The network fees in crypto are driving me crazy!

Have you ever found yourself sending a few miserable satoshis and ending up paying more in fees than what you’re sending? It happens to me all the time. And the worst part is that these fees change like my ex's mood - one day they’re fine and the next they're through the roof!

Network fees are that invisible tax that we are charged for every transaction. They say they are meant to "incentivize" miners and validators who keep the network secure. But who incentivizes my wallet when I have to pay 50 dollars to move my tokens?

When you send crypto, your transaction goes to the famous "mempool" - basically a digital waiting room where your operation can stay for hours if you don't pay enough. It's like those restaurants where if you don't give a generous tip, you get served last.

What are these fees really for?

• Avoid spam - They say it prevents attacks, but I think it also keeps regular people from using the networks when they are overloaded.
• Pay the miners - They earn fortunes while we pay absurd fees
• Maintain "decentralization" - But do whales pay the same as us little fish, is that fair?

The circus of commissions

In Bitcoin, you pay based on the size of your transaction, not how much you send. How crazy! You can send 1 million dollars or 10 dollars and the fee could be the same. In Ethereum with its gas system, it's even worse - you try to do something with a smart contract and they charge you as if you were buying an apartment.

During congestion, things get ugly. I've seen people pay hundreds of dollars just to approve a token. And don't even get me started on when some pixelated monkey NFT becomes trendy and crashes the entire network!

Networks That Don't Drain You

Fortunately, there are alternatives that don't cost you an arm and a leg:

• Nano (XNO): No fees. Yes, you read that right. ZERO. Why isn't it more popular? Ask those who control the market.
• Stellar (XLM): Ridiculous fees of 0.00001 XLM. Almost free.
• Solana (SOL): Despite its occasional drops, the fees are very low.
• Dogecoin (DOGE): A meme coin with more reasonable fees than Bitcoin. Ironic, isn't it?

Meanwhile, in the major exchanges that we all know ( but do not name), they continue to charge you abusive fees for withdrawing your funds.

The next time you complain about traditional banks, remember that sending crypto can be just as expensive or even more. Long live the financial revolution! (Note the sarcasm).

If you want to survive in this world, learn to operate when the network is calm or look for alternatives with lower fees. Your wallet will thank you.