Crypto onchain fees fell 44.6% on average in first half of 2026

CryptoRank data points to weaker user activity as L1 fee revenue dropped 26.2% to $1.6 billion and DEX fees fell by more than half.

Summary

Crypto onchain fees posted broad declines in the first half of 2026, with CryptoRank data showing an average drop of 44.6% and a median decline of 42.2%. The pullback suggests softer user activity across the sector, as transaction fees often track demand for blockspace (network transaction capacity) and trading. Layer-1 fee revenue came in at $1.6 billion, down 26.2%, while decentralized exchange, or DEX (peer-to-peer crypto trading venue), fees fell by more than half.

Terms & Concepts
  • onchain fees: Transaction costs paid to use blockchain networks.
  • L1 fee revenue: Fees generated by a base-layer blockchain network.
  • DEX: Peer-to-peer crypto trading venue.