January 27 News, the Ethereum network is experiencing a rare structural change: while usage continues to surge, transaction fees have dropped to the lowest levels in nearly nine years. According to Glassnode data, the current average transaction fee on Ethereum is below $0.01, a low unseen since May 2017, yet network activity remains high.
Data shows that on January 16, the number of daily transactions on Ethereum approached 2.9 million, nearly breaking the record. In the past, under similar load, Gas fees often soared to the $20 to $50 range, and even higher during NFT booms and meme coin cycles. But in early 2026, this “high frequency, low fee” state has become a reality, with ordinary transfers often completing for just a fraction of a cent.
This shift is backed by the gradual realization of Ethereum’s scalability roadmap. Previously launched EIP-4844 and a series of protocol optimizations have significantly reduced data publication costs and increased block utilization. Meanwhile, many transactions have migrated to Layer-2 networks such as Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base, which process transactions efficiently off-chain before settling collectively on the mainnet, alleviating congestion on Ethereum.
For users, this means a substantial improvement in the usability of the Ethereum blockchain. Costs for small transfers, stablecoin payments, DeFi operations, and NFT minting have all decreased. Ordinary users and developers who were previously deterred by high Gas fees can now participate more easily in the ecosystem. This change is especially critical for Web3 applications, on-chain games, and payment scenarios.
However, low fees also introduce new balancing issues. The decrease in Gas fees means less ETH is burned, potentially weakening the network’s deflationary effect, and at certain stages, even increasing supply. But many analysts believe that an ecosystem with more users and higher transaction frequency is more valuable in the long term than relying on high fees to maintain scarcity.
Currently, Ethereum is demonstrating a new operational state: achieving high throughput and low costs without sacrificing security and decentralization. If this trend continues, ETH in 2026 is expected to attract a larger base of real users, laying a more solid foundation for its position in crypto finance and real-world payments.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Ethereum Korea Consortium Launches to Build Collaborative Blockchain Ecosystem
The Ethereum Korea Consortium launched on April 16 to shift South Korea's Ethereum focus from consumption to contributions, addressing challenges like market structure and regulatory issues. The initiative aims to enhance development and create a supportive ecosystem.
GateNews44m ago
Traditional Brokerage to Launch Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading in Coming Weeks at 0.75% Fee
A traditional brokerage is set to launch spot cryptocurrency trading for retail clients, offering Bitcoin and Ethereum access. The service will include multiple trading platforms, a 0.75% fee, and additional crypto assets planned for the future, reflecting a trend of traditional finance entering the crypto space.
GateNews54m ago
ETH rises 0.65% in 15 minutes: spot buying led to net capital inflows
Between 2026-04-16 15:00 and 15:15 (UTC), the ETH price recorded a +0.65% return. The highest price in the range was 2330.16 USDT, while the lowest was 2308.58 USDT, with a swing of 0.93%. The short-term rally immediately drew market attention, increasing capital activity; volatility remained moderately elevated, characterized by strengthening spot buying power.
The main driving force behind this unusual move is that buy orders in the spot markets of major trading platforms continued to dominate. Within 15 minutes, the buy volume accounted for 58%–59%, and the total buy volume was about 2.2K–2.6K ETH
GateNews3h ago
Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana ETFs Record Positive Net Inflows on April 16
Gate News message, according to the April 16 update, Bitcoin ETFs recorded a 1-day net inflow of +2,855 BTC (+$209.95M) and a 7-day net inflow of +11,849 BTC (+$871.52M). Ethereum ETFs showed a 1-day net inflow of +15,477 ETH (+$35.44M) and a 7-day net inflow of +90,366 ETH (+$206.94M). Solana ETFs
GateNews4h ago
Ethereum Foundation Announces ETH Rangers Project Results: Over $5.8M in Recovered or Frozen Assets
The Ethereum Foundation's ETH Rangers project has successfully completed, funding 17 researchers to enhance public security in the ecosystem. Achievements include recovering $5.8M in assets, identifying over 785 vulnerabilities, and developing several security tools.
GateNews4h ago
ETH drops 1.23% in 15 minutes: Retail’s concentrated sell-off and amplified ETF fund outflows weigh on the spot order book
2026-04-16 13:45 to 14:00 (UTC), ETH spot prices fell by 1.23% in just 15 minutes. The candlestick price range covered 2291.2 to 2336.98 USDT, with a swing of 1.96%. Market volatility intensified, sell pressure on the board became concentrated, and the trading community’s focus clearly shifted toward changes in capital outflows.
The main driver behind this abnormal move is large-scale, concentrated selling from retail. In the spot market, net outflows in the first 5 minutes reached as high as -$95.57M. Although some lead/major funds attempted to accumulate at lower prices (net inflows of +$18.95M in large orders over 5 minutes), the overall scale was limited and unable to effectively hedge the overall short-term selling pressure. Meanwhile, the ETH futures market did not show extreme liquidations or large-scale position closures, indicating that the core of the abnormal move came from a spot supply-and-demand imbalance rather than leveraged liquidation cascades.
In addition, ETH spot ETF funds have continued to experience net outflows in early April. On April 1, the single-day net outflow was $7.1M. The overall trend in Q1 was bearish, directly reflecting weakening institutional capital allocation intent and further undermining market confidence. Some funds have shifted to on-chain staking and emerging DeFi protocols. It is also worth noting that large holders with holdings in the 100,000-ETH range have continued to reduce their positions since the end of March. Whale capital outflows have persisted, and retail has followed the above signals, leading to a multi-factor selloff resonance effect in the short term. Although both the number of active addresses on the ETH chain and daily trading volume have hit historical highs, network usage and liquidity are overall strong, but capital flow has not formed any substantive spot buy orders, making it difficult to drive a price reversal.
At present, short-term market risk remains significant. Investors should pay attention to the strength of subsequent retail selling, the direction of ETF fund flows, and changes in large-holder positions. If large holders and major funds do not form a strong follow-through/acceptance, the spot market may continue to be affected by the release of structural supply. It is recommended that investors monitor key support zones in real time, track large on-chain fund movements, and watch for macro news developments, in order to reasonably mitigate the risk of short-term price fluctuations and promptly obtain more market information.
GateNews5h ago
