Ethereum is a powerful platform that allows people to build and use decentralized applications. But this power comes with a cost—gas. Gas is what users pay to process transactions or run smart contracts. Some protocols use much more gas than others, often because they are popular or complex. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the top gas guzzlers on Ethereum. We’ll explore who’s using the most gas, why they use so much, and how you can make smart decisions around gas-heavy protocols. Whether you’re a builder, trader, or just curious, you’ll find valuable insights here.
1. Uniswap V3 accounts for over 15% of daily Ethereum gas consumption
Uniswap V3 is the heavyweight champion of Ethereum gas usage. It consistently eats up more than 15% of all the gas used daily. That’s not surprising when you consider how often it’s used.
Traders are constantly swapping tokens, liquidity providers are managing positions, and developers are integrating Uniswap into their own tools.
One reason for this high gas use is the complexity of the V3 contracts. With concentrated liquidity, every action—like adding or removing liquidity—requires multiple calculations.
Swaps themselves are also more precise, which increases gas. In addition, each trade often hits multiple smart contracts: from token approvals to WETH wrapping, each step adds more gas.
For users, this means trading on Uniswap V3 can get expensive when gas prices are high. If you’re a frequent user, it’s a good idea to monitor gas prices and trade during off-peak hours.
Tools like GasNow and Etherscan Gas Tracker can help. Also, consider using a Layer 2 version of Uniswap if you’re open to switching networks like Arbitrum or Optimism. These offer the same features with much lower gas costs.
For developers, smart contract optimization is key. Avoid calling unnecessary external functions. Batch transactions when possible. And test your contract on testnets with gas profiling tools to identify costly lines of code.
In short, Uniswap V3 is gas-hungry by design—but with a little planning, you can save money and stay efficient.
2. Tether (USDT) transfers consume approximately 5% of Ethereum’s gas daily
Tether is one of the most used stablecoins in the world. It’s also one of Ethereum’s biggest gas guzzlers. On any given day, simple transfers of USDT can use up about 5% of all the gas on Ethereum.
Why does such a basic function—just sending tokens—consume so much gas? The main reason is volume. Millions of users and bots send Tether every day. Unlike ETH, which is a native token, USDT operates as a smart contract on Ethereum.
Every transfer must interact with that contract, and that uses gas.
The USDT contract itself is also not optimized for minimal gas usage. Every transfer includes various internal checks and storage updates. These make each transaction a bit more expensive than a plain ETH transfer.
If you’re moving large amounts of Tether, the gas cost may not matter much. But if you’re sending small amounts often, it adds up quickly. To save, try batching multiple transfers into one if you’re a business.
Or use other stablecoins like USDC, which may be slightly cheaper to send.
For developers integrating USDT, avoid unnecessary transfers within your dApp. Reuse balances and automate bulk transfers whenever possible. You can also explore using Layer 2 networks or alternative chains like Tron or Solana where Tether is also available at lower cost.
So, while USDT may seem like a simple token, its sheer volume of use makes it one of Ethereum’s biggest gas burners.
3. MetaMask swaps contribute to around 3% of gas usage on busy trading days
MetaMask is the gateway for millions of Ethereum users. One of its most used features is token swapping directly inside the wallet. It’s easy and convenient, but those trades aren’t cheap.
On high-traffic days, MetaMask swaps account for roughly 3% of the gas used across Ethereum.
This happens because each swap routes through multiple paths behind the scenes. MetaMask aggregates prices from DEXs like Uniswap, 1inch, and others. It tries to give you the best price, but that also means interacting with several contracts in one go.
And every one of those steps costs gas.
Many users don’t even realize how expensive MetaMask swaps can be. The interface shows the gas fee, but not always how it’s broken down. You might be better off using the source DEX directly if you’re looking to save a few dollars in fees.
From a tactical standpoint, if you love using MetaMask swaps, wait until gas is low.
Try using services like Blocknative to alert you when gas drops. Or check tools like DeFi Saver, which sometimes help optimize swaps with less gas.
Developers should be aware that MetaMask swaps are convenient but not always gas-efficient. If your dApp integrates with MetaMask, consider offering users the option to choose a swap route or suggest alternatives during high-gas periods.
