Solana’s Transaction Fees Surpass Ethereum’s: A Shift in Network Dominance?

• Solana’s transaction fees overtook those of Ethereum early in 2025, indicating greater network utilization and possible changes in blockchain uptake.
• Ethereum maintains leadership in both DeFi and NFTs, but Solana’s increased fee activity indicates its increased traction in blockchain transactions.
• Despite recent price declines, Solana’s steady $3M+ per-week dominance shows continued competition with Ethereum for leadership in fees per transaction.

Ethereum and Solana continue battling it out over fees dominance, controlling network utilization and investor sentiment. Solana has had its rolling seven-day fees surpass those of Ethereum since January 9, data by Glassnode indicates. Solana lost fees dominance last month, but the week-on-week lead still sits over $3 million, showing very good relative performance against Ethereum.

Ethereum and Solana Transaction Fee Trends

Ethereum’s transaction fees have fluctuated significantly, including notable hikes during March 2024 and early 2025. The network has always had higher aggregate fees compared to Solana, showing steady network demand. DeFi transactions, as well as those for NFTs, remain prominent drivers of Ethereum’s high fees, keeping network utilization steady.  

Solana, on the other hand, has maintained relatively consistent fees with intermittent highs. While Solana fees remain below those of Ethereum, recent trends show greater utilization. A tipping point happened early in 2025, when Solana fees actually outstripped those of Ethereum, showing greater utilization and network load.

Shifts in Dominance Fees

The comparison of Solana vs. Ethereum fees indicates clear dominance time frames. Green bars below indicate Ethereum’s steady dominance over the course of most of 2024. Red bars visible near the beginning of 2025 indicate those time frames when Solana fees outstripped those of Ethereum. The shift indicates Solana gaining traction within the crypto community.

Despite the recent decline in Solana’s dominance, the continued premium over $3 million shows it has staying power. If Solana continues going up, it has the potential to threaten Ethereum’s historical dominance over fees.

Market Performance and Investor Sentiment

Solana (SOL) stood at $194.13, down by 2.32% over the last 24 hours, as well as by 2.24% over the last week. Ethereum (ETH) stood at $2,692.90, down by 0.80% over the last day but up by 2.04% over the last week.

The ongoing price volatility and fees per trade are indicative of shifting balance between the two chains. While Ethereum maintains dominance as the network platform of choice for both DeFi and NFTs, Solana’s dominance over fees indicates accelerating adoption. Investors and analysts will continue watching as these trends continue to mold the crypto sphere.