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Crypto Gas Fees Explained: Which Coin Pays the Fee
A gas fee is what a blockchain charges to process your transaction, and it's always paid in that network's own coin. On Solana you pay in SOL, on Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum and Optimism in ETH, on BNB Smart Chain in BNB, and on Polygon in POL. If your wallet holds a token but none of the network's gas coin, you usually can't send or swap that token. Some apps cover the fee for you, but don't count on it. This is a common reason a beginner's transaction fails.
Which coin pays the fee on each network
| Network | Gas coin | Typical fee for a swap |
|---|---|---|
| Solana | SOL | Usually well under a cent, plus an optional priority fee |
| Base | ETH | Usually a few cents or less |
| Arbitrum | ETH | Usually a few cents or less |
| Optimism | ETH | Usually a few cents or less |
| Polygon | POL | Usually under a cent to a few cents |
| BNB Smart Chain | BNB | Usually a few cents or less |
| Ethereum | ETH | Higher than the networks above. Often under a dollar in 2026, but it rises quickly when the network is busy |
Fees change with network traffic and the coin's price. Your wallet shows the exact fee before you confirm.
Why fees differ so much
Ethereum handles a limited amount of activity per block. When blocks fill up, the base fee rises from block to block, and users can add a tip to get processed sooner. Base, Arbitrum and Optimism are "layer 2" networks: they bundle many transactions together and post them to Ethereum as one batch, which spreads the cost across everyone in the batch. Solana is built for high volume with very low base fees.
How much gas coin should I keep?
- Solana: a small amount of SOL covers many transactions. Each token you hold also sits in an account that needs a small, refundable SOL balance.
- Base, Arbitrum, Optimism: a few dollars of ETH covers many swaps.
- Ethereum: keep enough ETH for at least two transactions, one to buy and one to sell later.
When you buy the gas coin on an exchange, buy a bit more than the amount you'll swap. Then you won't get stuck unable to sell.
Other fees you'll see
- Exchange fees: Coinbase, Kraken and others charge when you buy and sometimes when you withdraw.
- Swap fees: DEXs like Uniswap charge a pool fee on each swap, often between 0.01% and 1%, and some apps and wallets add their own fee. Check the quote before you confirm.
- Price impact: not a fee, but a cost. Large orders in small pools get a worse price.
What if my transaction fails for lack of gas?
Nothing was sent. If the wallet rejected it before sending, you pay nothing, but a transaction that fails on-chain can still cost a fee. Send some of the network's gas coin to the same wallet address on that network, then try again. Make sure you send it on the right network: see how to send crypto from Coinbase to a wallet.
See the gas coin for any token
Search a coin on Lasso. The buying guide names the network, the gas coin you need and where to buy it. For the full on-chain route, read how to buy crypto not listed on Coinbase.
Sources
Facts checked October 14, 2026 against these pages. Official means the exchange, wallet, network or government agency itself. How we write guides.