Vitalik Buterin Proposes Trustless On-Chain Gas Futures for Ethereum
The concept aims to give high-volume users predictable costs by letting them prepay for block space at fixed prices.
Overview
- Buterin called for a trustless market akin to a prediction system on BASEFEE that would publish forward pricing signals for transaction fees.
- Users would lock in costs for specified future time windows through on-chain contracts that settle transparently.
- The proposal targets traders, builders, and institutions that need fee certainty to hedge spikes and plan operations.
- Recent coverage cites 2025 volatility, with basic transfers around $0.01 and broader fee swings reported between $0.18 and $2.60.
- Prior efforts like Oiler tested gas-linked derivatives, but no liquid market exists yet and the idea remains subject to community study, testing, and risk analysis.