Convenience comes with a cost, and with MetaMask swaps, that cost is often measured in gas units.
4. OpenSea NFT transactions account for up to 2% of daily gas usage
The NFT boom brought OpenSea into the spotlight, and with it came a sharp rise in gas usage.
OpenSea transactions—buying, selling, minting, and transferring NFTs—now make up around 2% of Ethereum’s daily gas use.
What’s interesting is that many OpenSea actions aren’t as simple as they look. Listing an NFT, for example, may involve signing data off-chain, but accepting an offer triggers on-chain execution.
Bids, transfers, and auction settlements all touch smart contracts that interact with ERC-721 and ERC-1155 standards. These can be more gas-intensive than regular token transfers.
During popular NFT launches, OpenSea can become a gas war zone. Everyone rushes to mint or buy at the same time, driving up gas for everyone. This not only makes transactions expensive, but also slows down the whole network.
If you’re an NFT collector, try avoiding popular mint times. Gas spikes dramatically during new drops. You can also use tools like NFT Gas Station to estimate costs before you transact.
And if you’re a creator, consider launching on platforms like Zora or using lazy minting, which shifts gas costs to the buyer.
From a developer angle, optimizing NFT smart contracts is crucial. Avoid functions with loops or excessive storage writes. Also, consider supporting ERC-721A or ERC-1155 standards, which offer more gas-efficient minting.
NFTs are here to stay, and so is their gas footprint. But with smarter planning, you can stay in the game without overpaying.
5. 1inch aggregator often ranks in the top 10 gas consumers, using over 1% of network gas
1inch is one of Ethereum’s most advanced DEX aggregators. It helps users find the best trading routes by splitting trades across multiple platforms. But that power comes with a price.
On many days, 1inch ranks in the top 10 gas consumers, using over 1% of Ethereum’s gas.
The main reason is how it works. A single 1inch trade can touch several contracts—Uniswap, Balancer, Curve, SushiSwap—all in one go. It tries to save users money by getting them the best prices, but each extra step adds gas cost.
In many cases, users save on slippage but pay more in gas.
If you’re trading small amounts, this can be counterproductive. You might spend more on gas than you save on the trade.
So before using 1inch, compare the final outcome with doing a simple swap on a single DEX. Sometimes simpler is cheaper.
For high-volume traders, 1inch often still offers better execution overall. You can even adjust settings like “complexity level” to control how aggressive the routing is. Choosing a lower complexity route can reduce gas usage at the cost of slightly worse prices.
Developers building on 1inch’s APIs should give users control. Let them choose between low-gas and best-price routes. Also, be transparent in your UI about estimated gas costs.
1inch is a brilliant tool, but it’s not one-size-fits-all. Understand what you’re gaining—and what you’re paying—for every trade.
6. USDC transfers regularly use around 4% of Ethereum gas
USDC is another stablecoin that sees massive usage on Ethereum. Just like USDT, it operates as a smart contract. And that means every transfer burns gas. On average, USDC transfers account for about 4% of daily gas usage across the network.
The volume is massive. From exchanges to DeFi protocols and DAOs paying contributors, USDC is everywhere. And since it’s a favorite for institutions and individuals alike, the number of transactions keeps growing.
But even though USDC is considered more gas-efficient than USDT, the impact of millions of small transactions adds up quickly.
If you’re regularly sending USDC, you may want to evaluate how often you transfer.
Are you doing it daily when you could batch it weekly? Can you switch to a Layer 2 like Polygon, Optimism, or Arbitrum, where gas fees are lower?
For app developers, think about integrating gas optimization into your logic. That might mean consolidating payouts, delaying non-urgent transfers, or giving users incentives to transact during low-gas periods.
Also, be mindful of approval transactions. If you’re prompting users to approve USDC every time, that’s double the gas. Use allowances wisely and explain them clearly to your users.
In a stablecoin-driven world, USDC isn’t going anywhere. But its gas usage reminds us that every little transfer has a price.
7. Ethereum Name Service (ENS) registrations occasionally spike gas usage by over 0.5%
Ethereum Name Service (ENS) gives users human-readable addresses like “alice.eth.”
When new ENS domain launches happen or major migrations roll out, gas usage spikes. These events can push ENS transactions to over 0.5% of daily Ethereum gas.
