Dialogue with ETHGas founder: Gasless experience is the next billion-user gateway, and "rebates + hedging" are our two-step strategy

Author: Yuliya, PANews

The high and unstable Gas fees on Ethereum have long been a stubborn obstacle to its large-scale adoption, and a pain point for developers and users alike. Against this backdrop, a bold concept aimed at making Gas “invisible” — ETHGas — was born. Recently, PANews exclusively spoke with the founder of ETHGas to explore how they, starting from an epiphany during the pandemic, are building a “Real-Time Ethereum.” This conversation will reveal how ETHGas innovatively establishes a financial marketplace for “block space,” collaborates with leading protocols through the “Open Gas Plan,” and jointly sketches and realizes a user-friendly blueprint for a “Gasless Future.”

Epiphany During the Pandemic: Redefining Gas from a “Transaction Tax” to a “Financial Market”

PANews: As I understand, ETHGas was conceived during the special period of pandemic quarantine. What industry pain points did you observe at that time? What was the “epiphany” that prompted you to build a “Real-Time Ethereum” and focus on making Gas “invisible”?

ETHGas: Haha, yes, those were unforgettable times. I was stuck in a hotel, with nothing to do but watch the market. I saw the frenzy of DeFi Summer firsthand, but also the huge friction behind it: Gas fees skyrocketed like an out-of-control beast, ordinary users either hesitated or their transactions got stuck, leading to a terrible experience. I thought, this is like a beautifully designed highway with chaotic toll booths, charging randomly, sometimes even blocking you out entirely. That’s not the future.

The “epiphany” was realizing that the problem isn’t Gas fees themselves, but how we treat them. We’ve always regarded them as an unavoidable “tax,” rather than a manageable financial market. I thought, if we can create financial markets for airline fuel or farmers’ grains, why not do the same for Ethereum’s block space? That idea became the starting point for building a “Real-Time Ethereum” and achieving “Gas invisibility.”

“Future Without Gas”: Paving the Way for the Next Billion Users

PANews: Currently, most Ethereum users see Gas fees as an unavoidable friction in transactions. ETHGas’s vision is to make Gas “invisible.” Can you paint a picture of what this “Gasless Future” looks like? Why is realizing this vision crucial for Ethereum’s next wave of large-scale adoption?

ETHGas: Absolutely. When we talk about a “Gasless Future,” it’s really about returning to a normal, seamless experience without perception of Gas.

Imagine going to your favorite coffee shop for a latte. You don’t get asked to pay an extra uncertain “electricity fee,” and the price of the coffee doesn’t fluctuate every second based on grid congestion. You only care about the price and taste of the coffee because the shop owner has already factored electricity costs into their operating expenses behind the scenes.

But on today’s Ethereum, every transaction feels like paying this unstable “electricity fee” — that is, Gas. It’s confusing, uncertain, and a major barrier to bringing Web3 to mainstream users.

By making Gas “invisible,” we’re removing this obstacle, enabling Ethereum to truly achieve large-scale adoption and prepare for the influx of the next billion users.

PANews: ETHGas’s solution is very innovative. Instead of just lowering Gas fees, you’ve created a financial market for “block space.” Can you explain simply how this transforms the abstract concept of “block space” into a standardized asset that can be traded, like stocks or options?

ETHGas: Our core idea is to turn a chaotic, unpredictable market into a structured financial marketplace. Think of it this way: before ETHGas, buying block space was like shopping at a crowded, disorderly street market—you never knew the real price, nor whether you could get what you needed.

ETHGas has built a platform for block space similar to the “New York Stock Exchange.” We created standardized products, such as “Inclusion Preconfirmations.” Now, a protocol can purchase a guarantee to ensure its transaction is included in the next block at a fixed price. This way, we turn block space from an abstract concept into a predictable, tradable, hedgeable financial asset, greatly improving the efficiency of on-chain capital operations.

“Real-Time Ethereum”: The Era of Millisecond Settlement

PANews: You’ve introduced the concept of “Real-Time Ethereum,” claiming it can achieve millisecond transaction settlement. How is this actually implemented? What new possibilities does this speed and certainty unlock for traders and developers that were previously unimaginable?

ETHGas: “Real-Time Ethereum” is a direct result of our block space marketplace. Builders and protocols can now pre-purchase guarantees for future blocks before they are produced, operating with absolute certainty. They know exactly when their transactions will be included and that they will succeed.

