Moonbeam vs Ethereum Transaction Cost Calculator
Compare Your Transaction Costs
Calculate how much you'd pay in transaction fees to move assets between Ethereum and Moonbeam. Moonbeam's fees are typically under $0.10 per transaction, compared to Ethereum's $5-$50 range.
Moonbeam (GLMR)
Average fee: $0.05 per transaction
$0.00
Ethereum
Average fee: $25 per transaction
$0.00
Savings Compared to Ethereum
$0.00 in total savings
0% cost reduction
Moonbeam (GLMR) isn’t just another crypto coin. It’s a bridge - one that lets Ethereum apps run smoothly on the Polkadot network without rewriting a single line of code. If you’ve ever tried to move a DeFi app from Ethereum to another chain and hit a wall with incompatible tools, Moonbeam was built to solve that exact problem.
What Exactly Is Moonbeam?
Moonbeam is a smart contract blockchain that’s fully compatible with Ethereum. That means if you’re a developer who knows how to write Solidity contracts, use MetaMask, or deploy with Truffle or Hardhat - you can drop your project onto Moonbeam with almost zero changes. It’s not a Layer 2 solution like Polygon. It’s a standalone Layer 1 blockchain, but it’s designed to feel exactly like Ethereum.
It runs as a parachain on Polkadot, which is a network of interconnected blockchains. Polkadot gives Moonbeam shared security - meaning it doesn’t have to rely on its own small group of validators to stay safe. Instead, it leans on the security of the entire Polkadot relay chain. This makes Moonbeam more secure than many independent blockchains, while still keeping the speed and low fees developers want.
What Is GLMR Used For?
GLMR is the native token of the Moonbeam network. It’s not just a speculative asset - it has real, functional uses:
- Transaction fees: You pay in GLMR to send transactions, deploy smart contracts, or interact with dApps.
- Staking: Users can stake GLMR to help secure the network. Validators and nominators earn rewards in GLMR for keeping the chain running smoothly.
- Governance: GLMR holders vote on upgrades, treasury spending, and protocol changes. The more GLMR you hold, the more voting power you have.
As of September 2025, there are just over 1 billion GLMR in circulation out of a total supply of nearly 1.2 billion. The price was around $0.041, with a market cap of roughly $41 million. That puts it at #599 by market cap - far behind giants like Ethereum or Solana, but still a meaningful player in the cross-chain space.
How Is Moonbeam Different From Ethereum?
On the surface, Moonbeam looks like Ethereum. Same tools. Same language. Same wallet. But underneath, it’s built on Substrate - the same framework that powers Polkadot. This gives it advantages:
- Lower fees: Ethereum mainnet can cost $5-$50 per transaction during peak times. On Moonbeam, it’s often under $0.10.
- Faster blocks: Transactions confirm in under 12 seconds, compared to Ethereum’s 12-15 seconds (and sometimes much longer during congestion).
- Cross-chain access: Moonbeam can talk directly to other Polkadot parachains like Acala or Kusama. You can move assets or data between Moonbeam and, say, a DeFi chain on Polkadot without needing a third-party bridge.
But here’s the trade-off: Moonbeam doesn’t have the same user base or liquidity as Ethereum. You won’t find as many users trading GLMR, and not every DeFi protocol is available. That’s why some investors see it as a long-term bet - not a quick flip.
How Does It Compare to Other EVM Chains?
There are a lot of Ethereum-compatible chains now: Polygon, Avalanche, BSC, Arbitrum. So why choose Moonbeam?
Most of those chains are standalone. They secure themselves. Moonbeam doesn’t. It’s tied to Polkadot’s security model, which is a big deal. If Polkadot stays strong, Moonbeam stays strong. That’s a different kind of safety net.
Here’s how it stacks up:
| Feature | Moonbeam | Polygon | Avalanche |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer Type | Layer 1 (Parachain) | Layer 2 | Layer 1 |
| Security Source | Polkadot Relay Chain | Own validators | Own validators |
| EVM Compatibility | Full | Full | Full |
| Cross-Chain to Polkadot | Yes | No | No |
| Transaction Fee (avg) | $0.02-$0.08 | $0.01-$0.05 | $0.05-$0.20 |
| Market Cap (Sep 2025) | $41M | $7.2B | $10.1B |
Moonbeam doesn’t win on size. But it wins on integration. If you’re building something that needs to work across multiple blockchains - especially within Polkadot - Moonbeam is the only EVM chain that can do it natively.
Who Uses Moonbeam?
Over 200 live applications are already running on Moonbeam. These aren’t just test projects - they’re real, functioning dApps:
- StellaSwap and Curve Finance - decentralized exchanges with liquidity pools.
