There was a time when sending assets on Ethereum felt expensive.
Sending USDT could cost $10, or even $20 when the network was busy.
Today, the situation looks very different.
From several recent Ethereum transactions I reviewed:
- Some USDT transfers cost only around $0.03–$0.04
- Some were even as low as $0.007
- And one transaction moved roughly 30 billion rupiah with a fee of only about $0.09, or around 17 thousand rupiah
What makes this even more interesting is that the transaction was still confirmed within seconds, with no meaningful delay, and it happened directly on Ethereum mainnet.
In other words, it is now possible to move a very large amount of value on Ethereum with a fee that feels almost negligible.
Ethereum Fees Really Are Much Cheaper Now
If we compare today’s Ethereum to the past, especially during the NFT boom, DeFi summer, and the 2021 bull market, the difference is striking.
Back then, high fees were one of the biggest complaints about Ethereum. Today, that complaint does not feel as strong as it used to. For users, this is clearly good news.
The Role of EIP-4844 (Proto-Danksharding)
One important reason behind this shift is Ethereum’s upgrade known as EIP-4844, or Proto-Danksharding.
This upgrade introduced a more efficient way for the Ethereum ecosystem to handle certain types of data. In simple terms, it helps reduce the cost of processing and storing data, while making block space usage more efficient.
The result is clear:
Transactions across the Ethereum ecosystem have become significantly cheaper than before.
This is not just a minor optimization. It is a structural improvement in how the network handles data.
Why Has Ethereum Gas Become This Cheap?
Low fees do not happen by accident. At least two major factors are working together.
1. Better Technical Efficiency
With upgrades such as EIP-4844:
- Data handling becomes more efficient
- Network burden is reduced
- Transaction costs can fall further
This is a real technological improvement on Ethereum.
2. A Calmer Network Environment
At the same time, network activity is not as intense as it was during previous hype cycles.
- DeFi activity is not as aggressive as before
- There is no major demand spike like in previous bull runs
- Competition for block space is lower
This also helps push transaction costs down.
An Important Insight: Gas Always Follows Demand
On Ethereum, transaction fees are ultimately shaped by one thing: demand for block space.
When activity rises, fees rise. When activity cools down, fees fall.
That means today’s low gas fees are not only the result of better technology, but also the result of a network that is currently less crowded.
Something People Often Overlook
There is another effect that is rarely discussed.
The lower the fees, the less ETH gets burned.
Since EIP-1559, part of Ethereum’s transaction fees has been burned, helping reduce supply pressure. But when fees drop significantly, the amount of ETH burned also declines.
This may influence Ethereum’s long-term economic dynamics.
Closing Thoughts
Today, we can say something that once sounded almost impossible:
Sending 30 billion rupiah on Ethereum may cost only around 17 thousand rupiah.
That is a remarkable change.
But the more interesting question is not just how cheap Ethereum has become. The more important question is why.
The answer seems to be a combination of two things:
- Ethereum’s technology has become more efficient
- Network fees still move according to overall demand
Ethereum is clearly much cheaper today. But understanding the reason behind that change is far more valuable than just looking at the number itself.