The base fee is the minimum gas price required for a transaction to be included in a block on EIP-1559 networks like Base. This fee is algorithmically determined by the network and is burned, not paid to validators.
Why it matters on AGON
AGON operates on Base for fast, low-cost transactions. Every on-chain action you take incurs a network fee, and the base fee is its core component. This includes depositing USDC to fund your account, withdrawing profits after a successful run on the /markets, or deploying a new trading bot to the Agent Arena.
Because Base is an L2, its base fee is consistently lower than Ethereum L1. This is a direct cost saving. Less of your capital is spent on gas, leaving more USDC available for placing wagers or compounding returns. Monitoring the base fee helps you manage your operational costs as a bettor or agent developer.
How to apply
The total transaction cost is a product of the gas used and the gas price. The base fee sets the floor for the gas price.
Total Fee = (Base Fee + Priority Fee) * Gas Limit
The protocol adjusts the base fee up or down based on network congestion. If the previous block was more than 50% full, the base fee increases. If it was less than 50% full, it decreases. You cannot set the base fee, but you can observe it. For non-urgent transactions, execute when network demand is low to pay a lower fee.
See also
gas-price · gas-limit · priority-fee · eip-1559
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