Fee Notices Before You Treat Failure as Proof
A network-cost notice explains what was attempted; it does not prove the wider claim.
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What gas is paying for
Ethereum explains gas as the unit of computational effort required to execute operations. You pay for the work performed even when the transaction ultimately fails.
- Base fee is protocol-defined and required for validity.
- Priority fee is the incentive for inclusion speed.
- Gas limit is the maximum work you are allowing the transaction to consume.
Source note
Common failure patterns
On swap interfaces, failures commonly come from quote limits, insufficient native-token balance for network cost, expired deadlines, and unsupported token mechanics.
- Keep enough ETH for network cost on the chain you are using.
- If gas is set too low, the transaction may stall or expire.
- A token with unusual fee or rebase logic may fail even when the interface looks normal.
Source note
Red flags
The fee model is predictable enough that surprises usually mean the operator skipped a check.
- No native-token balance left after funding the swap amount.
- Changing quote controls when the real issue is token behavior or route quality.
- Confusing a successful approval transaction with a completed swap.
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How to use this guide
Check the source before you respond or connect.
Compare the source you plan to use against this briefing. Confirm it independently, and stop if the public record does not match the message.
Primary sources