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Starting October 6, 2026, with version 2.114.61, you can set custom network fees in Gem Wallet on Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, BNB Chain, and other EVM networks. Now you decide how much to pay for gas - Gem Wallet puts the price of every transfer in your hands.
What Makes Up a Fee on EVM Networks
A fee on EVM networks (blockchains built on the virtual machine of Ethereum, with shared addresses and tokens) consists of two parts:
- Base Fee: The mandatory charge the network sets for each block.
- Priority Fee: A tip to the validator to include your transaction in a block faster.
Both parts are measured in Gwei - billionths of an ETH. Base Fee changes from block to block: the more transactions wait in line, the more expensive gas gets. You can check what the network costs right now in the Gem Wallet Gas Tracker.
What Are Custom Network Fees in Gem Wallet?
Custom Network Fees is the Custom option in the Network Fee sheet, where you enter Base Fee and Priority Fee in Gwei yourself. Before, Gem Wallet offered only two options on EVM networks - Normal and Fast.
Each field shows the Normal value as a placeholder, so you see a reference point before you start typing. An empty field keeps following the network, so you can change only the tip or only the base part. BNB Chain has no Base Fee, so there Gem Wallet shows a single field - Priority Fee.
For example, you send USDT on Ethereum and want it in the next block: you raise only Priority Fee and leave Base Fee empty - it keeps following the network. We hand this setting over to our users: what the Normal or Fast option used to decide for you is now your choice - and you pay exactly as much as you see fit.
What Limits Protect Your Transaction
- Base Fee Not Below Normal: Gem Wallet won’t let you set the base part below what the Normal option signs - your transaction won’t get stuck in the queue.
- Priority Fee Not Below the Network Minimum: The tip can’t go below the minimum value the network accepts.
- Cap at 10x Normal: Both fields are capped at ten times the Normal value - an extra zero won’t accidentally make a transfer expensive.
The fee on the screen is the amount you sign: the current Base Fee with 20% headroom plus the tip. The headroom lets the transaction go through even if gas gets more expensive, and only the block’s actual Base Fee is charged. Gem Wallet also lowered the minimum tip on networks where it was far above what the network actually uses.
Benefits for Gem Wallet Users
Gem Wallet is a mobile self-custody wallet with 100% open-source code for iOS and Android. Here is what it gives you on EVM networks:
- Full Self-Custody: Gem Wallet keeps private keys only on your device - you sign transactions, and no intermediary has access to your assets.
- Fully Open-Source Code: Gem Wallet’s code is 100% open and passed a CertiK audit in April 2026 - anyone can check how the app calculates and signs a fee.
- Privacy by Default: No email, phone number, or ID - Gem Wallet does not collect user data.
- Your Price for Every Transaction: Base Fee and Priority Fee are set separately, and the Normal placeholder in each field shows where to start.
- Protection From Mistakes: The lower limits and the 10x Normal cap keep you from setting a fee at which the transaction gets stuck or turns out too expensive.
- Built-in DEX Aggregator: Swap ETH, USDT, and other tokens right in the app through Uniswap, Relay, THORChain, Chainflip, and other top DEX providers.
- Gas Reserve: Buy Ethereum with a credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay in 170+ countries, so you always have something to pay the fee with.
How to Set Custom Network Fees in Gem Wallet
- Open Gem Wallet, select an asset on an EVM network, and tap Send
- Enter the recipient address and the amount
- Tap the Network Fee row and choose Custom
- Enter Base Fee and Priority Fee in Gwei - the Network Fee row instantly shows the total fee in ETH and dollars
Important: Always keep a small amount of the network’s native token on your balance - ETH on Ethereum and Base, BNB on BNB Chain - it pays the fee.
Resources for Developers
Gem Wallet already supports custom network fees on Bitcoin and related UTXO networks, and now on EVM networks as well: Base, BNB Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum, and others.
The code behind the feature is fully open, and anyone can read it line by line:
📖 Custom Network Fees Pull Request on GitHub
Conclusion
Gem Wallet grows together with our users: after Bitcoin, the price of a transfer is under your control on EVM networks too. Open Gem Wallet, start a transfer on Ethereum or Base, and set your custom network fee - securely and privately.