- Treasureland and NFTrade - NFT marketplaces where users trade digital art and collectibles.
- Tokeniza - a platform bringing real-world assets like real estate and bonds on-chain.
- N3MUS and Outmine - blockchain-based games with in-world economies.
Developers love it because they don’t have to relearn everything. If you’ve built on Ethereum, you can deploy on Moonbeam in hours, not weeks. The Moonbeam Foundation even offers grants and developer accelerators to help teams get started.
What Are the Risks?
Moonbeam isn’t without its problems. In 2024, its price dropped nearly 30% in a single month. Some users reported issues with bridges connecting to Ethereum - especially during high network traffic. There’s also the risk of being overshadowed by bigger players.
Unlike Ethereum, which has millions of daily users, Moonbeam’s user base is still small. That means less liquidity, wider price swings, and fewer people trading GLMR. If you’re looking for a coin with stable volume and deep markets, this isn’t it.
Also, while Moonbeam is secure because of Polkadot, it’s still a young ecosystem. Bugs happen. Upgrades take time. And if Polkadot itself faces challenges, Moonbeam feels it too.
What’s the Future for GLMR?
Analysts are split. Some see Moonbeam as a hidden gem. Changelly’s 2025 forecast predicts GLMR will trade between $0.03 and $0.04, but by 2030, it could average $0.44 - a tenfold increase. That’s only possible if adoption grows. If more developers start building cross-chain apps, and if Polkadot’s ecosystem expands, Moonbeam could become essential.
Right now, it’s not a coin for traders chasing quick gains. It’s a coin for builders, long-term believers, and people who think the future of crypto isn’t one big blockchain - but many interconnected ones.
If you’re a developer, GLMR gives you a fast, cheap, secure way to deploy Ethereum apps with cross-chain access. If you’re an investor, you’re betting on the idea that interoperability will win - and Moonbeam is one of the few chains built to make that real.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moonbeam the same as Ethereum?
No. Moonbeam is an Ethereum-compatible blockchain, meaning it runs the same code and tools as Ethereum, but it’s built on Polkadot’s infrastructure. It’s faster, cheaper, and connected to other blockchains in the Polkadot network - but it’s not the Ethereum mainnet.
Can I use MetaMask with Moonbeam?
Yes. Moonbeam has full Web3 RPC compatibility, so you can add it as a custom network in MetaMask using its RPC endpoint. Once added, you can send and receive GLMR, interact with dApps, and deploy smart contracts just like you would on Ethereum.
How do I get GLMR tokens?
You can buy GLMR on exchanges like Gate.io, KuCoin, and MEXC. You can also earn it by staking through the Moonbeam network or by participating in liquidity mining programs on dApps built on Moonbeam.
Is GLMR a good investment?
It depends on your timeline. Short-term, GLMR is volatile and has seen big price drops. Long-term, if Moonbeam becomes the go-to platform for cross-chain Ethereum apps, GLMR could grow significantly. It’s not a safe bet for beginners - but for those who believe in interoperability, it’s one of the most promising projects in the space.
What’s the difference between Moonbeam and Moonriver?
Moonriver is Moonbeam’s test network on Kusama, Polkadot’s experimental sister chain. Moonriver gets new features first - it’s faster to upgrade but less secure. Moonbeam is the main, more stable version. Developers often test on Moonriver before launching on Moonbeam.
Arthur Crone
November 13, 2025 AT 19:19Moonbeam? More like Moonwalk. Another EVM chain trying to be special by hitching a ride on Polkadot while everyone else just builds. You think you're innovative but you're just another middleman with a fancy whitepaper and zero users.
Laura Hall
November 15, 2025 AT 09:29lol i literally just deployed my first dapp on moonbeam last week and it was like... 10 minutes? i used my metamask like normal and boom. no gas wars, no waiting. i was like ‘is this real?’ 🤯
also the dev docs were actually helpful for once. who knew?
Rachel Everson
November 17, 2025 AT 03:40Laura here - if you're a dev tired of paying $20 to mint an NFT on Ethereum, Moonbeam is your new best friend. I’ve helped three friends migrate their projects here and all of them said the same thing: ‘Why didn’t we do this sooner?’
It’s not about being the biggest. It’s about being the smartest. And honestly? It’s working.
Elizabeth Stavitzke
November 18, 2025 AT 19:50Oh wow. A blockchain that’s ‘like Ethereum’ but cheaper. How original. Did you also invent the wheel? Or just the wheel with a slightly smoother finish? Honestly, if you’re not on Ethereum mainnet, you’re just playing pretend crypto.
