Ethereum
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Founder Vitalik Buterin and developer Anders Elowsson have introduced a new proposal aimed at simplifying transaction fees on the network. Termed EIP-7999, this proposal seeks to merge Ethereum’s current multi-dimensional fee structure into a single comprehensive framework.
Innovative Proposal in Fee Model
With the new proposal, users would determine a single “maximum fee” for all transactions, eliminating the need to calculate fees separately for each action. The objective is to streamline the transaction process while minimizing the risk of errors by the users. The unified fee system will provide a common pricing structure for computing, storage, and data usage resources.
Inspired by previous initiatives such as EIP-7706 and gas normalization research, the new model aims to align user experience more closely with Ethereum’s protocol design. Buterin and his team believe that this approach will enhance the user experience and compatibility with Ethereum’s overall design.
Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin and developer Anders Elowsson stated, “EIP-7999 will introduce a unifying and simplifying approach to fees for different transaction resources.”
Fee Challenges and Past Developments
The high and unpredictable transaction fees on Ethereum have been a frequent issue in recent years. During peak periods, especially in 2017 and 2021, average transaction fees exceeded 50 USD. This elevated costs for users and caused delays in processing transactions.
Despite the transition to a base fee system with the 2021 EIP-1559 update, fee fluctuations couldn’t be entirely controlled during high traffic periods. The Dencun upgrade, implemented in March 2024, significantly lowered transaction costs by improving scalability and integrating layer-2 solutions.
These upgrades resulted in a 95% reduction in annual average transaction fees. However, Ethereum still led with the highest network fee revenue of 2.48 billion USD in 2024. Meanwhile, other networks like Tron and Solana
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are advancing in offering competitive transaction fee advantages.
Community Insights and Future Steps
The EIP-7999 proposal is currently under discussion by the community and technical teams. If approved, it is anticipated to make Ethereum’s transaction fees more user-friendly and efficient.
Vitalik Buterin stated, “The new fee structure, expected to enhance user experience and capital efficiency, could set Ethereum ahead of its competitors.”
Commentary highlights the importance of such innovations for maintaining Ethereum’s competitive edge. EIP-7999 is seen as a milestone in simplifying fee analysis and the transactional structure within the network.