#GasFeeImpact Gas fees, primarily associated with blockchain networks like Ethereum, are transaction costs paid by users to execute operations such as transfers, smart contract interactions, or decentralized application (dApp) usage. These fees compensate miners or validators for processing transactions and securing the network. High gas fees can significantly impact the crypto ecosystem by discouraging small transactions, limiting accessibility for retail users, and reducing the efficiency of dApps. For example, during periods of network congestion, Ethereum gas fees can skyrocket, making DeFi protocols and NFT transactions prohibitively expensive. This has led to the exploration of layer-2 scaling solutions like Optimism and Arbitrum, as well as alternative blockchains like Solana and Avalanche, which offer lower fees. High gas fees also influence market sentiment, as users may shift assets to more cost-effective networks. While Ethereum's transition to proof-of-stake (PoS) and upgrades like EIP-1559 aim to address fee issues, gas fees remain a critical factor in user experience, adoption, and the overall competitiveness of blockchain platforms.