"Insufficient Balance"? Don't Forget Gas Fees!

When trying to send tokens on a blockchain network, encountering an "insufficient balance" or "insufficient fees" error often indicates that while you may have enough of the specific token you are trying to send, you lack the native cryptocurrency of that network required to pay the gas fees.

Every transaction on a blockchain requires a small fee, known as gas, to compensate the network validators for processing and securing the transaction. This fee must be paid in the network's native currency, not the token you are sending.

For example:

• If you are sending a token (like USDC, USDT, or any other token) on a network that uses Ethereum (ETH) for gas (such as the main Ethereum network or an Ethereum Layer 2 solution like Arbitrum, Optimism, etc.), you must hold enough ETH to cover the gas fee.
• If you are on a different network, you will need that network's native token (e.g., MATIC for Polygon, BNB for BNB Smart Chain, AVAX for Avalanche, etc.).

To resolve this issue:

1. Check your native currency balance: Ensure you have the network's native cryptocurrency in your wallet.
2. Acquire more native currency: If your balance is low, you will need to acquire more of the native currency and deposit it into your wallet.
3. Estimate the gas fee: Gas fees fluctuate based on network congestion. Check the current gas prices to ensure you have a sufficient amount of the native currency to cover the transaction costs.
4. Try the transaction again: Once you have a sufficient balance of the native currency for the gas fee, attempt the transaction again.

Updated on: 08/10/2025