Cryptocurrency transactions are popular ways of transferring assets between wallets and exchanges. However, transaction fees can vary significantly across different cryptocurrencies and networks. So, everybody is looking for cheap transactions. Let’s learn about the cheapest crypto to send and the most affordable networks.
What Are The Fees For Crypto Transactions?
Crypto transaction fees are charges that users pay for each transaction. These fees are used to process and validate transactions on a blockchain network.
Transaction fees are also used to compensate miners or validators for their work in securing the network and confirming transactions.
Factors influencing transaction fees include network congestion, transaction size, and the specific blockchain protocol used. So, how can a transaction become cheap?
What Makes a Crypto Transaction Cheap?
Several factors can lower crypto transaction fees:
- Network Efficiency: Blockchains with efficient consensus mechanisms and high throughput can process more transactions per second, so they charge lower fees.
- Low Network Congestion: Networks with less congestion face lower demand for transaction processing, which reduces fees.
- Optimized Protocols: Some cryptocurrencies are designed to minimize fees, so they are made with technologies that reduce the computational resources required for transactions.
So, if you are looking for the cheapest way to send cryptocurrencies, consider the following factors.
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What Is the Cheapest Way of Sending Crypto?
To minimize transaction costs when sending crypto assets:
- Choose low-fee cryptocurrencies, especially for frequent or large transfers.
- Select blockchain networks known for their efficiency and low congestion to ensure lower fees.
- Initiate transactions during periods of low network activity to benefit from reduced fees.
Another way to reduce transaction costs is to find cheap networks, i.e., platforms that charge lower fees than similar blockchains.
The Cheapest Network to Send Crypto
Networks like Nano, Stellar, and Ripple contain minimal transaction fees as they are designed to handle high transaction volumes efficiently, reducing costs.
There are also cryptocurrencies that contain lower transaction fees than other digital assets. Let’s check out the cheapest crypto to send to wallets and exchanges.
Top 10 Cryptos with the Lowest Fees
The table below summarizes the top 10 cryptos with the lowest transaction fees. It also shows their confirmation time (the time it takes for the transaction to be finalized) and the most common use cases.
| Cryptocurrency | Average Transaction Fee | Confirmation Time | Use Case |
| Nano (NANO) | $0.00 | ~0.5 seconds | Everyday transactions |
| Ripple (XRP) | $0.00 | ~4 seconds | Fast, global financial transactions |
| Stellar (XLM) | $0.00001 | ~5 seconds | Cross-border payments |
| IOTA (MIOTA) | $0.00 | ~10 seconds | Internet of Things (IoT) transactions |
| EOS (EOS) | $0.00 | ~0.5 seconds | Decentralized applications (dApps) |
| Tron (TRX) | $0.00 | ~3 seconds | Content sharing and entertainment |
| Dash (DASH) | $0.00 | A few seconds (InstantSend) | Everyday purchases, secure transfers |
| Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | $0.00 | ~10 minutes | Peer-to-peer payments, larger transfers |
| Litecoin (LTC) | $0.03–$0.04 | ~2.5 minutes | Everyday transactions |
| Monero (XMR) | $0.07 | ~20 minutes | Confidential financial transfers |
Note: Transaction fees and confirmation times are approximate and vary based on network conditions.
Let’s learn more about each of the tokens on the list of the cheapest crypto to send.
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Nano (NANO): Feeless and Instant Transactions
Nano is a digital currency designed for feeless, instant transactions. Unlike traditional blockchain networks, Nano uses a unique block-lattice architecture, where each account has its own blockchain.
This structure speeds up transaction confirmations without the need for miners, which means lower energy consumption and lower fees.
Nano is used for microtransactions and peer-to-peer payments, as its zero-fee structure eliminates the costs of small transactions.
It is also environmentally friendly, as its consensus mechanism, Open Representative Voting (ORV), increases efficiency with minimal energy consumption.
Due to its fast confirmation (under a second) and no transaction fees, Nano has been commonly used for everyday payments, tipping services, and cross-border transfers.
Ripple (XRP): High-Speed, Low-Cost Cross-Border Payments
Ripple (XRP) is a real-time gross settlement system, remittance network, and currency exchange created by Ripple Labs.
It facilitates international payments with near-instant speed and low costs. XRP has one the fastest transactions that settle in just 3–5 seconds.
XRP is mainly used by banks and financial institutions, as it provides a more efficient alternative to SWIFT, the traditional system for international transactions.
The average transaction fee is nearly zero ($0.0002–$0.001), making it significantly cheaper than Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Also, Ripple’s consensus mechanism, which does not rely on mining, enables scalable and energy-efficient transactions. However, due to regulatory scrutiny, it’s not as widely adopted as it should be.
Stellar (XLM): Affordable and Fast International Transfers
Stellar (XLM), originally developed as a fork of Ripple, is a decentralized blockchain network that enables fast, low-cost international transactions.
Stellar aims to facilitate financial inclusion by connecting banks, payment systems, and individuals. With fees as low as $0.00001 per transaction, it is one of the cheapest cryptos to send.
The Stellar network allows international payments and asset tokenization. Its decentralized exchange (DEX) allows businesses and developers to trade digital assets easily.
Many companies, including IBM, have partnered with Stellar to improve international remittances. The network’s efficiency and affordability make it a good alternative to traditional banking systems.
