Briefing
The Ethereum network has undergone a fundamental structural change, evidenced by the near-total collapse of its base layer transaction fee revenue. This is not a sign of network failure; it is the definitive, intended outcome of the Dencun upgrade, which successfully lowered the cost for Layer-2 rollups to settle data. The data confirms Ethereum’s strategy is shifting from a single, expensive execution layer to a modular ecosystem where rollups handle user activity and the base layer serves only as a cheap, secure settlement layer. This strategic pivot is quantified by the near-99% revenue collapse on the base chain since the upgrade.
Context
For months, the market has wondered if the Dencun upgrade truly solved Ethereum’s high transaction cost problem, or if the current low gas fees are simply a temporary result of reduced network demand. The core question is whether the network’s long-term “rollup-centric” vision is technically viable and if it can sustain low costs while maintaining security.
Analysis
The key metric is the Ethereum Average Gas Price, measured in Gwei, and the resulting Base Layer Fee Revenue. Gas represents the computational effort required for a transaction, and its price is determined by network demand. The Dencun upgrade introduced EIP-4844 (often called proto-danksharding), which created a new, temporary storage space called “blobs” specifically for Layer-2 data (calldata). This new space is significantly cheaper than the old method.
When Layer-2 rollups began using these cheap blobs, their settlement costs plummeted. This structural change caused the base layer’s average gas price to stabilize at historic lows, as the most expensive component of rollup transactions was drastically reduced. The pattern shows a dramatic, permanent step-down in base layer revenue, proving the Layer-2 solutions are now absorbing the majority of user transaction volume and value capture, while the base chain simply provides cheap, secure finality.
Parameters
- Average Gas Price ∞ 0.067 Gwei ∞ The new, post-Dencun average transaction cost for base layer activity, representing a record low.
- Base Layer Revenue Change ∞ Near-99% Collapse ∞ The reduction in fee income for Ethereum validators since the upgrade.
- Token Swap Cost ∞ Approximately $0.11 ∞ The practical, user-facing cost of a simple transaction on a Layer-2 rollup.
Outlook
This insight confirms that the future of Ethereum is modular, with the base layer functioning as a low-cost, high-security settlement engine. The value and user activity will continue to migrate and be captured by Layer-2 rollups, which can now offer near-zero transaction costs. Investors should view the base layer’s revenue collapse as a positive sign of successful scaling, not a negative sign of declining usage. The confirming signal to watch for is a continued, sustained rise in the total transaction volume and active addresses on major Layer-2 networks.
