About network fees (gas)

A network fee (sometimes called gas) is the amount of a network’s native token required to perform an action on a blockchain—such as sending a transaction or interacting with a smart contract. The term gas comes from Ethereum, but similar fee models exist across many blockchain networks supported in Phantom, including Solana, Ethereum, Base, Polygon, Sui, Bitcoin, Monad, and HyperEVM.

A simple way to think about gas is fuel for the network. Every transaction requires computational work, and the more complex the action—or the more congested the network—the more gas is required.

In Phantom, we generally refer to these costs as network fees. However, since gas is a widely used industry term, this article uses both terms interchangeably.

Key points

• You always pay network fees, even if your transaction ultimately fails.
• Network fees are paid in the network’s native token—not in USDC, stablecoins, or other assets on the same network.
• Network fees can fluctuate significantly on networks like Ethereum and Base, depending on congestion and demand.
• Bridging tokens across networks requires gas on both the source and destination networks.

Recommended amounts of native tokens by network

For any transaction, you’ll need to pay gas in the native token of that network. This table shows how much we recommend having on hand to cover a few transactions. These are estimates, and you may need more depending on network congestion, transaction type, or smart contract complexity.

Why network fees exist

Network fees help secure the network and allocate resources. When you send a transaction or interact with a contract:

• You’re asking the network to do work (like storing data or updating balances).
• You pay a small fee in the network’s native token (for example, SOL on Solana, ETH on Ethereum, SUI on Sui).
• This fee compensates the validators who process and confirm your request.

Ethereum and EVM-compatible networks

Ethereum and other EVM-compatible networks (Phantom supports Ethereum, Base, Polygon, Monad, and HyperEVM) use a gas-based model made up of a gas limit and a multi-part fee structure, which includes the following:

• Base fee
• Priority fee
• Max fee

Gas limit

The gas limit is the maximum number of gas units you’re willing to spend for a transaction.

• Simple transactions (like sending ETH) use about 21,000 gas units.
• More complex operations (like approving a token) might use 45,000 or more.
• Each smart contract or app may consume a different amount.

Phantom automatically sets an appropriate gas limit based on the transaction type.

Base fee

The base fee is the minimum amount per unit of gas required to include your transaction in the next block.

• It rises when the network is busy and falls when demand is low.
• On Ethereum and many EVM networks, the base fee is burned, meaning it’s removed from circulation.

Priority fee

The priority fee (or “tip”) is an optional amount you add to incentivize validators to process your transaction faster.

• It doesn’t affect whether your transaction succeeds, but can speed it up.
• On Ethereum, the priority fee goes to validators (not miners) because the network now uses Proof of Stake.

Max fee

The max fee is the total amount you’re willing to pay for the transaction, calculated as follows:

(base fee + priority fee) × gas units used

If your transaction uses less gas than expected, the difference is refunded automatically.

Non-EVM networks

Phantom also supports networks that don’t follow the EVM gas model. These networks calculate fees differently:

• Solana: Uses a fixed-fee model. Most transactions cost less than 0.000005 SOL.
• Sui: Uses dynamic fees based on network load and transaction complexity. Fees are paid in SUI and estimated automatically.
• Bitcoin: Fees are based on transaction size (measured in vBytes) and network congestion. You can select Fast, Average (default), or Slow.

Phantom handles fee estimation for you across all non-EVM networks.

Choosing network fees in Phantom

Depending on the network, you may be able to choose a different network fee option (Fast, Average, Slow), or Phantom may calculate the fee automatically for you.

Networks with fee options

These networks allow you to choose between Fast, Average (default), or Slow:

• Ethereum
• Base
• Polygon
• Bitcoin
• HyperEVM

Choosing a faster option usually costs more, because your transaction includes a higher fee to be prioritized by the network. If the network isn’t congested, then the Slow and Fast options may cost almost the same.

You can adjust these options by selecting Network fee on the transaction screen. Phantom displays an estimated total cost in both the native token and your preferred currency.

Networks with automatic fee estimation

These networks calculate and apply the appropriate network fee for you:

• Solana
• Sui
• Monad

There are no speed presets or manual adjustments available. Phantom automatically sets the optimal fee based on current network conditions.

How to buy native tokens

If you don’t have enough native token to cover network fees, here are a few ways to get more:

• Use the Buy button in Phantom to buy native tokens through one of our supported on-ramp providers. See How to buy crypto in Phantom.
• Send tokens from another wallet you control, or withdraw from a centralized exchange where you hold funds. See How to receive crypto in Phantom.
• Need a little to just get started? A friend can send you a small amount to cover your first transaction. See How to receive crypto in Phantom.