What Are Gasless Transactions?
Gasless (or sponsored) transactions allow users to interact with a blockchain without needing to hold the native token (like ETH or SOL). Instead, the protocol or dApp pays the fee behind the scenes — making the experience as smooth as Web2.
Source says: Relayer is an off-chain service that accepts a signed message or meta-transaction from user and pays the gas on behalf of this user to send the transaction on-chain. In reward the relayer can be repaid later, paid through another process, or subsidized.
Projects Leading the Way
- zkSync and Starknet offer built-in account abstraction, allowing smart wallets to sponsor gas.
- Base and Polygon are integrating gas relayers to support onboarding for new users.
- Wallet providers like Sequence and Argent are offering gasless signing flows to attract mainstream users.
Why It Matters
- Lower friction: No need to preload wallets with native tokens just to start using an app.
- Better UX: Feels like using a regular app — click, confirm, done.
- Onboarding: Ideal for games, social apps, and DeFi tools targeting non-crypto-native users.
The Bottom Line
Gasless transactions are more than a feature — they’re becoming a UX standard. In 2025, chains that abstract away complexity are seeing higher user retention and faster growth. The easier it is to use crypto, the more users will stick around.
