A record-breaking surge in Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) gas fees has sent shockwaves through the crypto community. With Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) gas fees reaching an all-time high, one can’t help but ask: What’s driving this surge? Is the ongoing Ordinals frenzy the only factor, or are there more pieces to this puzzle? And more importantly, what does this mean for the future of the blockchain ecosystem?

The Surge in Numbers

The recent surge in Ethereum gas fees has been nothing short of extraordinary, with certain high-priority transactions crossing the $200 mark. Users have shared screenshots showing gas fees as high as $220 for a high-priority transaction on Ethereum. This is a significant jump, especially when you consider that the average Bitcoin transaction cost has been around $1 over the last three months.

Source – Dune Analytics

The recent spike in Ethereum gas fees is largely due to the increased demand for Ethereum transactions, particularly those related to the Ordinals phenomenon. As more users engage with this trend, the demand for computational resources on the Ethereum network rises, leading to higher gas fees.

Over the weekend, inscriptions on Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains skyrocketed, causing a spike in gas fees. On Dec. 16, gas spent on inscriptions surged to a record high of $8.3 million. The Avalanche network saw the most gas spent, with more than $5.6 million on that day alone. Arbitrum One was second, with $2.1 million spent on gas for inscriptions. Over the past 24 hours, 58% of network gas fees on Avalanche and 48% of zkSync Era’s gas fees were spent on EVM inscriptions. BNB Chain has seen 73% of its transactions over the past 24 hours dedicated to inscriptions.

The Ordinals Craze

The Ordinals phenomenon, a recent innovation in the crypto world, has been a significant factor behind the surge in EVM gas fees. Ordinals, also known as Bitcoin NFTs or digital artefacts, are a way to inscribe digital content on the Bitcoin blockchain. This protocol, launched in January 2023 by Casey Rodarmor, allows the inscription of digital content like art onto the Bitcoin blockchain.

The Ordinals protocol is based on ordinal theory, which gives individual identities to satoshis (the smallest unit of Bitcoin), allowing them to be tracked, transferred, and imbued with meaning. This has led to a new form of digital collectables that can be transacted on the Bitcoin network. The rise of Bitcoin ordinals has seen the Bitcoin network explode in terms of usage, fees, and storage space.

As more users engage with the Ordinals phenomenon, the demand for computational resources on the Ethereum network rises, leading to higher gas fees. This increased demand, coupled with the limited supply of computational resources, has resulted in a significant increase in transaction costs.

The Impact 

The impact of the Ordinals craze on the Ethereum network has been substantial. The increased demand for EVM gas, driven by the growing popularity of Ordinals, has led to a sharp rise in transaction costs. This has implications for both users and developers in the Ethereum ecosystem.

For users, the increased transaction costs can make it more expensive to interact with smart contracts on the Ethereum network. This could potentially limit the accessibility of Ethereum-based applications for some users, particularly those who are new to the crypto space or those who are operating on a smaller budget.

For developers, the increased gas fees can pose challenges in terms of optimizing smart contracts to reduce gas consumption. This could potentially impact the development and deployment of new applications on the Ethereum network.

The Scalability Debate

The recent surge in Ethereum gas fees has reignited the debate around scalability solutions and the role of layer 2s. Layer 2s are secondary blockchains built on top of the primary Ethereum blockchain. They handle some of the transaction load, reducing congestion and significantly lowering gas fees for users. This is particularly important as Ethereum’s current capacity limitations have led to high transaction costs.

However, this surge in gas fees has also raised concerns about the inclusivity of blockchain technology. Critics argue that these high fees could potentially alienate lower-income users. The cost of network fees is dynamic and is a product of demand or how congested the network is. An increase in on-chain activity often occurs in bull markets or when market sentiment is strong, but an added side effect is the impact on lower-income users.

The Role of Layer 2s

Layer 2s aims to address these issues by increasing transaction throughput (higher transactions per second) without sacrificing decentralization or security. When the demand to use Ethereum is high, the network becomes congested, which increases transaction fees and prices out users who cannot afford those fees. Layer 2s are solutions that reduce those fees by processing transactions of the layer-1 blockchain.

However, while layer 2s offer potential solutions, they are not without their challenges. The implementation of these solutions requires careful consideration to ensure they do not compromise the security or decentralization of the Ethereum network. As the crypto market continues to evolve, finding sustainable and inclusive solutions to these challenges will be a key focus for the community.

Looking Ahead

As we stand at the precipice of this new era in the crypto world, the challenges are as real as the opportunities. The surge in EVM gas fees, driven by the Ordinals phenomenon, has underscored the need for sustainable and scalable solutions. The crypto community is now tasked with finding a balance – a solution that not only addresses the scalability issues but also upholds the principles of inclusivity and accessibility. This is not just about technology; it’s about ensuring that the benefits of this technology are accessible to all. As we move forward, we must remember that this is a journey of continuous evolution. The growing pains we experience today are part of the process, reminding us that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. As we look to the future, one thing is clear: the crypto world is changing, and we are all part of this exciting journey.