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Average ETH Gas Price by Hour: A Comprehensive Overview
Understanding the average Ethereum gas price by hour is crucial for anyone looking to engage in decentralized finance (DeFi) or other Ethereum-based activities. The gas price on the Ethereum network is a measure of the cost to execute a transaction, and it can vary significantly throughout the day. In this article, we will delve into the factors that influence gas prices, how to interpret them, and provide you with a detailed breakdown of the average gas prices by hour.
What is Gas Price?
The gas price on Ethereum is essentially the cost per unit of gas required to execute a transaction. Gas is a unit of computational work on the Ethereum network, and each transaction consumes a certain amount of gas. The higher the gas price, the faster your transaction will be confirmed on the blockchain.
Factors Influencing Gas Prices
Several factors can influence the average ETH gas price by hour:
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Network congestion: When the network is busy, more users are trying to execute transactions, leading to higher gas prices.
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Transaction demand: High demand for transactions, especially during DeFi boom periods, can drive up gas prices.
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Smart contract activity: The more smart contracts being deployed or called, the higher the gas prices tend to be.
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Block size limit: The Ethereum network has a maximum block size limit, and when this limit is reached, transactions are queued, leading to higher gas prices.
How to Interpret Gas Prices
Gas prices are typically measured in Gwei, which is a subunit of Ethereum. Here’s how to interpret gas prices:
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1 Gwei = 1 billion Wei
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1 Gwei = 0.000000001 ETH
For example, a gas price of 50 Gwei means that each unit of gas costs 0.000000005 ETH. The higher the gas price, the more you will pay for each transaction.
Average ETH Gas Price by Hour
Below is a table showing the average ETH gas price by hour for the past 24 hours. The data is sourced from Etherscan, a popular Ethereum blockchain explorer.