Spiking transaction fees on both Ethereum and Bitcoin have reignited the scaling debate within crypto communities. Some Ethereum gas fees topped $200 recently, while Bitcoin users saw fees reach $10.
The spikes come after months of relatively low transaction costs on both networks. Now proponents of rival chains are highlighting their cheaper transactions, sparking renewed layer 1 vs. layer 2 scaling arguments.
Critics say high Ethereum and Bitcoin fees exclude lower-income users. Supporters argue layer 2 solutions like Lightning and Optimism reduce costs, prioritizing decentralization.
But layer 1 chains make the case for fast, inexpensive base layer transactions. For example, Solana processes more transactions for a fraction of Ethereum’s fees.
Yet Solana has experienced repeated outages from congestion, fueling Modular blockchain advocates. Ethereum’s sharding upgrade aims to help eventually.
For now, fees remain volatile as usage fluctuates. But the spikes have made scalability top of mind again for crypto developers and users alike searching for the right layer 1-layer 2 balance.