IOTA (MIOTA): Feeless Transactions for IoT Applications
IOTA is a unique cryptocurrency designed for the Internet of Things (IoT). Instead of a traditional blockchain, it uses Tangle, a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure that allows transactions to be confirmed without mining fees.
This feeless structure makes IOTA one of the best options for microtransactions.
It is especially useful for machine-to-machine transactions, enabling seamless data transfers and payments between IoT devices.
Companies in the automotive, smart cities, and supply chain sectors are using IOTA for secure, scalable, and low-cost transactions.
However, while its technology is innovative, it hasn’t been widely adopted due to security concerns and network upgrades.
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EOS (EOS): Zero-Fee Transactions for dApps
EOS is a blockchain platform that supports decentralized applications (dApps) with zero transaction fees and fast processing.
Unlike most blockchain networks, EOS uses a Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism. This mechanism allows transactions to be confirmed in less than a second without requiring users to pay gas fees.
This feeless model makes EOS an attractive choice for developers building scalable dApps. EOS is widely used for applications related to gaming, DeFi, and NFT marketplaces.
However, concerns around centralization (due to the limited number of block producers) have raised questions about its long-term viability as a fully decentralized network.
Tron (TRX): Feeless Transactions for Content Creators
Tron is a blockchain-based platform for decentralized entertainment and content sharing. It offers feeless transactions when users stake TRX, so it is one of the most cost-effective blockchain networks.
The average transaction fee is often $0 or near-zero due to its efficient energy model. Tron’s ecosystem is popular among content creators, video streaming platforms, and gaming applications.
By eliminating middlemen like YouTube or Apple, Tron allows creators to monetize their content directly using smart contracts.
Its high transaction throughput (over 2,000 transactions per second) makes it an efficient alternative to Ethereum.
Dash (DASH): InstantSend and Low-Fee Payments
Dash was designed to be a faster and cheaper alternative to Bitcoin, focusing on real-world usability for payments.
With its InstantSend feature, transactions are confirmed in under 2 seconds, making it one of the fastest cryptocurrencies for everyday purchases.
The average transaction fee is nearly zero ($0.0005–$0.01), making it more cost-effective than Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Dash’s PrivateSend feature increases transaction privacy, which is why it is widely used for merchant payments, remittances, and fast financial transfers.
Dash has also gained traction in Latin America and other regions where traditional banking infrastructure is limited.
Bitcoin Cash (BCH): Lower Fees than Bitcoin
Bitcoin Cash is a fork of Bitcoin that offers lower transaction fees and faster confirmations. By increasing the block size limit, Bitcoin Cash can process more transactions per second, reducing congestion and fees.
Its average transaction fee ranges from $0.01 to $0.05, much lower than Bitcoin’s high fees. Bitcoin Cash is used for peer-to-peer transactions, merchant payments, and remittances.
Many businesses use BCH because it contains lower fees and quicker settlement than Bitcoin. However, there are concerns about its long-term scalability and security.
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Litecoin (LTC): A Faster and Cheaper Bitcoin Alternative
Litecoin, aka silver to Bitcoin’s gold, offers lower transaction fees and faster block times. With an average fee of $0.03–$0.04, it is significantly cheaper than Bitcoin.
Litecoin transactions settle in about 2.5 minutes, making it efficient for everyday payments. It has been used for retail purchases, payment gateways, and cross-border transfers.
Litecoin has also integrated the Lightning Network, which provides even faster and cheaper off-chain transactions. Because of its similarity to Bitcoin, many investors and merchants view Litecoin as a reliable and cost-effective alternative.
Monero (XMR): Private Transactions at Low Cost
Monero is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that provides confidential and untraceable transactions.
Although Monero’s transaction fees are slightly higher than the fees of other low-cost cryptos ($0.07 on average), it is still one of the best choices for users seeking anonymity.
Unlike Bitcoin, Monero transactions are completely private, making it difficult for third parties to track sender and receiver details. This feature has made it popular in sectors where financial privacy is a priority.
However, Monero faces regulatory scrutiny due to concerns about its use in illicit activities.
Anyhow, if you are not using the cheapest crypto to send listed above, you need to learn the ways to save on crypto transaction fees. Here are some of the most common methods.
How to Save on Crypto Transaction Fees?
To reduce crypto transaction fees:
- Use low-fee alternatives.
- Choose blockchain networks with high throughput and low congestion.
- Start transactions when the network activity is low.
- Use Layer 2 scaling solutions, such as the Lightning Network for Bitcoin.
Although using the cheapest crypto to send is a good way to reduce transaction costs, you need to consider the challenges that low-fee cryptos may involve.
The Challenges of Using Low-Fee Cryptos
While low-fee cryptocurrencies are cost-effective, they may include the following challenges:
- Limited acceptance and integration across exchanges and merchants can limit usability.
- Some low-fee networks may face scalability challenges when transaction volumes are high.
- To reduce the fees, some networks compromise on features like smart contract capabilities or security measures.
Conclusion
Selecting the cheapest crypto to send is a good way to cut back on transaction costs, especially for frequent transactions. Although low-fee cryptocurrencies help reduce costs, you need to consider the challenges involved to avoid security issues or unwanted consequences.
