Bitcoin Transaction Fees Plummet to Four-Year Low since COVID-19 Pandemic

As an experienced financial analyst, I’ve closely observed Bitcoin’s transaction fees and their impact on both traders and miners throughout my career. The recent drop in average transaction fees to their lowest level in four years is a significant development that warrants close attention.


As a researcher studying Bitcoin transactions, I’ve noticed an intriguing development: the average transaction fee has reached its lowest point in the past four years. Specifically, on July 7, this fee dropped to $38.69 – a figure reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic period in 2020.

As a crypto investor, I’ve witnessed firsthand how the COVID-19 pandemic fueled a massive influx of interest in Bitcoin as traditional markets became increasingly uncertain. Consequently, the number of Bitcoin transactions soared, causing a notable spike in transaction fees.

Over the past while, it’s been more expensive for users to complete their transactions promptly. But fortunately, this situation has improved in recent times, as transaction fees have decreased to just $38.69.

Factors Influencing Transaction Fees

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed that the cost of transacting on the Bitcoin network is influenced by two significant factors: miners’ earnings and the overall number of transactions being processed. Based on Ycharts data from July 7, a massive 673,752 transactions occurred on the Bitcoin network, with an impressive 89.7% involving Bitcoin itself. The high transaction volume played a crucial role in lowering the average transaction costs for us investors.

As a blockchain analyst, I’ve observed that approximately 11.2% of the remaining Bitcoin network bandwidth is being consumed by various protocols. Among these are Ordinals, accounting for about 0.7%, BRC-20 with a share of 4.1%, and Runes claiming 5.4%.

On July 7, Bitcoin miners earned a reward equal to approximately 1.14% of the overall transaction value in the Bitcoin network. This percentage is consistent with the average share they have received since the beginning of the year.

As a researcher studying the mining process in cryptocurrencies, I’ve observed that although lower average transaction costs may seem detrimental due to potential revenue reduction, miners actually derive benefits from it. Specifically, they gain from the reduced network difficulty, enabling them to complete transactions with less computational effort.

Implications for Traders and Miners

Bitcoin traders experience cost savings from lowered transaction fees, yet miners could encounter difficulties in navigating the present market turmoil.

Based on data from the latest analysis by CryptoQuant, a market intelligence firm, Bitcoin miners could be on the verge of surrender due to decreasing profits with Bitcoin’s price dipping into the $50,000 to $55,000 zone.

In unpredictable market situations, Bitcoin mining firms might decide to offload their profits or trim expenses to keep their businesses running smoothly.

As a crypto investor, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the latest developments in the market, and according to the analysts at CryptoQuant, there are some worrying signs of capitulation that have emerged over the past month. One of these indicators is the noticeable drop in Bitcoin’s hashrate – a measure of the computing power being used to mine new blocks on the Bitcoin network. This could suggest that miners are selling off their coins en masse, further increasing downward pressure on the price. It’s important for investors like us to stay informed about these trends and adjust our strategies accordingly.

Experts noted that the decrease in Bitcoin mining activity, representing a 7.7% drop in hash rate, reflects a level last seen in December 2022. This decline mirrors the aftermath of the FTX collapse. Historically, such significant drops in mining activity have signaled potential market bottoms.

Furthermore, CryptoQuant revealed that miners have been experiencing “significant undercompensation,” potentially leading to capitulation.

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2024-07-10 16:10