Crypto fees explained: what you actually pay

Crypto fees explained in plain language: network fees, priority fees, swap fees, and why the final cost can change.

If you’ve ever asked “Why is the fee different this time?”, you’re not alone. In crypto, “fees” can mean a few different things. Once you know which fee is which, it becomes much easier to predict the final cost before you confirm.

The main fee: network fee (gas)

The network fee is what you pay to the blockchain network to process your transaction. It’s not paid to MyTonWallet or the recipient. It goes to the network mechanism that includes your transaction in the blockchain.

Network fees can change because:

• The network load changes over time.

• Some transactions are more complex than others.

• You may need a “priority” level to get processed faster.

Priority fees: paying for speed (when applicable)

Some networks let you pay a bit more to confirm faster during congestion. That extra cost is still part of the network fee. You’re not “overpaying”, you’re paying for speed when the network is busy.

Swap fees: network fees plus swap costs

A swap usually includes more than one cost:

• The network fee to execute the swap transaction.

• A swap service cost (if the route uses pools, aggregators, or multiple steps).

• A price-related cost like slippage or price impact.

Service fees: when a platform charges extra

Sometimes you pay an additional fee because a service adds its own charge on top of the network fee. For example, an exchange, on-ramp, or merchant can include a service fee as part of their flow.

A simple way to estimate the total

Before confirming, try to separate the final cost into “buckets”.

• Network fee.

• Swap or service fee (if you’re swapping or using a third-party flow).

• The amount you’re sending.

Quick checklist before you confirm

• Confirm you are using the correct network (TON, TRON, Solana).

• Review the fee shown in the confirmation screen.

• If you are swapping, review the swap details and expected output.

• If you are paying a service, check whether they add a service fee.

Related articles

• What are blockchain transaction fees? Features of TON and TRON.

• What is a swap? How does it work?.

• How to calculate swap costs and fees?.

• How to make a transfer?.