With rising transaction costs on major blockchains, users are increasingly asking: what is the lowest fee cryptocurrency? As Bitcoin and Ethereum fees climb, the search for fast, affordable, and scalable alternatives has never been more urgent. This guide dives into the most cost-efficient digital assets, comparing real-world transaction fees and confirmation speeds across top cryptocurrencies.
Our analysis focuses on two critical factors: transaction fees and confirmation times—especially as recognized by major exchanges like Kraken. We also consider network security, decentralization, inflation, and practical usability.
Bitcoin & Ethereum: High Fees, Slower Confirmations
Let’s start by addressing the giants. As of 2025:
- Bitcoin averages $25.47 per transaction, with a near-final confirmation time of 58 minutes.
- Ethereum averages $24.48, confirming in about 6 minutes.
While both networks are secure and widely adopted, their high fees make them impractical for everyday payments. This opens the door for more efficient alternatives.
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Top 10 Lowest Fee Cryptocurrencies in 2025
1. Nano: $0 Fees, 0.14 Seconds Confirmation
Nano stands alone as the only major cryptocurrency offering zero transaction fees and sub-second finality. Its unique Open Representative Voting (ORV) consensus mechanism eliminates miners and validators, enabling feeless, instant, and irreversible transactions.
- Average fee: $0.00
- Confirmation time: 0.14 seconds
- Inflation: None
Nano’s efficiency is so trusted that exchanges like Kraken accept deposits after just one confirmation. With no inflation diluting holdings and full decentralization, Nano emerges as the clear leader in low-cost digital payments.
2. Digibyte (DGB): $0.0005 Fee, 5 Minutes to Confirm
A proof-of-work cryptocurrency, Digibyte uses five mining algorithms to resist centralization. While block times are fast (15 seconds), exchanges require 20 confirmations—leading to a 5-minute wait.
- Average fee: $0.0005
- Confirmation time: ~5 minutes
- Inflation: ~8% annually
Despite low fees, Digibyte’s ongoing inflation means your balance loses value over time—a trade-off for affordability.
3. Bitcoin SV (BSV): $0.00055 Fee, 7 Days to Confirm
Bitcoin SV offers ultra-low fees but suffers from severe security concerns. Due to fears of 51% attacks, many platforms require 1,008 confirmations—equivalent to 7 days of waiting.
- Average fee: $0.00055
- Confirmation time: Up to 7 days
- Inflation: ~3% annually
While technically cheap, BSV’s slow settlement and centralization risks make it impractical for most users.
4. XRP: $0.00078 Fee, 4 Seconds to Confirm
XRP delivers fast and affordable transactions—just $0.00078 and confirmed in 4 seconds. However, it faces criticism for centralization and an ongoing SEC lawsuit over unregistered securities.
- Average fee: $0.00078
- Confirmation time: 4 seconds
- Inflation: Gradual release of escrowed supply (~50 billion XRP remain locked)
Despite controversy, XRP remains a strong option for institutional cross-border payments.
5. Bitcoin Cash (BCH): $0.0024 Fee, 2.5 Hours to Confirm
A Bitcoin fork designed for peer-to-peer cash, Bitcoin Cash supports larger blocks (up to 32MB), reducing congestion and fees.
- Average fee: $0.0024
- Confirmation time: ~150 minutes (15 confirmations)
- Security risk: Low 51% attack cost (~$8,500/hour)
While cheaper than BTC, BCH’s weak security undermines long-term confidence.
6. Stellar (XLM): $0.004 Fee, 4 Seconds to Confirm
Similar to XRP, Stellar enables fast, low-cost transfers and supports stablecoins and tokenized assets.
- Average fee: $0.004
- Confirmation time: 4 seconds
- Centralization concern: ~20 billion XLM held by Stellar Development Foundation
Kraken accepts Stellar with just one confirmation—highlighting its reliability despite validator centralization debates.
7. Dash: $0.0043 Fee, 15 Minutes to Confirm
Originally a privacy coin, Dash now emphasizes fast payments via its masternode-based proof-of-service model.
- Average fee: $0.0043
- Confirmation time: ~15 minutes (6 confirmations)
- Centralization risk: Wealth concentration among early adopters
Dash offers solid performance but faces skepticism over governance fairness.
8. Litecoin (LTC): $0.041 Fee, 30 Minutes to Confirm
One of the earliest Bitcoin forks, Litecoin improved scalability with 2.5-minute block times.
- Average fee: $0.041
- Confirmation time: ~30 minutes (12 confirmations)
- Adoption: Widely supported across exchanges
Though not the cheapest, Litecoin remains a reliable mid-tier option.
9. Monero (XMR): $0.0696 Fee, 30 Minutes to Confirm
Focused on privacy, Monero obscures sender, receiver, and amount using advanced cryptography.
- Average fee: $0.0696
- Confirmation time: ~30 minutes
- Trade-off: Higher fees and slower confirmations for unmatched anonymity
Privacy comes at a cost—literally—and some exchanges have delisted XMR due to regulatory pressure.
10. Dogecoin (DOGE): $0.239 Fee, 20 Minutes to Confirm
Born as a meme, Dogecoin has evolved into a cultural phenomenon—but not a practical payment network.
- Average fee: $0.239
- Confirmation time: ~20 minutes
- Inflation: Permanent 10% annual inflation
High fees and endless inflation make DOGE unsuitable for microtransactions or savings.
Honorable Mentions (With Caveats)
Avalanche (AVAX)
Despite claims of high speed and low cost, Avalanche experienced network outages in early 2025, halting transactions for hours. While promising, reliability remains a concern.
IOTA
IOTA promises feeless transactions but still relies on a centralized coordinator. True decentralization has yet to be achieved, limiting real-world trust and adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Which cryptocurrency has truly zero transaction fees?
A: Nano is the only major decentralized cryptocurrency offering permanent $0 fees through its Open Representative Voting system.
Q: Why are Bitcoin and Ethereum fees so high?
A: High demand and limited block space cause congestion. Users bid higher fees to prioritize their transactions during peak times.
Q: Are low-fee cryptocurrencies secure?
A: Security varies. Nano, Stellar, and Litecoin maintain strong decentralization and attack resistance, while others like BSV face serious security concerns despite low costs.
Q: Can I use low-fee cryptos for daily payments?
A: Yes—Nano, XRP, Stellar, and Litecoin are increasingly accepted for real-world purchases due to speed and affordability.
Q: Does low fee mean better cryptocurrency?
A: Not always. While low fees are ideal for payments, other factors like security, decentralization, adoption, and inflation matter for long-term value.
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Final Thoughts: The Future of Low-Cost Transactions
When it comes to combining speed, cost efficiency, and sustainability, Nano stands out as the clear winner. With zero fees, sub-second confirmations, no inflation, and exchange-grade trust—all on a fully decentralized network—it redefines what’s possible in digital money.
Other cryptos like XRP, Stellar, and Litecoin offer solid alternatives for fast settlements, but none match Nano’s combination of performance and user-friendliness.
As blockchain adoption grows, the demand for affordable, instant transactions will only increase. Projects prioritizing usability without sacrificing decentralization will lead the next wave of financial innovation.
Whether you're sending money across town or across borders, choosing a low-fee cryptocurrency can save you time and money—without compromising security.
👉 Start exploring low-cost crypto networks today—see how fast transactions can really be.