Adrian Bailey
November 20, 2025 AT 15:36ok but like… i get why people are salty but honestly? moonbeam just… works. i tried polygon, avalanche, bsc - all fine, but none of them let me talk to my kusama-based NFT collection without jumping through 5 bridges and praying to the blockchain gods.
on moonbeam? i just send it. like, literally. no gas panic, no 20-minute confirmations, no ‘oh no i lost my transaction’ vibes. it’s smooth. like butter on a warm pancake. 🧈
and yeah, market cap’s small. but so was ethereum in 2016. and look where that went.
Ashley Mona
November 21, 2025 AT 08:08Y’all are overcomplicating this. Moonbeam is the Swiss Army knife of EVM chains. You get Ethereum tools, Polkadot security, and cross-chain magic - all in one package. I’ve used it for staking, NFT trading, and even a DeFi yield farm that’s literally 1/10th the cost of doing it on Ethereum.
And yes, the price is low. But if you’re not holding GLMR because you think it’s ‘too small,’ you’re missing the whole point. The future isn’t monolithic blockchains. It’s interoperability. And Moonbeam’s already built it.
tom west
November 23, 2025 AT 01:041.2B supply? 41M market cap? That’s a joke. You’re telling me this is worth anything when the tokenomics are so bloated? The inflation rate is a disaster. Anyone holding GLMR is just a bagholder waiting for the rug to be pulled. This isn’t innovation - it’s a liquidity trap dressed up in blockchain jargon.
Joanne Lee
November 24, 2025 AT 22:52While I appreciate the technical overview, I must point out that the article conflates ‘EVM compatibility’ with ‘Ethereum equivalence.’ They are not the same. Compatibility enables portability; it does not confer network effects, developer mindshare, or liquidity. Moonbeam is a valuable tool for niche use cases, but it remains a fringe player in the broader ecosystem. Its success is contingent on Polkadot’s stability - a non-trivial dependency.
ty ty
November 26, 2025 AT 05:42so you’re telling me i can use metamask and pay less than a dollar to deploy a contract? wow. that’s like saying a bicycle is better than a ferrari because it doesn’t need gas. you’re not building the future. you’re just avoiding the cost of the real one.
Ainsley Ross
November 26, 2025 AT 06:09As someone who has worked across multiple blockchain ecosystems, I find Moonbeam’s approach to interoperability both elegant and necessary. The fact that it leverages Polkadot’s shared security model is a quiet revolution - one that avoids the fragility of solo chains. For institutions and developers seeking stability without sacrificing flexibility, this is not just a good option - it’s a thoughtful one.
BRYAN CHAGUA
November 27, 2025 AT 16:25People are scared of small market caps, but that’s where the real gems hide. Moonbeam isn’t trying to be the loudest in the room - it’s trying to be the most connected. If you believe in a multi-chain future, this is one of the few chains actually building the bridges, not just talking about them. I’ve watched it grow quietly for two years. It’s holding up.
Debraj Dutta
November 28, 2025 AT 09:20As someone from India, I’ve seen how expensive Ethereum transactions are for small developers. Moonbeam changed that for me. I built a small educational dApp for students here - couldn’t have done it on Ethereum. GLMR fees are so low, even a student with $5 can experiment. That’s real impact.
Rebecca Saffle
November 29, 2025 AT 11:55They say Moonbeam is secure because of Polkadot. But what if Polkadot collapses? What if DOT crashes? Then Moonbeam is just another dead chain with a bunch of half-deployed contracts and angry devs screaming into the void. Don’t be fooled by the ‘shared security’ fairy tale. It’s just one big domino waiting to fall.
dhirendra pratap singh
November 30, 2025 AT 01:47MOONBEAM IS THE FUTURE. I SAW A DEVELOPER CRY WHEN HE DEPLOYED HIS SMART CONTRACT FOR $0.02. I WAS THERE. I TOOK A PHOTO. I CRIED TOO. THIS IS THE MOMENT. GLMR TO THE MOON. 🌙🚀
IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE, YOU’RE JUST A COWARD. THE ELITES ARE BUILDING. ARE YOU WATCHING OR PARTICIPATING?
Brian Gillespie
December 1, 2025 AT 00:43Low fees. Fast. Works with MetaMask. That’s all I needed to know.
Johanna Lesmayoux lamare
December 2, 2025 AT 09:40I’ve been using Moonbeam for my NFT project and honestly? The community is way more helpful than Ethereum’s. People reply to Discord questions within minutes. No gatekeeping. Just… help. It feels like crypto used to be.