 How to modify or cancel a pending Ethereum transaction  
2025-02-08
Category: None

Key takeawaysEthereum transactions require gas fees, which depend on the gas limit and gas price. Higher fees ensure faster processing by validators.Pending Ethereum transactions can be resolved. Speed up stuck transactions by increasing gas fees or cancel them with a replacement transaction using the same nonce.Some wallets allow in-app wallet features to cancel stuck transactions. Monitoring network congestion and using tools like Etherscan Gas Tracker to set optimal gas fees allow for smoother transaction management.Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). Often referred to as the “world computer,” Ethereum goes beyond mere cryptocurrency transactions, enabling a secure, trustless, decentralized environment. The native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transaction fees, making it an integral part of the ecosystem.Navigating Ethereum transactions can sometimes be challenging, especially when a transaction gets stuck in a pending state. Understanding how to modify or cancel these transactions is crucial for efficient blockchain interactions. This comprehensive article will walk you through the steps to address pending Ethereum transactions, ensuring you are well-equipped to handle such situations.
Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). 
Often referred to as the “world computer,” Ethereum goes beyond mere cryptocurrency transactions, enabling a secure, trustless, decentralized environment. The native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transaction fees, making it an integral part of the ecosystem.
Navigating Ethereum transactions can sometimes be challenging, especially when a transaction gets stuck in a pending state. Understanding how to modify or cancel these transactions is crucial for efficient blockchain interactions. 
This comprehensive article will walk you through the steps to address pending Ethereum transactions, ensuring you are well-equipped to handle such situations.
Understanding Ethereum transactions and gas fees 
Ethereum transactions are validated through a consensus mechanism called proof-of-stake (PoS), where network participants, known as validators, are responsible for confirming transactions and adding them to the blockchain. Validators are selected based on the amount of ETH they have staked, ensuring the security and integrity of the network.
Every time you hit “send” on Ethereum, you are entering a bidding war for the validator’s attention. Gas fees? That’s what you bid with. 
This is because every Ethereum transaction requires a fee, known as gas, paid to validators for processing and validating transactions. The total fee is determined by two factors:
Setting a low gas price can result in a delayed or stuck transaction, as validators prioritize transactions with higher fees. This issue becomes more pronounced during periods of network congestion. 
Did you know? The highest gas fee ever paid on Ethereum was a staggering $24 million for a single transaction in 2021. The fee was reportedly an error made by a crypto exchange, highlighting the importance of double-checking transaction details before confirming a transaction. Thankfully, it was returned.
Why do transactions get stuck?
Stuck transactions are the blockchain equivalent of waiting in a long queue — annoying but fixable. Transactions may remain pending due to:
Did you know? The Ethereum blockchain processes transactions in order of their nonce values. If a low-nonce transaction is stuck, it can delay all subsequent transactions from the same wallet.
Therefore, Ethereum transactions can go through different states depending on their status within the blockchain network. Here’s an overview of various transaction states and what they mean:
Understanding these states can help you troubleshoot and manage Ethereum transactions effectively, ensuring smoother interaction with the network.
Steps to modify or cancel a pending Ethereum transaction
When a transaction is stuck, you’ve got two main plays:
It is important to note that once a transaction has been confirmed on the Ethereum blockchain, it is final and can no longer be sped up, reverted or canceled.
Method 1: Speed up Ethereum transactions
When Ethereum transactions are stuck in a pending state due to low gas fees or network congestion, you can take steps to speed them up. The key lies in increasing the gas fee, which incentivizes validators to prioritize your transaction. To speed up a pending or stuck transaction, you need to have enough ETH in your Ethereum account to cover the network fees. 
Here’s how you could speed up ETH transactions:
1. Use a wallet with transaction management features
Wallets like MetaMask allow users to speed up stuck transactions directly. In MetaMask, you can find the “Speed up” option on your pending transaction. This feature lets you resubmit the same transaction with a higher gas fee, which increases the likelihood of validators processing it faster.
Steps in MetaMask:

This process essentially replaces the original transaction with one that has the same nonce but higher gas fees, prompting faster execution.
2. Manually replace the transaction
If your wallet does not have a “Speed up” option, you can manually replace the transaction using the same nonce. This involves:
3. Choose the right gas fees
To avoid stuck transactions, always select an appropriate gas fee when initiating a transaction. Many wallets, including MetaMask, offer suggested gas fees based on current network activity, but you can opt for higher fees for time-sensitive transactions.
Gas fee hacks: Not in a hurry? Wait for network traffic to cool down (non-peak hours) and save some ETH. 
Method 2: Cancel stuck Ethereum transactions
You can cancel transactions that are pending for hours; however, once again, it is prudent to remember that once a transaction has been confirmed on the Ethereum blockchain, it is final and cannot be sped up, reverted or canceled.
Fortunately, there are two primary methods to cancel a pending Ethereum transaction: using the in-app feature of wallets like MetaMask or manually setting a custom nonce. Here’s how both methods work:
1. Canceling a transaction in-app 
Many wallets, such as MetaMask, offer a built-in option to cancel pending transactions. This is the simplest and most user-friendly way to attempt a cancellation.
Steps:

This method sends a replacement transaction with the same nonce as the pending one but without any value or data, effectively overriding the original transaction.
2. Canceling a transaction using a custom nonce
For advanced users or in cases where the wallet’s cancellation option is unavailable, you can manually cancel a transaction by using a custom nonce. 
Steps:
Once submitted, the new transaction will replace the pending one. This method works by using Ethereum’s rule that transactions must be processed in sequential order. By broadcasting a new transaction with the same nonce and higher gas fees, you effectively replace the pending one.
Important considerations for canceling transactions
Preventing future stuck transactions
To minimize the risk of pending transactions:
By understanding the mechanics of Ethereum transactions and the tools available to you, you can effectively manage and resolve pending transactions, ensuring a seamless experience on the blockchain.
Written by: Shailey Singh