Why so high? Each ENS registration or transfer is a series of smart contract calls.
There’s domain hashing, ownership transfers, resolver setup, and metadata updates. All of this uses storage and logic—two things Ethereum charges gas for.
If you’re planning to register or renew an ENS name, wait for off-peak times. Monitor Ethereum gas prices and avoid registering during major NFT drops or new token launches.
You’ll likely save a good amount in fees.
From a builder’s standpoint, ENS is a great feature to offer. But consider batching domain operations if you’re managing many names. Also, be aware of the signature formats ENS uses and how they affect transaction complexity.
The takeaway? ENS is valuable and user-friendly, but it’s not cheap when used at scale or during network congestion. Plan your registrations carefully.
8. Tornado Cash used to consume up to 1% of gas before sanctions
Before being sanctioned, Tornado Cash was a heavy gas consumer—using up to 1% of Ethereum’s gas.
It was widely used to break the on-chain link between wallet addresses for privacy reasons.
Each Tornado Cash deposit or withdrawal was complex. It used zero-knowledge proofs, Merkle trees, and cryptographic hashing—all executed within Ethereum’s EVM.
That kind of computation is expensive. Add in the surge in usage after high-profile hacks or airdrops, and the gas usage jumped.
Since its sanctioning, usage has dropped dramatically. But Tornado Cash taught the ecosystem an important lesson: privacy is costly, especially on a public chain.
For users still exploring privacy options, look at alternatives on privacy-focused chains or use Layer 2 mixers. Just be aware of legal implications. Not all tools are compliant in every jurisdiction.
Builders exploring privacy features should aim for off-chain computation with on-chain verification. Techniques like zk-SNARKs are evolving, and more gas-efficient implementations are emerging.
Privacy is essential, but it comes with trade-offs. Tornado Cash proved that users are willing to pay for it—until regulatory pressure changes the game.
9. Lido’s staking operations contribute to over 1% of Ethereum’s gas use
Lido makes staking ETH simple. You stake your ETH, and you get stETH in return.
This stETH can be used in DeFi, which makes it very attractive. But all of this convenience comes with a gas cost. Lido’s staking contracts consume over 1% of Ethereum’s daily gas on average.
Why so much? Because staking with Lido involves several smart contract calls. You’re interacting with the main Lido contract, possibly minting stETH, and sometimes moving funds into validator pools.
Each of these steps is on-chain and gas-hungry.
If you’re staking small amounts, check if the gas fee is worth it compared to your expected yield.
For larger stakers, it often makes sense—but timing still matters. Staking during high congestion can burn a big chunk of your returns.
If you’re a DeFi protocol that integrates with stETH, consider gas-optimized wrapping/unwrapping. And if you build on top of Lido, look at caching or batching logic to limit repeated interactions.
Lido is a major player in Ethereum’s shift to Proof-of-Stake. Just remember, every step of that process costs gas—so be strategic with your timing.
10. Blur airdrop-related transactions spiked gas consumption by over 2% during launch
Blur took the NFT world by storm. When it launched and dropped tokens, thousands of users rushed to claim, trade, and stake—causing a gas frenzy. At its peak, Blur-related actions consumed more than 2% of Ethereum’s daily gas.
The Blur airdrop wasn’t just a simple claim. It involved checking eligibility, triggering distribution, and interacting with their staking contracts.
Many users also started buying and listing NFTs immediately after, causing a ripple effect in gas prices.
If you’re planning to participate in a future airdrop, prepare in advance. Make sure your wallet is funded and your gas limits are set. Use tools that track airdrop windows and alert you when activity spikes.
Being early can mean paying less gas—or avoiding a failed transaction.
Developers planning their own token launch can learn from Blur. Don’t launch at peak hours. Try batching claims. Offer users a way to claim rewards over time rather than in a single rush. And always test your contracts under simulated stress.
The lesson here is simple: airdrops move markets and gas meters alike. Blur was a textbook case of what happens when excitement meets on-chain logistics.
11. Arbitrum bridge operations can account for over 0.5% of gas during periods of high activity
Bridging assets from Ethereum to Arbitrum is a common step for users who want cheaper fees and faster transactions.
