Tron implemented Proposal #789 on August 29, 2025, slashing its gas fee (energy unit price) from 210 sun to 100 sun.
The result: daily revenue for Tron’s block producers, also known as Super Representatives, plummeted from US$13.9 million to US$5 million — a 64% drop over 10 days.
Why This Matters
- Lower Costs for Users: Gas fees dropped by about 60%, making transactions cheaper on the Tron network.
- Income Hit for Validators / Block Producers: With the reduction in fees, the revenue that supports network maintainers and validators has taken a major hit.
- Trade‐off Between Revenue and Adoption: The intention is to encourage more usage by reducing costs. The hope among the Tron community is that higher transaction volume will eventually compensate for the revenue decline.
Key Details & Numbers
| Metric | Old Value | New Value |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Fee (energy unit price) | 210 sun | 100 sun |
| Daily Revenue (Block Producers) | US$13.9 million | US$5 million |
| Drop in Revenue Over 10 Days | N/A | ~64% |
| Change in Average Transaction Fee | — | Fell by ~60% |
Implications & Risks
- Validator Economics Strained: Block producers (Super Representatives) rely heavily on transaction fees. With revenue down significantly, their incentives may be impacted.
- Sustainability Questions: Can increased volume make up for the lost margin per transaction? This is uncertain, especially in the short term.
- User & Developer Attraction: Lower fees are likely to be attractive to users and developers, possibly boosting ecosystem growth.
What to Watch Next
- Whether transaction volume increases significantly now that fees are cheaper.
- How block producers adapt — will there be pressure to lower costs elsewhere, push for subsidies, or ask for alternative revenue streams?
- Any adjustments to the fee policy if the revenue drop severely affects network stability.
- Comparison with other Layer-1 blockchains: how they balance fee income vs user growth.
Conclusion
Tron’s decision to cut gas fees has led to a steep 64% drop in daily revenue for its block producers within only 10 days. While the cut makes transaction costs more user-friendly, it presents immediate economic challenges for validators. Whether Tron can offset the revenue loss through higher usage and growth remains to be seen.
