4 · TransactionsLesson 27 min

Fees, mempool, and waiting

Interpret fee recommendations without assuming a precise confirmation clock.

By the end, you should be able to:

  • Read sat/vB
  • Understand congestion
  • Know when transaction tools can help

Bitcoin fees are usually compared by fee rate, not by the cash value being sent. A complex transaction can be larger in virtual bytes and cost more at the same priority.

When block-space demand increases, higher-fee transactions may be selected sooner. Fee estimators summarize current conditions but cannot guarantee an exact block.

If a transaction is delayed, first verify that it was broadcast and inspect its fee rate and replacement signal. Do not pay strangers who promise private access to miners.

Action checklist

I can find the transaction ID
I know the fee rate, not only total fee
I will use a public transaction checker before taking action

Go deeper

Knowledge check

Can a fee estimator guarantee the next block?

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