Bitcoin Fees Plummet to Record Lows—Is the Bull Market Back?

Network congestion? Not anymore. Bitcoin transaction fees just hit their lowest level in history—cheaper than your bank’s ’convenience’ charge for breathing near an ATM.

What’s driving the drop? Miner capitulation? Layer-2 adoption? Or just Wall Street finally realizing they can’t extract fees from a protocol that bypasses middlemen?

One thing’s clear: when BTC gets this cheap to move, someone’s about to make a very expensive mistake.

In brief

• Bitcoin transaction fees fall below $1.5, despite a notable price increase.
• Disinterest in the Lightning Network also reveals a vision for bitcoin.

A rising bitcoin, but a less utilized network

The BTC price continues its progression. This is not the case for transaction fees on the crypto network. In fact, they haveAccording to the onchain analysis platform Alphractal, the average cost of adoes not exceed

For several cryptography experts, this situation marks a break from past cycles (notably the 2021 peak). They mainly refer to the increase in Bitcoin value which is often accompanied by increased network congestion. Unfortunately, in May 2025, the blockchain remains fluid and lightly used (despite a price exceeding $109,000).

The current situation therefore showsin blockchain transactions. This anomaly could be explained by:

• better network efficiency;
• a more passive use of bitcoin.

The leading cryptocurrency would thus be seen more as a store of value than as a transactional asset.

The decline of the Lightning Network raises questions

Another notable element: the continuous drop in transactions on the Lightning Network. This protocol is supposed to facilitate bitcoin payments off the main blockchain. However, it appears underutilized today. This decline suggests, even as the asset gains value.

This trend calls into question the short-term viability of the Lightning Network. But not only that! It also highlights a paradigm shift in the crypto ecosystem.

The fall in transaction fees may mark a turning point in the history of blockchain. User behavior is evolving. Moreover, the Bitcoin network seems to be entering a new phase of maturity. A story to follow closely!

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