GAS FEES IN BLOCKCHAIN

Summary from the TLDR Crypto newsletter

Gas fees on blockchains compensate validators for their computational work and help prevent DDoS attacks. Fees vary based on blockchain activity, transaction complexity, and a user's willingness to pay. Ethereum's fees are higher due to its focus on decentralization and comparatively lower computational demands, leading to network congestion. In contrast, Solana's more powerful network (more centralized) allows for faster processing and lower fees. Gas fees are not retained by Ethereum's creators (e.g., Vitalik Buterin), they are used for validator rewards and partially burned, supporting the token's value.