But that bridging process isn’t free—at peak times, Arbitrum’s bridge can use over 0.5% of Ethereum’s daily gas.
The gas usage comes from the underlying mechanics. When you move funds from Ethereum to Arbitrum, your transaction goes through a bridge contract on Ethereum.
This contract locks assets, verifies conditions, and often logs complex data structures. All of that takes gas. And when thousands of users rush to bridge simultaneously—like during an incentive program or major launch—gas costs can spike fast.
If you’re a user looking to bridge, check the current network gas prices before jumping in. Use tools like L2Beat or bridge aggregators to compare bridging routes. Some aggregators can also suggest times when bridge fees are lower based on congestion.
From a developer perspective, batching bridge transactions or queuing them off-chain can save users serious gas. Also consider integrating multiple bridges into your app, so users can choose the most efficient option at the time.
Arbitrum offers low fees on its own network—but getting there from Ethereum still has a cost. Timing and planning are key to reducing your gas bill.
12. Chainlink (LINK) oracle updates use around 0.8% of Ethereum gas
Chainlink is the lifeline of many DeFi protocols. It feeds real-world data—like token prices—into Ethereum smart contracts. But keeping that data fresh isn’t free. Chainlink oracle updates use about 0.8% of Ethereum’s daily gas.
These updates happen constantly. Each one involves pushing external data on-chain, triggering smart contracts to validate it, and storing it in a way that other contracts can access.
Oracles must remain accurate and frequent, especially when they power large financial systems.
This means that every LINK-powered update contributes to the gas burden on Ethereum. And since many DeFi apps rely on Chainlink for price feeds, even a single spike in market volatility can trigger mass updates.
Users don’t typically interact directly with these updates, but they feel the impact. If you’re using a DeFi platform, sudden gas spikes might be tied to oracle activity—especially during price crashes or rallies.
Builders relying on Chainlink can reduce their gas footprint by optimizing how and when oracles are called. Some protocols only need updates when price movements pass a certain threshold. Others can use aggregated feeds that reduce frequency.
In short, Chainlink makes Ethereum smarter, but that intelligence costs gas. Be smart about how you consume it.
13. Compound protocol interactions consume over 0.6% of daily gas
Compound is a key player in decentralized finance. It allows users to lend and borrow crypto assets directly from their wallets. These actions may seem simple—but they involve significant on-chain processing.
Compound protocol interactions take up over 0.6% of Ethereum’s gas daily.
The main reason? Each lending or borrowing transaction interacts with several layers of logic. You’re not just sending tokens—you’re updating interest indexes, recalculating rates, handling collateral, and occasionally triggering liquidations.
Every one of those steps is run through smart contracts.
If you’re a user, keep in mind that simple actions like supplying or withdrawing might cost more gas than expected. Borrowing also involves more complex calculations, so gas usage is higher.
You can reduce costs by using Compound on Layer 2 when available, or waiting for quieter gas times on mainnet.
For developers, integrating Compound? Watch how often your app triggers calls to the protocol. Use view-only calls whenever you just need to display data. And batch transactions when multiple steps are involved.
Compound is efficient by DeFi standards, but it’s still a gas user. Optimizing around it can lead to better performance—and lower costs for everyone involved.
14. Curve Finance often uses up to 1.5% of the gas due to stablecoin swaps
Curve Finance is designed to offer low-slippage swaps between stablecoins and like-assets. It’s great for efficient trades, but its unique math-heavy approach results in high gas usage. On busy days, Curve consumes up to 1.5% of Ethereum’s daily gas.
The reason lies in the math. Curve uses complex formulas to maintain balance in its pools. These calculations involve multiple variables and require more on-chain computation than simpler DEXs.
Add in the fact that Curve often routes large-volume trades and handles liquidity gauge voting, and the gas bill grows fast.
For users, Curve is best suited for big trades between stable assets like USDT, USDC, and DAI. But if you’re just swapping small amounts, you may not benefit much from the optimized rates—especially after paying high gas. Always compare with other platforms.
Curve also involves token approvals, staking LP tokens, and sometimes interacting with CRV rewards—all of which cost gas.
If you’re farming yields, bundle your actions. Don’t approve and stake in separate steps if you can avoid it.
