Read EIP-1559 base fees, priority fees and platform charges separately before comparing Ethereum execution costs.
Read the Ethereum fee cap before the percentage
EIP-1559 separates the base fee from the priority fee. Compare the wallet’s maximum fee authorization with its estimate of actual cost. A bot’s trading percentage is a separate item: two products with equal platform fees can still produce different total outcomes because their routes and gas consumption differ.
| Cost layer | Check |
|---|---|
| Ethereum gas | Gas used multiplied by effective gas price; include approvals where required. |
| Platform charge | Gross percentage and any documented account-specific discount. |
| Pool costs | Venue fee and executable route, not just the pool name. |
| Token mechanics | Transfer taxes or restrictions if applicable. |
| Price impact | Expected output for this order size. |
Priority is not certainty
A priority fee can influence Ethereum inclusion incentives. It cannot force a contract to accept a trade or overcome insufficient liquidity. A maximum fee below the required base fee can leave a transaction waiting. Check the wallet’s pending-transaction explanation before replacing an order; do not turn repeated submission into an accidental series of trades.
Approval and swap can be separate costs
Selling an ERC-20 token may require an allowance transaction before the swap. Inspect whether permission already exists and whether a signature flow is proposed. A quote that shows only the swap’s gas is not necessarily the complete cost of starting with a new wallet. Never grant an unlimited allowance simply to save a future approval fee.
Repeated orders need a gas budget
Ethereum DCA creates repeated execution opportunities, each subject to ETH gas conditions and the product’s actual schedule. Compare costs relative to each order rather than the entire intended position. A tiny order can be economically dominated by transaction costs. This is an execution calculation, not a prediction about whether the token price will rise.
Block inclusion, confirmations and finality
Ethereum validators record a transaction in a block before consensus finality. A bot’s fast interface response or pending status is not a finalized receipt. Check successful execution on the explorer and use the confirmation policy appropriate to your next action. No fixed inclusion or finality time is promised by this guide.
Use a comparable quote
Compare the same ERC-20 token, amount and direction at approximately the same time. Record gross platform charge, estimated gas, route and minimum received. Rewards can change eligibility and timing; subtract a rebate only when its exact basis and conditions are confirmed. An unknown fee should stay unknown in a comparison.
Official references
Frequently asked questions
Is the gas limit the fee?
No. It caps computation. Actual gas cost depends on gas consumed and the effective price per gas.
Is a lower bot fee always cheaper?
No. Gas, route fees, token mechanics and price impact also affect the amount received.