar pattern, recording 0.006 gwei in ETH, which is also cheap compared to its recent history and shows a downward trend. BNB Chain recorded a fee of 0.1 gwei using BNB. Ethereum itself recorded 0.2578 gwei in ETH, which is currently cheap versus its 24-hour range and is trending down. These variations illustrate how network congestion and demand fluctuate independently across the ecosystem.
Implications for Users
Understanding these specific metrics is crucial for anyone planning to interact with these networks. The data indicates that users seeking the lowest possible fees should prioritize Optimism, where the cost is negligible at 0.001 gwei. Conversely, the high figure on Polygon suggests that users might expect higher costs on that specific network during this window, despite its historical reputation for low fees. The snapshot was taken on 2026-06-06 at 06:04 UTC, capturing a specific moment in time where these conditions were true.
- Optimism: 0.001 gwei (ETH)
- Base: 0.006 gwei (ETH)
- Arbitrum: 0.0202 gwei (ETH)
- BNB Chain: 0.1 gwei (BNB)
- Ethereum: 0.2578 gwei (ETH)
- Polygon: 277.8263 gwei (POL)
These numbers reflect the raw on-chain reality without external interpretation. They serve as a factual record of the economic state of these chains at the specified timestamp, allowing for informed decisions based on real-time data rather than speculation.