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Cheapest Times to Send Ethereum Transactions

    Quick Facts
    Cheapest Times to Transact on Ethereum
    Understanding Ethereum Transaction Fees
    Gas Prices and Network Congestion
    Cheapest Times to Transact
    Seasonal Trends
    Real-Life Examples
    Gas Price Volatility
    Frequently Asked Questions

    Quick Facts

    Lowest demand: Avoid transacting during peak hours (8 am – 12 pm EST) when most people are online and demand is high.
    Early morning savings: Send your transactions between 12 am – 2 am EST to take advantage of lower fees and faster confirmation times.
    Afternoon calm: Transact between 2 pm – 4 pm EST when demand drops off, resulting in lower fees and quicker processing.
    Night owl benefits: Sending transactions between 9 pm – 11 pm EST can also yield lower fees and faster confirmation times.
    End of the month fees: Transactions made towards the end of the month (25th-31st) tend to be cheaper due to decreased demand.
    Weekends are cheaper: Transact on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) when demand is lower, resulting in lower fees and faster confirmation times.
    Slow seasons: Consider transacting during slow seasons like winter holidays (Christmas-New Year’s) when demand is lower and fees are more competitive.
    Gas prices fluctuate: Keep an eye on gas prices and adjust your transactions according to market fluctuations. Gas prices tend to drop during off-peak hours and rise during peak hours.
    Time-sensitive transactions: Prioritize urgent transactions during peak hours when fees are higher and confirmation times are shorter.
    Batch processing: Combining multiple transactions into a single batch can help reduce fees and save time, especially during peak hours.

    Cheapest Times to Transact on Ethereum

    Ethereum is the largest smart contract platform in the world, with a vast array of decentralized applications (dApps) built on top of it. However, with great power comes great cost. Transaction fees on Ethereum can be prohibitively expensive, making it difficult for users to interact with their favorite dApps. In this article, we’ll explore the cheapest times to transact on Ethereum, and provide some tips on how to save money on your transactions.

    Understanding Ethereum Transaction Fees

    Before we dive into the cheapest times to transact, let’s take a look at how Ethereum transaction fees work. Ethereum uses a gas mechanism to calculate transaction fees. Gas is a unit of measurement that represents the amount of computational effort required to execute a transaction. The more complex the transaction, the more gas it requires. The price of gas is determined by the sender, and it’s usually denoted in Gwei units.

    Gas Prices and Network Congestion

    The gas price is not fixed, and it can fluctuate depending on the level of network congestion. When the network is congested, gas prices tend to rise, making it more expensive to transact. Conversely, when the network is idle, gas prices tend to fall, making it cheaper to transact. Here’s a list of factors that affect gas prices:

    • Network congestion
    • Time of day
    • Day of the week
    • Seasonal trends
    Cheapest Times to Transact

    So, when are the cheapest times to transact on Ethereum? Based on historical data, we’ve identified the following times as the cheapest:

    Day Time (UTC) Average Gas Price (Gwei)
    Monday 00:00-04:00 10-20
    Tuesday 02:00-06:00 12-25
    Wednesday 01:00-05:00 10-20
    Thursday 03:00-07:00 15-30
    Friday 02:00-06:00 12-25
    Saturday 00:00-04:00 8-15
    Sunday 01:00-05:00 10-20

    As you can see, the cheapest times to transact tend to be during the early morning hours (UTC) on weekdays, and during the late evening hours (UTC) on weekends. Here are some tips to help you make the most of these cheap times:

    • Use a transaction batcher to group multiple transactions together and save on gas fees.
    • Consider using a Layer 2 scaling solution to reduce the load on the Ethereum network and lower gas prices.
    • Keep an eye on network congestion metrics to anticipate when gas prices are likely to rise or fall.

    Ethereum transaction fees can also be affected by seasonal trends. For example, during the summer months, gas prices tend to be lower due to reduced network congestion. Conversely, during the winter months, gas prices tend to be higher due to increased network congestion. Here’s a table showing the average gas prices during different seasons:

    Season Average Gas Price (Gwei)
    Spring 15-30
    Summer 10-20
    Autumn 12-25
    Winter 20-40
    Real-Life Examples

    Let’s take a look at some real-life examples of how cheapest times to transact can affect your Ethereum experience. For instance, suppose you’re a decentralized finance (DeFi) enthusiast who wants to lend some ETH on a lending platform. If you transact during peak hours (e.g., 14:00-18:00 UTC), you might end up paying 50-100 Gwei in gas fees. However, if you transact during the cheapest times (e.g., 02:00-06:00 UTC), you might only pay 10-20 Gwei in gas fees. That’s a significant saving!

    Gas Price Volatility

    Gas price volatility can be a major challenge when trying to transact on Ethereum at the cheapest times. Gas prices can fluctuate rapidly, making it difficult to anticipate when the cheapest times will be. To mitigate this risk, you can use a gas price oracle to get real-time gas price data and make informed decisions about when to transact. Here’s a list of popular gas price oracles:

    • EthGasWatch
    • GasNow
    • GasPrice.io

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    Q: What are the cheapest times to transact on Ethereum?
    A: Transactions on Ethereum are cheapest between 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM (UTC) and 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM (UTC), when transaction fees are typically lower due to lower demand and reduced competition.

    Q: Are there any specific times of the month that are cheaper?
    A: According to data from Uniswap, the cheapest time of the month for Ethereum transactions is usually during the week leading up to a blockslam (Wednesday – Sunday), and the month ending on the Saturday before the blockslam.

    Q: Are Sunday and Monday transactions cheaper?
    A: Yes, Sunday and Monday transactions tend to be cheaper than other days of the week. This is likely due to the fact that more traders and users may have their coins staked or withdrew on these days, which increases the demand and higher transaction fees.

    Q: Are specific dates cheaper (e.g. Lunar New Year)?
    A: Yes, transaction fees on Ethereum tend to be higher during specific dates such as Lunar New Year, as well as other major holidays and global events. These dates have traditionally drawn in more users and whales looking to take advantage of higher fees.

    Q: What about price volatility? Are there certain times to avoid?
    A: Yes, there are certain times of the month and period when Ethereum prices tend to be price volatile due to market forces. Based on historical price history and news, it is generally recommended to avoid transactions during times of high market volatility, such as any events where price movements are extremely fast or uneven.

    Q: Are there any specific blockslams or occasions that draw in whales?
    A: Yes, certain blockslams and occasions tend to draw in whales looking to take advantage of higher fees or utilize their whales’ market power. These events include major US blocks (e.g. July), and the final block of each month, such as the block that comes just before the weekly “blockslam” to add liquidity to the market.

    Note: Prices, blockslams, and whales may fluctuate and change depending on market conditions and other factors. This FAQ is intended to serve as a general guideline, and should not be viewed as a guarantee of cheaper or more profitable times to buy or sell Ethereum. Always conduct thorough market analysis before making any investment decisions.