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Run Chain examples in the interactive playground

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Network Comparison

Comprehensive comparison of gas fees, transaction costs, and network characteristics across Ethereum networks.

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Network Overview

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Mainnet vs L2 vs Testnet

NetworkTypeAvg Gas PriceTransfer CostSwap CostStatus
EthereumMainnet40-100 Gwei$2-5$50-200Live
ArbitrumL20.1 Gwei$0.01$0.50-2Live
OptimismL20.1 Gwei$0.01$0.50-2Live
BaseL20.1 Gwei$0.01$0.50-2Live
PolygonSidechain20-50 Gwei$0.01-0.05$0.20-1Live
SepoliaTestnet1-5 GweiFree (faucet)Free (faucet)Test
HoleskyTestnet1-5 GweiFree (faucet)Free (faucet)Test
Costs assume ETH = $2,000 and typical operation sizes

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Gas Price Breakdown

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How Gas Works on Different Networks

import { Chain } from 'tevm'
import * as Gwei from 'tevm/Gwei'
import * as Wei from 'tevm/Wei'
import * as Uint from 'tevm/Uint'

const mainnet = Chain.fromId(1)!

// EIP-1559: baseFee + priorityFee
const baseFee = Gwei(30n)     // Set by protocol
const priorityFee = Gwei(2n)  // User sets (tip)
const maxFee = Gwei(50n)      // User sets max

// Cost for 21,000 gas transfer
const effectivePrice = Uint.plus(
  Gwei.toU256(baseFee),
  Gwei.toU256(priorityFee)
)

const costWei = Uint.times(effectivePrice, Uint(21_000n))
const costGwei = Uint.dividedBy(costWei, Uint(1_000_000_000n))
const costEther = Wei.toEther(Wei(costWei))

console.log(`Network: ${mainnet.name}`)
console.log(`Cost: ${costGwei} Gwei = ${costEther} ETH`)
console.log('Features:')
console.log('- EIP-1559 dynamic pricing')
console.log('- Base fee burns')
console.log('- Priority fee for miners')
Cost Characteristics:
  • Variable gas prices (20-300+ Gwei during congestion)
  • Base fee automatically adjusts
  • Longer confirmation times during high load
  • Higher security (full validator set)

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Real Transaction Costs

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Transfer (21,000 gas)

import { Chain } from 'tevm'
import * as Gwei from 'tevm/Gwei'
import * as Wei from 'tevm/Wei'
import * as Uint from 'tevm/Uint'

function calculateTransferCost(
  chainId: number,
  gasPriceGwei: bigint
): { wei: bigint; eth: string; usd: string } | null {
  const chain = Chain.fromId(chainId)
  if (!chain) return null

  const gasPriceWei = Gwei.toWei(Gwei(gasPriceGwei))
  const costWei = Uint.times(gasPriceWei, Uint(21_000n))
  const costEth = Number(costWei) / 1e18
  const costUsd = costEth * 2000  // Assuming $2000/ETH

  return {
    wei: costWei,
    eth: costEth.toFixed(6),
    usd: `$${(costEth * 2000).toFixed(2)}`
  }
}

const networks = [
  { id: 1, price: 50n, name: 'Ethereum Mainnet' },
  { id: 42161, price: 1n, name: 'Arbitrum One' },
  { id: 10, price: 1n, name: 'Optimism' },
  { id: 8453, price: 1n, name: 'Base' },
  { id: 137, price: 30n, name: 'Polygon' },
  { id: 11155111, price: 1n, name: 'Sepolia (testnet)' }
]

console.log('Transfer Cost Comparison (21,000 gas):')
console.log('─'.repeat(60))

networks.forEach(({ id, price, name }) => {
  const cost = calculateTransferCost(id, price)
  if (cost) {
    console.log(`${name.padEnd(25)} ${cost.eth.padEnd(12)} ETH = ${cost.usd}`)
  }
})
Output: 
Transfer Cost Comparison (21,000 gas):
────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Ethereum Mainnet         0.00105    ETH = $2.10
Arbitrum One             0.000021   ETH = $0.042
Optimism                 0.000021   ETH = $0.042
Base                     0.000021   ETH = $0.042
Polygon                  0.00063    ETH = $1.26
Sepolia (testnet)        0.000021   ETH = Free!

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Complex Swap (150,000 gas)

import { Chain } from 'tevm'
import * as Gwei from 'tevm/Gwei'
import * as Wei from 'tevm/Wei'
import * as Uint from 'tevm/Uint'

function calculateSwapCost(
  chainId: number,
  gasPriceGwei: bigint
): { eth: string; usd: string } | null {
  const chain = Chain.fromId(chainId)
  if (!chain) return null

  const gasPriceWei = Gwei.toWei(Gwei(gasPriceGwei))
  const costWei = Uint.times(gasPriceWei, Uint(150_000n))
  const costEth = Number(costWei) / 1e18
  const costUsd = costEth * 2000

  return {
    eth: costEth.toFixed(5),
    usd: `$${costUsd.toFixed(2)}`
  }
}

const networks = [
  { id: 1, price: 50n, name: 'Ethereum Mainnet' },
  { id: 42161, price: 1n, name: 'Arbitrum One' },
  { id: 10, price: 1n, name: 'Optimism' },
  { id: 8453, price: 1n, name: 'Base' },
  { id: 137, price: 30n, name: 'Polygon' }
]