This unlocks many possibilities previously hindered by network latency. For high-frequency traders, it offers a decisive competitive edge. For projects, it means they can build instant-settlement applications — complex applications that were impossible due to network delays and congestion — making the experience truly “instant.”

( Ecosystem Flywheel: “Open Gas Plan” and Multi-party Win-Win

PANews: To promote the “Gasless Future,” you launched the “Open Gas Plan.” Can you share which leading protocols are currently collaborating with ETHGas? How will you work together to create a seamless, Gas-free experience for end users?

ETHGas: The “Open Gas Plan” is an alliance we initiated to build a more sticky and user-friendly Web3. We’re proud to announce that industry leaders like ether.fi, EigenLayer, and Pendle are among our first founding partners, with more to be announced.

Our collaboration model is straightforward: through our platform, they can sponsor Gas for users’ transactions. For example, a user staking on a protocol platform, with the protocol paying Gas costs, and then the user claiming this rebate directly from the ETHGas dashboard. We turn the project’s cost center — Gas — into their most powerful user acquisition and retention tool.

PANews: That sounds like a powerful growth loop: validators provide block space, protocols join in, and protocols attract a large user base. How do you motivate validators and staking operators to join the network and “fuel” the entire ecosystem?

ETHGas: Exactly, that’s the core engine of our growth flywheel. Our incentive logic for validators is simple and direct: bring them market-driven, more substantial returns.

Through our block space trading platform, validators are no longer passive recipients of unstable MEV income. They can actively bundle their block space into high-value, programmable financial products for sale, opening a new, stable, and often higher-yield income stream.

As the ecosystem develops, stakers and protocols will recognize this excess return potential, encouraging their staking service providers to join ETHGas. We offer the most competitive staking returns on the market to drive supply-side growth.

) Two-Step Strategy: From Gas Rebate to Permanent Cost Hedging

PANews: ETHGas has launched the highly anticipated “Open Gas Plan,” gathering top protocols in the industry. What role does this plan play in your “Gasless Future” initiative? Is it a short-term market activity or the first step toward a permanent, sustainable “Gasless mode”?

ETHGas: It’s definitely the starting point for a permanent, sustainable model. The “Gasless Future” campaign is our entry point to guide users into the ETHGas ecosystem. It first educates users visually about Gas costs through gamification; secondly, it proves to protocols that a “Gasless experience” significantly boosts user activity.

This initial phase allows protocols to immediately see the direct impact of offering a Gasless experience on user retention and engagement, laying the groundwork for future development.

PANews: So, starting from Gas rebates, what’s next? How will you help protocol partners transition from “subsidizing Gas” to a more mature model?

ETHGas: That’s the key to long-term sustainability. Gas rebates are just the first phase. As our block space financial marketplace matures, we will introduce more sophisticated tools, such as “Base Fee Futures,” allowing protocols to hedge against Gas price fluctuations.

They will no longer be passive payers of Gas but can actively lock in Gas costs for the upcoming month or quarter, similar to how airlines hedge fuel costs. This transforms Gas from an unstable operational expense into a predictable, manageable budget item, enabling true long-term financial planning and a permanent Gasless user experience.

PANews: Looking ahead, what are ETHGas’s key milestones? Do you have specific advice for partners eager to join this transformation and help build the ecosystem?

ETHGas: Our blueprint is gradually becoming reality. Recently, we launched the second chapter of the “Gasless Future,” officially releasing the long-awaited Gas report card to the community.

This is not just a feature update but a promise for the future. And that future requires all of us to build it together — whether you are a user, developer, or validator:

• To users: Please actively participate in the “Gasless Future”! It’s not just about checking your Gas report or claiming rebates; it’s about voting with your actions for an Ethereum future where everyone benefits. Your voice and choices are the driving forces behind this transformation.
• To developers and protocols: This is a great opportunity to turn user experience from “pain point” into “highlight.” We sincerely invite you to join the “Open Gas Plan,” so we can leave Gas issues behind the scenes and deliver the smoothest, most seamless experience to your users, making it a core part of your competitive advantage.
• To validators: We invite you to connect to the highest-yield, most predictable value network on Ethereum. Contact us to explore how to unlock unprecedented value from your block space.

A “Gasless Future” is not an unreachable dream but a project we are working together to conquer as a community. Follow @ETHGasOfficial on X to stay updated and help us build the future together.