How Ethereum quietly crushed its $50 gas problem in 2026

For years, utilizing Ethereum [ETH]  felt costly and out of attain for many individuals.

Throughout the 2021 bull market and the 2024 NFT increase, even a primary transaction might price round $50, whereas extra complicated actions usually price far more.

These excessive charges confirmed how standard Ethereum had grow to be, however in addition they stored many customers out.

That scenario has now modified. As of January 2026, Ethereum gasoline charges have dropped to $0.01, per Etherscan data.

Supply: Etherscan

This drop isn’t as a result of fewer persons are utilizing Ethereum. It’s the results of main technical modifications.

Following the Fusaka improve in late 2025, the rollout of PeerDAS, and widespread Layer 2 adoption, Ethereum has cleared congestion on its foremost community.

What was as soon as a pricey, crowded system now works as a quick and environment friendly settlement layer.

Is Ethereum the brand new Solana?

This shift has additionally modified Ethereum’s competitors with Solana [SOL]. Solana was recognized for being low-cost and quick, however Ethereum now affords equally low charges.

In consequence, the comparability is not nearly price.

Ethereum focuses on safety and decentralization, whereas Solana prioritizes pace with a extra demanding setup. Solana continues to be sooner for sure use circumstances, however Ethereum’s low charges take away the primary cause customers as soon as left.

Nonetheless, decrease charges do include a trade-off.

Ethereum burns a part of each transaction payment, and when charges have been excessive, the ETH provide usually shrank. With charges now very low, the burn has slowed, and ETH is barely inflationary for the second.

A very powerful sign is utilization.

On the seventeenth of January 2026, Ethereum processed 2.6 million transactions in a single day, a brand new file. Up to now, this stage of exercise would have triggered congestion and excessive charges.

This time, the community ran easily, displaying that Ethereum can now deal with very excessive utilization with out changing into costly once more. This basic energy is starting to mirror within the markets.

Market response

At press time, ETH was trading at $3,319.87, sustaining a gradual climb with a 0.62% acquire within the final 24 hours.  In distinction, its main rival, SOL, is feeling the warmth.

Regardless of its personal sturdy ecosystem, SOL was at the moment trading at $142.26, down 1.23% over the identical interval.

In truth, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin additionally not too long ago declared that the unique Web3 structure, first outlined in 2014 and lengthy thought-about a distant roadmap, is now a practical actuality. 

All in all, in 2026, Ethereum isn’t simply scaling; it’s coming dwelling.

Ultimate Ideas

• Ethereum has lastly grow to be low-cost sufficient for on a regular basis use with out sacrificing scale or safety.
• This shift is structural, not non permanent, as upgrades like Fusaka, PeerDAS, and mature Layer 2s have completely unclogged the mainnet.