Technical Definition
Network Congestion
Network congestion occurs when more transactions are waiting to be processed than the blockchain can handle immediately.
By Crypto University Editorial
ConfirmationMempoolGas Fee
✦ Key Insight
Congestion increases transaction costs and confirmation times.
✕ Common Misconceptions
Paying unnecessary high fees.
Assuming the blockchain is broken.
Detailed Explanation
How It Works
Validators prioritize transactions offering higher fees.
In Practice
“NFT launches often cause Ethereum congestion.”
Dig Deeper
Gas Fee
A gas fee is the cost paid to process a transaction or execute a smart contract action on a blockchain. It is the fee users pay to the network so their transaction can be included and confirmed.
Confirmation
A confirmation occurs when a blockchain includes a transaction in a validated block.
Mempool
The mempool is a temporary waiting area where pending blockchain transactions remain before being confirmed.