Gas Snapshot: Optimism Cheapest, Polygon Most Expensive
A recent on-chain gas snapshot highlights significant disparities in transaction costs across major blockchain networks. Optimism recorded the lowest fees at 0.001 gwei, whereas Polygon saw the highest costs at 278.9974 gwei during the measurement period.
A comprehensive analysis of current transaction costs across the leading blockchain ecosystems reveals a dramatic divergence in pricing structures. As of 13:04 UTC on June 5, 2026, the data collected directly from the chains shows that Optimism is currently the most economical network for users. In stark contrast, Polygon is experiencing a significant spike in fees relative to other tracked chains. This snapshot provides a clear view of the immediate cost environment for validators and users on these networks.
Current Fee Rankings
The disparity between the cheapest and most expensive networks is substantial. Optimism recorded a gas price of just 0.001 gwei, making it the most affordable option for executing transactions at this specific moment. Following closely behind is Base, which sits at 0.006 gwei, indicating a very low-cost environment for users on that infrastructure. BNB Chain also maintains a low fee structure at 0.1 gwei. These figures suggest that Layer 2 solutions and alternative ecosystems are currently prioritizing low-friction user experiences.
The Polygon Anomaly
Polygon presents a unique outlier in this dataset, recording a gas price of 278.9974 gwei. This figure is significantly higher than the sub-gwei rates seen on Optimism, Base, and Arbitrum. While the data notes that this level is currently normal for Polygon relative to its own 24-hour range, the absolute value is exceptionally high compared to the rest of the market. Ethereum mainnet sits at 0.493 gwei, which is also considered cheap relative to its recent history, further emphasizing the isolation of Polygon's high cost in this specific snapshot.
Network Trends and Context
Several networks are showing favorable trends compared to their recent history. Arbitrum is currently cheap versus its 24-hour range, sitting at 0.02 gwei. Ethereum is also noted as being cheap versus its 24-hour range, with a trend indicating prices are moving up. Base is similarly cheap versus its 24-hour range, though it is currently showing an upward trend in costs. BNB Chain remains stable at 0.1 gwei. The data underscores that while most networks are in a low-cost state, Polygon's fee structure remains an anomaly in this specific timeframe, potentially affecting user adoption and transaction throughput for applications built on that chain.
- Optimism: 0.001 gwei (Cheapest)
- Base: 0.006 gwei (Trend Up)
- Arbitrum: 0.02 gwei (Cheap vs 24h)
- BNB Chain: 0.1 gwei
- Ethereum: 0.493 gwei (Cheap vs 24h)
- Polygon: 278.9974 gwei (Most Expensive)
Understanding these real-time fluctuations is essential for developers and users planning their on-chain activities. The data confirms that cost efficiency varies wildly even among networks often grouped together as low-fee alternatives. Users seeking the absolute lowest cost for a transaction at this exact moment would direct their activity toward Optimism, while those on Polygon may face significantly higher barriers to entry for standard transfers.