<p>The fees are supposed to be low. The last year, the transactions-per-second rate increased more than the system could handle. A few months ago, "SegWit", a technical advancement was activated. Currently people can use SegWit addresses and pay less fees, (so use a SegWit compatible wallet if you want to pay less fees!), however it's only a temporary solution. We'll have "side-chains" and other Layer-2 technology in a few months (Search for "Lightning Network") (up to a year) which will make fees drop forever.</p>

<p><strong>TL;DR:</strong> The fees are temporarily high. Keep on eye on Bitcoin news.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-06T07:12:22.987Z
This answer appears to imply that Lightning Network is a sidechain. LN is not a sidechain.
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-05T12:45:41.743Z
2018-01-06T07:26:02.407Z
2018-01-06T07:26:02.407Z
MCCCS
<p>You can't use them without it costing you money! I am asking because I want to give some of my bitcoins to a friend. It is a gift not a transaction.
I don't think it can be useful as a currency if it costs so much to use. 
Please can someone explain this simple point. I am not familiar with any of the intricacies or concepts of Bitcoin and am just looking at its possibility of use as an actual useful currency.</p>

<transaction-fees><value><sending>
What is the point of Bitcoins if every transaction has a fee?
T Davies
# What is the point of Bitcoins if every transaction has a fee?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-05)

You can't use them without it costing you money! I am asking because I want to give some of my bitcoins to a friend. It is a gift not a transaction.
I don't think it can be useful as a currency if it costs so much to use.
Please can someone explain this simple point. I am not familiar with any of the intricacies or concepts of Bitcoin and am just looking at its possibility of use as an actual useful currency.

**Tags:** transaction-fees, value, sending


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-01-05. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

The fees are supposed to be low. The last year, the transactions-per-second rate increased more than the system could handle. A few months ago, "SegWit", a technical advancement was activated. Currently people can use SegWit addresses and pay less fees, (so use a SegWit compatible wallet if you want to pay less fees!), however it's only a temporary solution. We'll have "side-chains" and other Layer-2 technology in a few months (Search for "Lightning Network") (up to a year) which will make fees drop forever.

**TL;DR:** The fees are temporarily high. Keep on eye on Bitcoin news.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This answer appears to imply that Lightning Network is a sidechain. LN is not a sidechain.  

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