For dApp developers, keep your Curve integrations lean. Use meta-transactions or gasless approvals if possible, and cache results where you don’t need real-time data.
Curve is a brilliant piece of DeFi infrastructure. Just make sure your wallet can handle the gas it takes to enjoy those low slippage trades.
15. SushiSwap and its variants use close to 0.5% of Ethereum gas
SushiSwap, originally forked from Uniswap, has evolved into a multi-chain DEX with lots of features. On Ethereum, it still sees plenty of activity—and that translates into gas use. Sushi and its variants consistently use around 0.5% of Ethereum’s daily gas.
The core swapping functions are similar to Uniswap V2, so they’re relatively efficient. But Sushi adds layers: staking in SushiBar, farming in Onsen, and using complex pool types. Each of these adds more logic—and more gas.
If you’re using Sushi just for swaps, compare it with Uniswap and 1inch for gas efficiency. The differences are often small, but they can add up if you’re trading frequently.
For liquidity providers, be aware that adding liquidity involves more than just a deposit. You’ll need to approve tokens, send the liquidity, and possibly stake the LP tokens for rewards—all of which burn gas.
From a builder’s view, Sushi’s ecosystem contracts are open-source and modular. Pick only what you need. Avoid unnecessary integrations that bloat your app. And monitor user flows to minimize repetitive transactions.
Sushi may not be the most gas-hungry DEX, but its depth of features means it’s important to plan your interactions wisely.
16. MakerDAO vault operations contribute around 0.7% to network gas use
MakerDAO is the backbone of decentralized stablecoin creation. Users lock up assets in Maker vaults to mint DAI. These vaults are powerful financial tools, but interacting with them isn’t cheap.
MakerDAO-related operations—like opening, adjusting, or closing a vault—consume about 0.7% of Ethereum’s daily gas.
That’s because each action touches several smart contracts. You’re managing collateral, debt ceilings, liquidation ratios, and possibly interacting with price oracles.
Maker’s architecture is very modular for security and flexibility—but that means more transactions and higher gas use.
If you’re managing a Maker vault, think before you act. Instead of frequently adjusting your position, try to plan ahead. Make larger, less frequent changes.
You can also automate your position with tools like DeFi Saver, which offers strategies that can save on gas and protect from liquidation.
Builders should help users minimize complexity. If your app integrates Maker, offer clear instructions. Consider grouping contract calls using proxy contracts or automation frameworks that reduce repetitive gas costs.
Maker is foundational to DeFi, but its vaults can drain gas fast. Strategic timing and efficient usage make all the difference.
17. Safe (formerly Gnosis Safe) multisig operations use about 0.6% of Ethereum gas
Safe is the most trusted multisig wallet on Ethereum. It’s used by DAOs, protocols, and high-value users to manage assets securely.
But all that security requires logic—and that logic consumes gas. On average, Safe-related transactions eat up about 0.6% of Ethereum’s gas.
Multisig wallets aren’t like personal wallets. They involve approvals, confirmations, and execution steps that often span multiple transactions. Every added signer increases complexity, and so does the need to verify signatures on-chain.
If you’re part of a DAO or team using Safe, plan execution flows in advance.
Try to collect signatures off-chain when possible and execute in bulk. Safe also lets you bundle transactions together—use that feature to cut gas costs across repeated actions.
For developers, avoid excessive customization unless necessary. Stick with Safe modules that have been audited and optimized. If your app needs regular transfers from a Safe, consider scheduling them off-chain and executing during low gas times.
Safe brings enterprise-grade security to Ethereum, but like any enterprise tool, efficiency matters. The smarter your setup, the less you’ll spend keeping assets secure.
18. NFT minting campaigns (e.g. Bored Apes) have previously consumed up to 10% of daily gas
When big NFT drops happen, the Ethereum network feels it. High-profile mints like Bored Ape Yacht Club have consumed up to 10% of all daily gas during launch events.
That’s a huge load—causing gas prices to spike, clogging the network, and even pricing out other users.
Why such high usage? It’s a perfect storm: thousands of people rushing to mint, many of them using bots, and everyone trying to get in at once.
Each mint is an on-chain transaction involving randomness, token assignment, and metadata logging.
