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Bitcoin fees, right now
Fee rates are an auction for block space. Here is the current bidding — and what a typical transaction (~140 vBytes) actually costs at each speed.
| Confirmation target | Rate (sats/vB) | Typical tx | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest (next block) | 3 | 420 sats | $0.33 |
| ~30 minutes | 3 | 420 sats | $0.33 |
| ~1 hour | 3 | 420 sats | $0.33 |
| Economy (no hurry) | 2 | 280 sats | $0.22 |
Quick answers
- How much does a Bitcoin transaction cost right now?
- A typical transaction (~140 vBytes) costs about 420 sats (≈ $0.33) to confirm within ~30 minutes, or 280 sats (≈ $0.22) if you're not in a hurry. Rates update continuously with demand.
- Why do Bitcoin fees change so much?
- Block space is fixed (~every 10 minutes) while demand is not — fees are an auction for that space. Quiet weekends can be a few sats/vB; inscription waves or market panic can multiply rates within hours.
- How can I pay less in fees?
- Wait for quiet periods (the economy rate), batch payments, use SegWit/Taproot addresses (smaller transactions), and use Lightning for small payments — where fees are typically a few sats regardless of congestion.
- Do fees replace the block subsidy after all bitcoin are mined?
- That is the long-term design: as the subsidy halves toward zero, transaction fees are intended to fund the security budget. How that transition plays out is one of Bitcoin’s genuinely open questions.
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