Polygon Surpasses Ethereum in Daily Fees as Polymarket Oscar Wagering Reaches $15 Million

5

Polygon has achieved an unexpected milestone by surpassing Ethereum in daily transaction fees for the first time.

On Friday, Polygon generated approximately $407,100 in fees, while Ethereum collected around $211,700, nearly double the amount.

Activity on Polymarket has surged, transforming prediction markets into significant revenue sources.

Key Takeaways

  • Polygon earned $407,100 in daily fees, exceeding Ethereum’s $211,700 for the first time.
  • Polymarket fueled this increase with $15 million wagered on a single Oscars betting category.
  • The platform contributed over $1 million in fees on the network within just seven days.

What Is Driving the Fee Flip?

The explanation is straightforward: Polymarket. The Oscars attracted significant retail interest, with more than $15 million wagered on one category over the weekend.

Polygon Surpasses Ethereum in Daily Fees as Polymarket Oscar Wagering Reaches $15 Million0Source: DefiLlama

Polygon’s rise in fee rankings was not coincidental. Nearly all of the recent increase stemmed from Polymarket activity, which produced over $1 million in network fees in just a week.

In comparison, the next largest application on Polygon barely made an impact.

Polygon vs Ethereum: The Numbers Behind the Shift

During the weekend, Polygon briefly led in daily fees before the gap narrowed again, with both networks exchanging positions within a tight range.

Polygon just hit an all-time high in daily transactions
And it’s not even close.
12M+ daily USDC txs on Polygon
Every other chain? Below 3M
Polygon Surpasses Ethereum in Daily Fees as Polymarket Oscar Wagering Reaches $15 Million1 Base, Arbitrum, Ethereum Mainnet barely register pic.twitter.com/SVlf5ci2xm

— Leon Waidmann (@LeonWaidmann) February 17, 2026

The rationale is practical: cost. Polygon transactions average around $0.0026, while Ethereum transactions are approximately $1.68. For those placing multiple small bets or making rapid transactions, this difference is significant.

Lower fees lead to increased volume. More volume translates to higher revenue. It is that straightforward.

Meanwhile, Ethereum is facing its own narrative challenges as substantial whale movements have raised volatility concerns. Although Ethereum remains structurally dominant, Polygon is demonstrating that consumer-driven activity can swiftly alter revenue dynamics.

The post Polygon Flips Ethereum in Daily Fees as Polymarket Oscar Betting Hits $15M appeared first on Cryptonews.