If you’re planning to mint a hyped NFT, use a gas tracker and set a proper limit. Minting when the gas is high might mean you pay double—or worse, your transaction fails and you still lose gas. Some drops now use allowlists or phased minting—if available, take advantage.
If you’re launching your own NFT, be thoughtful. Use tools like ERC-721A to reduce gas for batch mints. Consider lazy minting or off-chain whitelists. A little prep can save your community a lot of money.
Minting events bring energy to Ethereum—but also a big gas bill. Plan accordingly whether you’re buying or building.
19. Hop Protocol bridging activity consumes around 0.2% of gas
Hop Protocol helps users move assets between Ethereum and Layer 2 networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon.
It’s fast and efficient—but not gas-free. Hop’s bridge activity consumes about 0.2% of Ethereum’s gas on busy days.
Hop tries to smooth the bridging experience with off-chain validators and liquidity providers. But depositing into or withdrawing from Ethereum still requires on-chain actions.
These often include multiple checks, signature validations, and asset wrapping—all of which use gas.
If you’re bridging with Hop, look for batching options and low-fee times. Some wallets and aggregators integrate Hop natively and let you compare costs before you commit.
This is helpful to avoid being surprised by a high transaction fee.
For app developers, integrating Hop can give your users a smoother cross-chain experience—but make sure your UI clearly explains the cost. Users often don’t know bridging is more than just a single transfer.
Also, allow them to choose the best time to bridge if your use case isn’t urgent.
Hop makes Layer 2 access seamless. Just remember that the gateway is still on Ethereum—and that toll is paid in gas.
20. Flashbots transactions account for over 1% of daily gas, depending on MEV strategies
Flashbots changed the game for miners and validators. By allowing users to submit MEV (miner extractable value) strategies privately, Flashbots created a new wave of gas-efficient, backdoor transactions.
But don’t be fooled—they still use a lot of gas. Flashbots-related transactions can exceed 1% of daily Ethereum gas usage.
These transactions are complex. They might involve arbitrage, sandwich attacks, or liquidations. They often bundle multiple actions into a single transaction, all carefully ordered for maximum profit.
While efficient for the sender, they still hit the chain with high computation demands.
If you’re just an average user, you may never knowingly interact with Flashbots. But you will feel the effects—like sudden gas price spikes or front-running. Some wallets now support Flashbots protection to hide your transactions from the public mempool.
Use these if you’re trading during volatile times.
For advanced builders, Flashbots is a playground. But keep your strategies lean. Bundling too many complex operations can lead to failed execution and wasted gas.
Flashbots brings power—but with power comes gas responsibility. Whether you’re using it or just trying to avoid it, understanding how it works can save you ETH.
21. Aztec zk-rollup bridging contracts consume 0.1–0.3% of gas during high use
Aztec is a privacy-focused rollup that uses zero-knowledge proofs to encrypt Ethereum transactions.
When users bridge assets into Aztec or interact with its contracts, gas usage can spike—consuming up to 0.3% of Ethereum’s daily gas during busy periods.
What makes Aztec unique also makes it more gas-intensive. Zero-knowledge proofs are computationally complex. Bridging to Aztec involves cryptographic commitments, shielded transactions, and often complex multi-step processes—all on-chain.
For privacy-focused users, Aztec offers strong anonymity benefits.
But bridging requires planning. Try to bridge when gas is low, and make sure your wallet can handle longer transaction confirmation times due to proof generation.
For developers, privacy is becoming a must-have feature. If you’re integrating Aztec or other zk-based tools, educate your users about the higher gas cost—and the value they’re getting in return.
Also, explore batching transactions into a single proof to cut down on gas per action.
Privacy on Ethereum isn’t free. But Aztec makes it possible—and even efficient—if you know how to use it right.
22. Liquity protocol operations average around 0.2% of daily gas use
Liquity offers interest-free borrowing against ETH. It’s an innovative system, but it comes with complex mechanics. Vault creation, redemptions, and stability pool interactions all add up to roughly 0.2% of Ethereum’s daily gas usage.
Liquity’s model is different. It uses a system of “troves” for collateral and a stability pool to maintain peg.
