Ethereum Gas Fees: How to Save on Short-Term Trades
Learn effective strategies to minimize Ethereum gas fees on short-term trades, including timing, Layer-2 networks, and tracking tools.
Ethereum gas fees can quickly eat into your profits, especially if you’re trading often. But there are ways to cut costs:
Layer-2 solutions and smart timing are the most effective ways to save on fees. For frequent traders, keeping assets on Layer-2 networks can avoid repeated bridging costs. Wallet Finder.ai can also help you track, analyze, and plan your trades for optimal savings.
Timing Transactions to Reduce Gas Costs
Understanding Network Congestion and Timing
Ethereum gas fees tend to rise when network activity is high. This usually happens during North American and European business hours, particularly between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM EST on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For traders in the U.S., the best times to save on gas fees are during off-peak hours - late at night or early in the morning, specifically between 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM UTC.
Weekends are another good opportunity to save, as gas fees can drop by as much as 50% during early morning hours.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the best times to aim for lower gas fees throughout the week:
Day
Optimal Time (EST)
Sunday
2:00 AM – 3:00 AM
Monday
1:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Tuesday
6:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Wednesday
11:00 PM – 7:00 AM
Thursday
1:00 AM – 3:00 AM
Friday
10:00 PM – 8:00 AM
Saturday
2:00 AM – 3:00 AM
To make the most of these times, rely on real-time tracking tools to monitor network activity and adjust your transaction timing accordingly.
Using Gas Fee Tracking Tools
Tracking gas fees in real-time is key to finding the best windows for lower costs. Tools like Etherscan's Gas Tracker provide up-to-the-minute pricing, including base and priority fees, along with historical data to help you spot trends. MetaMask also offers built-in tools for checking gas prices directly within its wallet interface.
Another helpful resource is the Gas Station Network (GSN), which offers reliable real-time pricing information. These tools display fees in gwei (1 gwei equals 0.000000001 ETH), making it easier to understand and compare costs.
For added convenience, set up alerts to notify you when gas fees drop below your target level. Many traders use these notifications to execute transactions during optimal fee periods. By analyzing historical data through charts available in most tracking tools, you can also identify recurring low-fee times that fit your trading habits.
Using Layer-2 Solutions for Lower Fees
What Are Layer-2 Networks?
Layer-2 networks are tools designed to make Ethereum faster and cheaper by handling transactions off the main blockchain. Even though these transactions happen off-chain, they still rely on Ethereum's security. The process works by bundling multiple transactions together and settling them in batches on Ethereum's mainnet. This approach can slash gas fees by as much as 90–95% and significantly boost transaction speed. For traders who make frequent transactions, these savings can make a big difference.
These networks enhance Ethereum’s capacity to handle more transactions simultaneously while reducing costs. The main types of Layer-2 solutions include rollups—like Optimistic Rollups and ZK-Rollups—and sidechains. While rollups benefit from Ethereum’s security, sidechains rely on their own systems and often support higher transaction volumes. Observing these activities closely can provide insights into market trends, and understanding how wallet accumulation predicts token price moves can help anticipate potential shifts in token value.
Comparison of Popular Layer-2 Networks
If you're looking to save on transaction fees, several Layer-2 networks stand out. Here's a closer look at some of the most popular options:
Here’s a quick comparison table:
Network
Avg. Fee (USD)
Technology
TPS
Finality
Ethereum Mainnet
$8.50
Base Layer
~15
~13 seconds
Arbitrum
$1.50
Optimistic Rollup
2,000–4,000
7-day delay
Optimism
$1.80
Optimistic Rollup
2,000–4,000
7-day delay
zkSync
$0.90
ZK-Rollup
1,000–4,000
Minutes to hours
Another notable player is Base, Coinbase's Layer-2 network. It's gaining popularity due to its integration with major exchanges and its growing decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Tools like Wallet Finder.ai make it simple for traders to track performance across various Layer-2 networks, including Base.
Now that we've compared fees, let’s dive into how you can transfer assets to these networks.
How to Bridge Assets to Layer-2
To take advantage of lower fees, you’ll need to move your assets to a Layer-2 network. For active traders, keeping bridging costs low is just as important as saving on transaction fees.
Bridging works by locking tokens on Ethereum's mainnet and issuing equivalent tokens on the Layer-2 network. The steps are straightforward: choose your target network, connect to a bridge interface, enter the amount to transfer, approve the transaction, and wait for the funds to appear. To analyze how different trading approaches perform over various periods, read our post on How to Compare Wallet Strategies by Timeframe.
MetaMask’s bridge aggregator simplifies this process by finding the quickest and cheapest way to transfer tokens. It even supports cross-chain swaps, letting you bridge and swap tokens in one go.
Before bridging, double-check the fees on the destination network. Keep in mind that for smaller transfers, bridge fees might outweigh the savings from lower transaction costs.
It’s also worth noting that Optimistic Rollups like Arbitrum have a 7-day waiting period for withdrawing funds back to Ethereum’s mainnet. Some bridges, like the Blast bridge, can take up to 14 days. On the other hand, ZK-Rollups usually process withdrawals much faster, often within minutes to hours. These delays can affect how quickly you can move funds, so it’s often better to keep some assets on Layer-2 networks if you’re trading actively.
For frequent traders, it might make sense to hold part of your trading capital on Layer-2 networks to avoid repeated bridging fees and delays. Many major exchanges now allow direct withdrawals to these networks, saving you the hassle of bridging from Ethereum’s mainnet.
ADVANCED TIPS & TRICKS to SAVE on ETHEREUM GAS FEES
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