What network fees pay for
Distinguish execution costs, priority, asset value and application charges.
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Start with: transaction.
A network fee pays for processing a transaction under a chain's rules. It is separate from the amount transferred and from a swap, bridge or application fee.
Different meters
| Network model | What to examine |
|---|---|
| Ethereum | Gas used and effective price per unit of gas |
| Solana | Signature fees plus a priority fee based on requested compute units and their price |
| Bitcoin | Transaction virtual size and fee rate, often shown in satoshis per virtual byte |
| Rollup | Execution plus any settlement/data-related charges exposed by the network |
A simple Ethereum illustration is 21,000 gas × 10 gwei = 0.00021 ETH. This is an arithmetic example, not a live quote or a gas limit suitable for every transfer. Token transfers and contract calls generally involve different work.
Why a failed attempt can cost money
A network may spend resources executing a transaction that ultimately fails. Inclusion and successful execution are separate checks. A wallet's estimate also need not equal the final fee.
note — A fee pays for processing, not for a guaranteed successful outcome.
Keep some of the required fee asset available for the next action, including exiting a position. Owning a token does not necessarily let you pay the network fee in that token. Sponsored transactions have their own eligibility rules.
Try the fee calculator. Double the price while keeping the work constant, then double the work. What happens to the estimate? For a real transaction, compare the wallet estimate with the receipt afterwards.