Gas Snapshot: Optimism Cheapest, Polygon Most Expensive

A comprehensive snapshot of current transaction costs across the tracked blockchain networks has been released, providing a clear view of the fee landscape as of 2026-06-05 22:35 UTC. The data, measured directly on-chain, shows a wide variance in native gas prices, ranging from fractions of a gwei to hundreds. This disparity underscores the different economic models and current network congestion levels affecting each ecosystem. Investors and developers monitoring these metrics can see exactly where the cost of executing a simple transfer or smart contract interaction stands at this specific moment in time.

What happened

The primary finding of this analysis is the extreme divergence between the cheapest and most expensive chains. Optimism emerged as the most cost-effective network for transactions, recording a fee of just 0.001 gwei. In stark contrast, Polygon recorded the highest cost among all tracked chains at 273.7216 gwei. This difference represents a massive gap in user experience and cost efficiency, suggesting that while Optimism is currently experiencing very low demand or high capacity, Polygon is facing significantly higher pressure on its gas market relative to its native token valuation or network state.

The numbers

The detailed breakdown of native gwei costs across the major networks reveals the specific standing of each chain. Arbitrum is trading at 0.02 gwei using ETH, which is noted as being currently cheap compared to its 24-hour range. Base is priced at 0.006 gwei in ETH and is also considered cheap relative to its recent history, though the trend is currently moving upward. BNB Chain sits at 0.1 gwei. Ethereum itself is at 0.2054 gwei, also appearing cheap versus its 24-hour range with an upward trend. The outlier remains Polygon, where the fee is 273.7216 gwei in POL, described as normal versus its 24-hour range despite the absolute value being the highest recorded.

Why it matters

Understanding these specific fee structures is critical for users deciding where to deploy capital or execute trades. A fee of 0.001 gwei on Optimism makes micro-transactions viable, whereas 273.7216 gwei on Polygon, even if denominated in a different token, represents a significant barrier to entry for small-scale users. The fact that Ethereum and Arbitrum are currently cheap relative to their 24-hour ranges suggests a broader market shift toward lower congestion on Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions, excluding Polygon from this specific low-cost trend. Developers should note the upward trend on Base and Ethereum, which may signal increasing network activity that could eventually impact fee levels if congestion persists.

What to watch

Future movements in these metrics will depend on network utilization and the specific mechanics of each chain's fee market. The upward trend observed on Base and Ethereum warrants attention, as rising gas prices can deter users from migrating to these networks if alternatives remain cheaper. Conversely, the stability of Polygon's fees relative to its own 24-hour range, despite the high absolute number, indicates a unique market dynamic that does not necessarily correlate with the low fees seen on Optimism or Arbitrum. Monitoring these gwei values will provide early signals of network health and user sentiment across the multi-chain ecosystem.