Each action, like creating a trove or redeeming LUSD, involves smart contract logic that checks multiple system-wide parameters, which drives up gas use.
If you’re a user, Liquity can be a powerful way to access liquidity without paying interest. But understand the trade-offs. Creating or managing a trove during peak gas times could eat into your benefits.
Use Liquity frontends like Chicken Bonds or Liquity App that offer real-time gas estimations and batch certain steps.
Developers can optimize frontends by suggesting when to adjust troves based on both price volatility and gas trends. Also consider caching oracle data if you’re displaying price feeds.
Liquity is smart debt, but to use it wisely, you’ve got to manage the cost of getting in and out of it.
23. Balancer LP activity uses around 0.4% of Ethereum gas
Balancer is more than just a DEX—it’s a customizable liquidity protocol. Users can create pools with multiple tokens and variable weights. But that flexibility requires complex calculations—and gas.
Balancer interactions, especially around liquidity provision (LPing), account for around 0.4% of Ethereum’s gas daily.
Balancer pools calculate values like token ratios, swap fees, and portfolio weights dynamically. This makes each transaction more resource-intensive than a standard Uniswap swap.
Also, adding or removing liquidity touches multiple tokens and rebalances them, increasing gas use.
If you’re a user providing liquidity, check your transaction steps. Approvals, deposits, and staking can often be combined or optimized. Also, Balancer now offers Smart Pools—some of which are more gas-efficient depending on configuration.
For app builders, avoid auto-compounding rewards on-chain unless absolutely needed. Move parts of the logic off-chain and prompt users to batch interactions when they manually engage.
Balancer lets you be your own index fund. But managing that fund smartly means keeping gas in check.
24. NFT staking and claim contracts often consume 0.3–0.6% gas
As NFTs have evolved, staking and reward systems have become more popular.
Whether it’s earning tokens, leveling up NFTs, or claiming new items—these staking systems now account for 0.3% to 0.6% of Ethereum gas use on average.
Each staking or claim involves logic: verifying ownership, checking conditions, updating metadata, or minting new assets. These processes are often executed on-chain, especially in gamified projects or NFT ecosystems that lean into DeFi mechanics.
For users, avoid claiming small rewards too often. Gas will eat your gains. Wait until your reward grows, or stake long-term for fewer transactions.
For creators, structure rewards with gas in mind. Let users compound or defer claims. Also consider using gas-optimized standards like ERC-721A or L2-compatible staking platforms that dramatically cut gas for users.
NFTs aren’t just static art anymore. But if you want to build interactive utility into them, keep the gas impact front and center.
25. Optimism bridge usage contributes to around 0.4% of Ethereum gas
Optimism, like Arbitrum, helps users enjoy faster, cheaper Ethereum transactions.
But when you move assets to or from Optimism, you must go through Ethereum’s L1 bridge. These bridges now make up around 0.4% of daily gas usage.
Depositing into Optimism is usually straightforward. Withdrawing, though, often involves a delay and a gas-heavy transaction to finalize the proof.
The bridging contracts themselves are quite robust—handling fraud proofs and exit security, which adds to their size and gas cost.
If you’re bridging assets, use tools like Hop or LayerSwap to reduce costs. Or plan your withdrawals during low congestion. Also, don’t bridge tiny amounts unless it’s essential—the gas might outweigh the value.
Developers can help users by integrating multi-bridge tools and tracking gas fees in the app experience. If you’re routing through Optimism, explain the bridge timing clearly so users don’t make costly errors.
Optimism is efficient—once you’re on it. Just make sure the trip there doesn’t burn your budget.
26. GnosisDAO governance-related transactions use around 0.2% of gas
GnosisDAO is a major player in on-chain governance. It powers decision-making for the Gnosis ecosystem, including the Gnosis Chain and Safe multisig platform.
Voting, proposal creation, and execution of DAO decisions on-chain collectively use about 0.2% of Ethereum’s gas.
On-chain governance is powerful, but it’s not cheap. Every vote or proposal involves smart contracts validating eligibility, logging inputs, and sometimes triggering multi-step execution logic.
This adds up fast, especially when community participation is high.
