Crypto gas fees are the costs paid to use a blockchain network. They are most often discussed with Ethereum, where users pay gas to send transactions or run smart contracts.
Why gas fees exist
Gas fees pay validators or miners and help prevent spam. If a network is busy, users may pay higher fees to get transactions confirmed faster.
Gas fees and smart contracts
Simple transfers usually cost less than complex actions. Swapping tokens, minting NFTs, or using DeFi apps can cost more because smart contracts require more computation.
Layer 2 networks and alternative blockchains try to reduce fees, but users should still check the fee preview before confirming any transaction.