Avalanche is a proof-of-stake blockchain platform built around a Primary Network of three separate chains: the P-Chain, C-Chain and X-Chain. AVAX is used to pay fees and stake on that network, while independently configured Avalanche L1s—formerly called Subnets—can have their own validators, rules and fee tokens. The details depend on which chain and network you use.
What is Avalanche?
Avalanche is a proof-of-stake platform, not a single blockchain with one shared ledger. Its Primary Network is a special Avalanche L1 made up of three chains with different responsibilities. Keeping those roles separate helps explain why a transaction, token or fee rule on one chain may not work the same way on another.
| Chain | Main role |
|---|---|
| P-Chain (Platform Chain) | Coordinates validator and staking operations for the Primary Network and Avalanche L1s. |
| C-Chain (Contract Chain) | Runs smart contracts and is the chain commonly used for decentralized applications and EVM-compatible activity. |
| X-Chain (Exchange Chain) | Supports the creation and transfer of digital assets. |
These chains are related parts of the Primary Network, but they are not interchangeable names for one ledger. Check the destination chain when sending assets or interacting with an application.
What is AVAX used for?
AVAX is Avalanche’s native utility token. On the Primary Network, it is used to pay transaction fees and to stake as part of proof-of-stake validation. Avalanche Builder Hub documentation states a maximum supply of up to 720 million AVAX. That is a supply cap, not the amount currently circulating.
The Builder Hub staking documentation, accessed October 4, 2026, lists a minimum stake of 2,000 AVAX to validate and a minimum delegation of 25 AVAX. Staking terms can change with network upgrades, so check the current staking documentation before relying on those thresholds.
How does Avalanche consensus work?
Avalanche consensus uses repeated, small-scale sampling rather than having a single leader decide the result. A validator asks a small random subset of validators for their preferences. If enough sampled validators agree, it updates its own preference; the process repeats until confidence builds over consecutive rounds. A validator’s stake affects its weight in sampling.
As the Avalanche Builder Hub puts it, “Consensus protocols in the Avalanche family operate through repeated sub-sampled voting.” Snowman is the Avalanche consensus implementation used for linear chains. This describes how validators converge on a decision; it does not guarantee one exact confirmation time for every transaction.
What are Avalanche Subnets, and what are L1s?
“Subnet” is the older name for what official Avalanche documentation now calls an Avalanche L1. The legacy term remains supported in the network and code, but the documentation recommends launching new blockchains as L1s.
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An Avalanche L1 is a sovereign network with its own validator membership and rules. One L1 can validate multiple blockchains, while each blockchain is validated by one L1. L1s are independent in execution, fees, state, networking and security requirements; their exact configuration can vary.
How do Primary Network chains and L1s differ?
The Primary Network follows shared network rules, including AVAX fees that are burned. An independently configured L1 does not automatically inherit those fee rules or use AVAX as its gas token.
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| Feature | Primary Network | Avalanche L1 |
|---|---|---|
| Validator membership | Governed by Primary Network rules. | Defined by the L1’s own membership rules. |
| Execution and state | Each of the P-, C- and X-Chains has its own role and chain environment. | Configured for the L1; independent from the Primary Network in execution and state. |
| Fee token | AVAX. | Set by the L1; it may use a gas token other than AVAX. |
| Fee calculation | Depends on chain and transaction type. C-Chain fees use a dynamic base fee. | Set by the L1’s configuration. |
| Fee destination | Primary Network transaction fees are burned. | Fees can be burned or configured to go to an address. |
| Reliance on Primary Network | Uses the Primary Network’s shared rules and infrastructure. | Independent in networking and security requirements; its relationship to Primary Network functionality depends on configuration. |
These are architectural distinctions, not a description of every individual L1’s live settings. For a specific L1, check its own documentation for its validator policy, gas token, fee calculation and fee destination.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How much are Avalanche transaction fees?
There is no single fixed fee that applies to every Avalanche transaction. On the Primary Network, fees are paid in AVAX and burned, but the calculation depends on the chain and transaction type. On C-Chain, the base fee adjusts with network utilization: it rises when utilization is above its target and falls when it is below. A dynamic-fee transaction can also include a priority tip.
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Current C-Chain fee mechanics
According to the official Avalanche fee guide as of October 4, 2026, the Helicon upgrade was active on Mainnet. The guide says the minimum base fee starts at 1 wei and is a dynamic parameter driven by stake-weighted validator preference. Under Continuous Execution, the block’s baseFeePerGas is a worst-case bound at the start of execution, and a sender must be able to cover the worst-case cost when the transaction is included. The charged gas amount is max(gasUsed, gasLimit / 2).
Those upgrade-specific rules may change, and a minimum base fee is not a quote for the total cost of a transaction. For a transaction you are about to submit, use a current wallet estimate or the documented gas-estimation APIs, and confirm that the estimate is for the intended chain and transaction.
Why older fee quotes can mislead
An Avalanche Support article dated October 15, 2025 described a 75–225 nAVAX/gwei range. That older range should not be treated as a universal current rate: the newer fee guide reflects subsequent upgrade changes and a minimum base fee that can start at 1 wei. A fee quote is meaningful only with its chain, transaction context and time attached.
Quick Recap
Before sending a transaction
- Confirm whether the destination is the P-, C- or X-Chain, or a separate Avalanche L1.
- Check which token the destination network requires for gas; AVAX is not the gas token on every L1.
- Review the current wallet estimate or the network’s documented gas-estimation method rather than relying on an old fee range.
- For a custom L1, consult that network’s current documentation for fee rules and where fees go.
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