January 19 News, for years, high Ethereum Gas fees have been a pain point that users and developers cannot avoid. During the 2021 bull market and the 2024 NFT boom, an ordinary ETH transaction often cost dozens of dollars, and the costs of complex operations soared, discouraging many users.
This situation underwent a fundamental change in 2026. According to the latest data from Etherscan, as of January 2026, the average Gas fee on Ethereum has dropped to about $0.01. The sharp decline in fees is not due to decreased network usage but results from key changes in the technical architecture. The Fusaka upgrade completed at the end of 2025, the official deployment of PeerDAS, and the widespread adoption of Layer 2 solutions have collectively significantly alleviated mainnet congestion, gradually transforming Ethereum into an efficient, low-cost settlement layer.
The downward trend in Gas fees has also reshaped the competitive relationship between ETH and Solana (SOL). In the past, Solana held an advantage with low fees and high throughput. Now, Ethereum no longer lags in transaction costs, and the competition focus has shifted to security, decentralization, and ecosystem maturity. Although Solana still has speed advantages in some scenarios, the core shortcoming of Ethereum’s “high fees” has been substantially eliminated.
It is worth noting that low Gas fees also introduce new variables. Due to the weakening of the transaction fee burning mechanism, the rate of ETH supply destruction has slowed, and the network is currently in a slight inflationary state. However, on-chain activity provides more convincing signals. On January 17, 2026, Ethereum processed 2.6 million transactions in a single day, setting a new record, while the network continued to operate smoothly without another spike in fees.
On the market side, as of press time, ETH price is $3,319.87, up slightly by 0.62% in 24 hours; meanwhile, SOL is at $142.26, experiencing a 1.23% pullback. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently stated that the overall Web3 architecture proposed as early as 2014 is gradually becoming a reality.
In 2026, Ethereum is not only completing scalability but also re-establishing its long-term value as a core blockchain infrastructure based on low cost and high security.
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
Alameda Research today releases a $3.56 million ETH collateral pledge, and still holds more than $300 million in tokens
Gate News message. On April 1, according to Arkham monitoring, Alameda Research today cleared the pledge of $3.56 million worth of Ethereum. Three weeks ago, the firm had allocated $17 million worth of SOL tokens. Currently, Alameda Research still holds $300 million in SOL, $35 million in Bitcoin, and $20 million in USDT.
GateNews10m ago
Tom Lee’s Bitmine Acquires 71,179 ETH As Holdings Near The 5% Target
Bitmine Immersion Technologies reported $10.7 billion in assets and accumulated 4.73M ETH, representing 3.92% of the total supply. It launched the MAVAN staking platform, generating $177M annually while navigating market dynamics influenced by rising oil prices.
CryptoFrontNews21m ago
A certain CEX had $1.104 billion in 24-hour trading volume, with XRP, BTC, and ETH ranking in the top three.
According to CoinGecko data, on April 1, a certain CEX saw trading volume of $1.104 billion within the past 24 hours. XRP, BTC, ETH, USDT, and ONT each ranked among the top five by trading volume. This trading-volume ranking shows that XRP had the largest trading volume, reaching $113.3 million.
GateNews30m ago
A whale that just transferred 4,012 ETH into a certain CEX within the past 40 minutes is suspected to be liquidating.
Gate News message, April 1, the address 0x65d...8fC62 has, within the past 40 minutes, fully deposited all 4,012 ETH (about $8.572 million) it redeemed from Lido a week ago into a certain CEX; currently, on-chain, only 0.709 ETH remains, seemingly indicating the position has been fully liquidated.
GateNews38m ago
Aave Launches V4 on Ethereum Mainnet With New Hub-and-Spoke Lending Design
Aave has launched V4 on Ethereum mainnet, introducing a hub-and-spoke architecture for shared liquidity. This redesign aims to improve efficiency by separating liquidity from risk, starting with a cautious rollout of limited hubs and assets.
CryptoNewsFlash55m ago
FBI Makes a Major Move, Charges 10 Foreign Crypto Trading Manipulators
A federal grand jury indicted 10 executives and employees, accusing them of scheming a “pump-and-dump” scam involving false transactions with cross-border ties. The investigation was conducted jointly by the FBI and IRS-CI, uncovering market manipulation. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines. This case highlights the intensity of regulatory crackdowns on the crypto market and promotes global cooperation.
GateNews1h ago