If you’re a DAO participant, batch your votes if the UI supports it. Don’t wait until the last block to vote—gas spikes at the end of voting periods. Use Snapshot voting if available, since it’s off-chain and synced on-chain only when needed.
If you’re building governance systems, let users delegate voting or batch votes. Reduce execution frequency where possible. Some DAOs execute proposals in waves to avoid gas spikes.
GnosisDAO is a model of decentralized control—but running democracy on-chain has a real gas price. Use it wisely.
27. Aave protocol interactions account for over 1% of daily gas
Aave is one of the largest lending protocols in DeFi. It supports complex lending, borrowing, staking, and liquidation mechanics. All of this activity consistently burns over 1% of Ethereum’s daily gas.
Each action on Aave involves checking balances, updating interest rates, managing collateral positions, and sometimes liquidating loans. This means even simple actions like borrowing can hit your wallet with a noticeable gas fee.
Users can save by avoiding frequent small changes. Instead of topping up collateral daily, do it weekly. Also, if you’re borrowing stablecoins, monitor utilization rates—during high demand, you might not only pay more interest, but also higher gas.
Builders should minimize interactions with Aave contracts. Use view functions where possible. And use transaction simulators to avoid failed transactions that still cost gas.
Aave gives you power over your assets—but managing that power means managing your gas use.
28. dYdX interactions on L1 Ethereum (before full L2 migration) used up to 0.5% gas
Before dYdX fully moved to its own Layer 2, it was one of the top gas consumers on Ethereum L1. At its peak, it used up to 0.5% of Ethereum gas due to leveraged trading, liquidations, and funding updates.
Every trade on dYdX involved multiple steps: margin calculations, collateral adjustments, and off-chain order matching confirmation. This made trading efficient—but settlement expensive.
Now, dYdX is mostly off L1, but this stat remains a lesson: Layer 1 trading is not ideal for high-frequency or leveraged products.
Users still trading on L1 platforms should consider switching to L2 or dedicated rollups. The gas savings and performance improvements are significant.
For DeFi builders, follow dYdX’s model: shift complex interactions off-chain when possible, and only verify the final outcome on-chain.
Trading at scale on Ethereum L1 is a thing of the past. The future is off-chain speed and on-chain security.
29. Token approval/reset transactions across DEXs can cumulatively consume over 3% of gas
Here’s the silent killer: approvals. Whenever you use a DEX or DeFi app, you’re prompted to approve a token transfer. And then maybe again… and again. These approvals (and resets) collectively burn more than 3% of Ethereum gas every day.
Why so much? Because they’re everywhere. People approve tokens multiple times, often not realizing they can set infinite or long-term allowances. Some DEXs even require resetting approvals, doubling the cost.
If you’re a user, always check if you’ve already approved a token. Wallets like MetaMask show this. Also, consider setting infinite approvals if you trust the app, so you don’t repeat the step every time.
Builders should reduce the need for approvals. Use token standards like ERC-2612 (permit) to let users sign off-chain and save gas. Or prompt users only when necessary—not every time they interact.
Gas is expensive enough. Let’s stop wasting it on repeated approvals.
30. Wrapped ETH (WETH) deposit and withdrawal operations consume over 1.2% of network gas
Wrapping ETH into WETH is a basic step in DeFi. Since ETH isn’t an ERC-20 token, it needs to be “wrapped” to interact with most DeFi apps. But these deposit and withdrawal steps consume over 1.2% of Ethereum’s daily gas.
Each wrap or unwrap is a smart contract call. It seems small, but it’s repeated across thousands of users every day—especially in trading-heavy periods.
If you’re active in DeFi, consider wrapping ETH in advance in larger chunks, rather than doing it for each trade. Unwrapping only when needed also reduces your total gas spent.
Builders can help by auto-detecting WETH balances and displaying them as ETH when possible. This reduces confusion and prevents unnecessary wraps.
WETH is here to stay—but if we all get smarter about how we use it, we can save millions in gas over time.
wrapping it up
Gas is the fuel that powers Ethereum, but it’s also one of its biggest bottlenecks. As we’ve seen, everything from token swaps to NFT drops, from staking to simple approvals, adds up fast.
The most popular protocols—Uniswap, USDC, OpenSea, Aave, and others—are also the biggest gas guzzlers. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless.
