Base Fee
Protocol
Protocol set minimum gas price per unit under EIP 1559.
The base fee is the minimum gas price per unit that the network requires for a transaction in the next block. The protocol changes it up or down based on recent demand. Users add a priority fee when they want faster inclusion. On EIP 1559 networks the base fee is burned, so it does not go to validators.
Frequently asked questions
Who sets the base fee?
The protocol updates it block by block based on how full recent blocks were. Users cannot set it directly.What is the priority fee?
It is a tip users add on top of the base fee to encourage faster inclusion by validators.Where does the base fee go?
It is burned on EIP 1559 networks, which permanently removes it from supply.