What are gas fees, and why are they a problem for DeFi adoption?
Whenever you engage with a blockchain, you incur a gas fee — a minor cost that is allocated to the validators operating the network. These gas fees are designed to reward validators for processing and securing transactions, but to users, they often seem like unavoidable tolls. If you attempt to send a transaction without possessing enough of the network’s native token, it will result in a complete failure. Even when transactions do succeed, the fees can vary significantly based on the current activity of the chain.
An example of gas fee fluctuations with network congestion on Ethereum can be seen here: Source: Etherscan.io
For newcomers, this experience can feel quite punishing. A straightforward $5 swap might come with $12 in fees, only to fail because the gas balance wasn’t sufficiently topped up in advance. The outcome is frequently the same: a frustrating ordeal that can lead some to abandon the process altogether. Decentralized finance (DeFi) was intended to democratize financial management for anyone with internet access. However, high fees can make that promise feel out of reach. Conventional finance apps often hide transaction costs in the background, while in DeFi, fees are prominently displayed. When these fees increase, they become a significant barrier to mainstream adoption.
How do blockchains and wallets handle gas fees?
Every blockchain necessitates gas, but each has its own rules regarding transaction fees. For instance, Ethereum demands gas fees be paid in ETH, BNB Chain in BNB, and Polygon in MATIC. This framework, designed to secure the network by rewarding validators, requires users to hold a balance of the native coin just to perform basic transactions. For example, someone holding USDC on Ethereum is unable to transfer it until they also obtain ETH to cover gas costs. If users lack the required native token, transactions will fail. Source: MetaMask
The situation grows more complex when users switch between chains. Individuals often find themselves exchanging tokens they did not intend to possess or juggling multiple balances just to ensure transaction flow. What should be a simple payment frequently turns into a logistical challenge.
Various crypto wallet providers and platforms have sought to mitigate this friction in diverse ways. Some models allow users to pre-fund a “gas balance,” while others attempt to automate payments quietly, and a few try to entirely mask the costs. Although these approaches can make transactions easier in some situations, none offer a solution that is universally applicable across chains, supports any token, and maintains complete user control. The current system is merely a series of temporary fixes, rather than an all-encompassing solution. This is why the pursuit of smoother, gas-free transactions is influencing much of the innovation in DeFi.
Solving the gas problem without going centralized
The majority of existing alternatives still require users to manage multiple chains, lacking a universal method to eliminate gas fees altogether. Instead of introducing yet another tool for tracking token rewards, Tea-Fi is creating the foundational infrastructure that streamlines daily DeFi transactions. In practice, this means assisting users in carrying out routine actions, such as swapping tokens or utilizing decentralized applications (DApps), without the continuous concern of whether they have adequate gas in their wallet. By abstracting gas management at the protocol level, Tea-Fi aims to render these transactions as seamless as a mobile payment app.
This project has been developed with interoperability in mind. It already integrates with Katana, a DeFi-focused layer-2 blockchain, as well as with larger ecosystems like Ethereum and Polygon. Recent data indicates that Tea-Fi has successfully attracted one-third of Katana’s total user base. Rather than addressing issues one at a time, Tea-Fi aims to instill simplicity within the system itself.
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By addressing gas fees on a systemic level, Tea-Fi is transforming how individuals engage with DeFi on a daily basis, minimizing failures and facilitating smoother cross-chain interactions.
How Easy Gas changes the approach to gas fees
Easy Gas using No Gas (NOGA) — the inaugural protocol aligned app (PAA) on Tea-Fi — is Tea-Fi’s solution to the gas dilemma. It shifts the burden away from users. Rather than compelling individuals to always maintain the correct token, it employs a network of relayers that seamlessly manage the fee in the background. Users will no longer find themselves stranded mid-action due to insufficient gas, and the system retains the non-custodial framework of DeFi while enhancing user experience. In essence, individuals do not need to relinquish control of their assets just to simplify the process.
This development eliminates the frustration of being unable to transact because of insufficient token balances. For developers, the advantages manifest differently. Easy Gas is designed to function across any protocol, meaning users do not have to depend on sporadic fixes from different platforms. Swapping tokens, staking, or transferring assets between chains all initiate the same process: gas management happens unnoticed in the background.
Easy Gas does not introduce another quick fix tied to a single wallet or ecosystem — it operates as a universal layer that any project can connect to. This ensures users experience smoother transactions while relieving developers from the need to repeatedly construct similar fixes.
Internally, Easy Gas utilizes Ethereum standards along with Tea-Fi’s infrastructure to enhance app intelligence. With ERC-2771 (meta-transactions), users can perform gasless transactions, enabling the system to manage fees discreetly in the background. Meanwhile, ERC-4337 (account abstraction) enhances the security, intelligence, and convenience of wallets. Tea-Fi integrates bundlers, paymasters, and proxy architecture for efficiency in real-world scenarios. To grasp Easy Gas’s functionality, one can examine its implementation. Tea-Fi’s SuperSwap serves as a notable example. It consolidates trading, bridging, and routing into a unified flow, aided by Li.Fi — a protocol that aggregates bridges and decentralized exchanges (DEXs). Users can effortlessly swap across chains, and developers benefit from a simplified toolkit for incorporating multichain features into their applications.
Another example is Multi-Send. This feature enables users to pay several addresses all at once. While it may not seem groundbreaking, for decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) or businesses that oversee payroll or community distributions, the reduction in time and fees can have a significant impact.
What’s next for gasless transactions in DeFi?
Easy Gas operates on Ethereum, with plans to expand to all major EVMs in the near future. This already represents a diverse array, and the objective is to integrate it into even more applications. If the rollout proceeds as planned, covering gas fees could soon feel less like an awkward extra step and more like a standardized feature within the system. Tea-Fi is also connecting Easy Gas to its smart wallet infrastructure, which will support mobile and social logins. This is an important milestone as it offers newcomers a familiar gateway into DeFi. Instead of a complex sign-up process, it mirrors the smooth sign-in experience people recognize from everyday payment or mobile banking apps, alleviating the feelings of venturing into unfamiliar territory.
For broader adoption, particularly in regions where interest in cryptocurrency is rapidly increasing but education and infrastructure continue to pose challenges, gasless transactions could be the key element that finally enables DeFi to become practical. For many beginners, nothing can be more discouraging than a failed payment. Gasless transactions could eliminate that frustration, leading to a process that feels natural for everyday use.