console.log('Swap Cost Comparison (150,000 gas):')
console.log('─'.repeat(60))

networks.forEach(({ id, price, name }) => {
  const cost = calculateSwapCost(id, price)
  if (cost) {
    console.log(`${name.padEnd(25)} ${cost.eth.padEnd(12)} ETH = ${cost.usd}`)
  }
})
Output: 
Swap Cost Comparison (150,000 gas):
────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Ethereum Mainnet         0.015      ETH = $30.00
Arbitrum One             0.00015    ETH = $0.30
Optimism                 0.00015    ETH = $0.30
Base                     0.00015    ETH = $0.30
Polygon                  0.0045     ETH = $9.00

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Network Selection Guide

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When to use each network:

Use when:
  • Real financial transactions
  • Maximum security needed
  • Settlement certainty required
  • Large value transfers
Avoid when:
  • User experience critical (high gas)
  • Frequent micro-transactions
  • Testing/development
Best for:
  • Loans, staking, large transfers
  • Custody, bridges
  • Governance

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Network Configuration Lookup

import { Chain } from 'tevm'

// Lookup network by chain ID
const networks = [1, 10, 42161, 8453, 137, 11155111]

networks.forEach(chainId => {
  const chain = Chain.fromId(chainId)
  if (!chain) return

  console.log(`\n=== ${chain.name} ===`)
  console.log(`Chain ID: ${chain.chainId}`)
  console.log(`Symbol: ${chain.nativeCurrency.symbol}`)
  console.log(`Decimals: ${chain.nativeCurrency.decimals}`)
  console.log(`RPC: ${chain.rpc[0]}`)

  if (chain.explorers?.[0]) {
    console.log(`Explorer: ${chain.explorers[0].name}`)
    console.log(`Explorer URL: ${chain.explorers[0].url}`)
  }
})

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Fee Estimation Across Networks

import { Chain } from 'tevm'
import * as Gwei from 'tevm/Gwei'
import * as Wei from 'tevm/Wei'
import * as Uint from 'tevm/Uint'

interface FeeEstimate {
  network: string
  baseGasPrice: Gwei.Type
  transferCost: { eth: string; gwei: string }
  swapCost: { eth: string; gwei: string }
}

function estimateFees(
  chainId: number,
  baseGasPrice: bigint
): FeeEstimate | null {
  const chain = Chain.fromId(chainId)
  if (!chain) return null

  const calculateCost = (gas: bigint) => {
    const costWei = Uint.times(
      Gwei.toWei(Gwei(baseGasPrice)),
      Uint(gas)
    )
    return {
      eth: (Number(costWei) / 1e18).toFixed(6),
      gwei: Uint.dividedBy(costWei, Uint(1_000_000_000n)).toString()
    }
  }

  return {
    network: chain.name,
    baseGasPrice: Gwei(baseGasPrice),
    transferCost: calculateCost(21_000n),
    swapCost: calculateCost(150_000n)
  }
}

// Get all major networks
const networks = [
  { id: 1, price: 50n },     // Mainnet
  { id: 42161, price: 1n },  // Arbitrum
  { id: 10, price: 1n },     // Optimism
  { id: 8453, price: 1n },   // Base
  { id: 137, price: 30n }    // Polygon
]

networks.forEach(({ id, price }) => {
  const fees = estimateFees(id, price)
  if (fees) {
    console.log(`${fees.network}:`)
    console.log(`  Transfer: ${fees.transferCost.eth} ETH`)
    console.log(`  Swap: ${fees.swapCost.eth} ETH`)
  }
})

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Migration Between Networks

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Bridging ETH

When moving funds between Ethereum and L2s: 
import { Chain } from 'tevm'

const mainnet = Chain.fromId(1)!
const arbitrum = Chain.fromId(42161)!
const optimism = Chain.fromId(10)!

// Bridging requires:
// 1. Approval on source chain (Ethereum)
// 2. Bridge contract interaction
// 3. Waiting for L2 confirmation

// Costs:
// - Ethereum approval + bridge call: ~200k gas = $2-5
// - L2 finalization: ~100-200k gas = $0.10-0.30
// Total: ~$2.30-5.30 for bridge in

console.log('Bridge costs (ETH → L2):')
console.log(`Approval: 45k gas @ 50 gwei = 0.00225 ETH`)
console.log(`Bridge TX: 200k gas @ 50 gwei = 0.01 ETH`)
console.log(`L2 Finalization: 100k gas @ 1 gwei = 0.0001 ETH`)
console.log(`Total: ~0.01225 ETH (~$24.50)`)

// Withdrawal back (L2 → Ethereum)
console.log('\nWithdrawal costs (L2 → Ethereum):')
console.log(`L2 initiate: 100k gas @ 1 gwei = 0.0001 ETH`)
console.log(`Mainnet finalize: 200k gas @ 50 gwei = 0.01 ETH`)
console.log(`Wait time: 7 days (fraud proof)`)
console.log(`Total: ~0.0101 ETH (~$20.20)`)