Shibarium Fees Gain Focus as Coinbase Exec Flags Solana

The debate over smart contract costs has reignited, with Shibarium fees stealing the spotlight—especially after a Coinbase exec called out Solana’s $200 transaction price.

Coinbase Exec Questions Solana’s $200 Contract Fee

Jesse Pollak, who leads protocol development at Coinbase and helped build products like Coinbase Wallet and Base, recently took to X with a straightforward question that hit a nerve in the crypto world:

“Can anyone help me understand why it costs ~$200 to deploy a relatively simple contract on Solana? I assumed it would cost comparable amounts to Base (e.g., cents)… what is the difference in architecture that drives this?”

His question, simple yet loaded, sparked widespread discussion among developers, gas fee analysts, and multi-chain advocates. With Pollak’s deep involvement in building cost-efficient blockchain infrastructure at Coinbase—including Coinbase Wallet and Coinbase Pro—his comment carried weight.

Comparison: Solana vs. Shibarium Fees

Pollak’s observation of a roughly $200 deployment cost on Solana prompted comparisons with fee structures on other blockchain networks. Among those drawing attention is Shibarium, an Ethereum Layer 2 network.

John Doe, an engineering manager at Shibarium, when asked about the cost to deploy a simple smart contract on that platform, provided a contrasting figure.

Doe stated the cost on Shibarium was “under 10 Gwei.” At current rates, 10 Gwei equates to a small fraction of a U.S. cent. This figure presents a significant difference when compared to the roughly $200 deployment cost on Solana that Pollak described.

The economic implications of such varying costs are notable for developers. For those working on projects with limited funding, or for individuals and smaller teams experimenting with new applications, the choice between a near-negligible fee and a several-hundred-dollar outlay for contract deployment can heavily influence their selection of a blockchain platform.

Why the Gap Exists

Solana is known for high throughput, but it comes with architectural trade-offs. Developers often pay “rent” for on-chain storage, and pre-paying for account resources can quickly push up costs.

In contrast, Shibarium operates as an Ethereum Layer 2 with gas-optimized architecture. Like Base and other rollup-style networks, it keeps costs low by offloading execution from Ethereum mainnet while retaining its security model.

The result? Ultra-low gas fees and contract costs, without the need to rethink how developers build.

For Cost-Efficient Builders, Shibarium Fees Take the Lead

While Pollak’s initial query focused on Solana, the ensuing discussion has also highlighted the significantly lower contract deployment costs reported on other networks, such as Shibarium. The comparison arises in a ‘multichain’ environment where developers frequently weigh the economic implications of building on various platforms.

In this context, Shibarium’s sub-cent contract fees present a stark contrast to higher-cost alternatives. For developers, particularly those working on experimental projects or with limited budgets, the difference between deployment costs measured in fractions of a cent versus hundreds of dollars can be a decisive factor in their choice of blockchain infrastructure.

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Yona has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Daily is an official media and publication of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.