The TRON network has significantly optimized its fee structure, reducing energy costs by 60% and launching JustLend DAO's energy rental and GasFree smart wallet features to lower transaction fees and simplify the on-chain experience.

Executive Summary

The TRON network, following a Super Representative vote on August 29, 2025, has implemented a substantial 60% reduction in its energy unit price, decreasing it from 0.00021 TRX (210 SUN) to 0.0001 TRX (100 SUN). Alongside this, JustLend DAO introduced an Energy Rental Service with an 8% rate and a GasFree smart wallet functionality, allowing users to pay transaction fees directly with tokens like USDT instead of TRX. These initiatives aim to significantly lower user transaction costs and streamline the on-chain experience, potentially increasing network activity, particularly for USDT transfers.

The Event in Detail

The TRON network's energy fee reduction, the largest since its 2018 mainnet launch, was formalized through Proposal No. 104, which passed with 25 out of 27 Super Representative votes on August 29. This adjustment directly reduces the TRX burning cost for smart contract interactions by nearly 60%. A quarterly dynamic adjustment mechanism for TRON's energy fees has been implemented, allowing for flexible adaptation based on TRX price and network activity.

The JustLend DAO Energy Rental Service enables users to rent energy on demand, providing significant cost savings. For instance, renting 100,000 energy for approximately 2.65 TRX can facilitate two transactions, whereas a USDT transfer without sufficient energy or bandwidth traditionally required about 14.67 TRX. This rental mechanism can reduce USDT transaction costs by 50-75%, leading to potential savings for high-volume traders.

The GasFree smart wallet functionality, launched by JustLend DAO, eliminates the need for users to hold TRX for transaction fees, allowing direct payment with TRC20-USDT. This feature has already processed over $15.8 billion in transactions and saved users nearly $2.2 million in gas fees as of September 8th. The protocol provides fee subsidies, lowering single transaction costs to as low as 1 USDT for high-frequency scenarios.

Market Implications

These updates are expected to substantially reduce transaction costs and friction for users on the TRON network, enhancing its attractiveness for DeFi, DApp usage, and general transactions. The competitive pricing strategy, including the 60% fee cut, positions TRON more favorably against other blockchains offering low or free transaction fees. Increased network activity, greater adoption of TRON-based applications, and a strengthened position as a low-cost, high-efficiency blockchain, particularly for stablecoin transactions, are anticipated. For Web3 developers, the long-term costs of deploying smart contracts and operating DApps will be significantly reduced, fostering a more favorable entrepreneurial environment.

Expert Commentary

TRON founder Justin Sun commented that while the 60% fee reduction might affect short-term network revenue, it is expected to lead to stronger long-term profitability through increased user and transaction volume growth. He noted that the reduction is "rare in the industry" and a "real benefit for users."

Broader Context

TRON handles over 3 million transactions daily and hosts a substantial amount of USDT. The network's proactive approach to fee optimization, evidenced by the largest fee adjustment since its 2018 mainnet launch and the dynamic quarterly fee adjustment mechanism, underscores its commitment to maintaining competitiveness and attracting a larger user base amidst rising TRX prices that had pushed transaction costs as high as $2.50. The innovation in energy economics, such as the "pay-as-you-go, use-as-you-rent, return-as-you-rent" model from JustLend DAO, represents a significant shift from traditional models requiring long-term TRX staking or burning. The GasFree service's ability to allow direct stablecoin payments for fees aligns with a user-first philosophy, potentially laying groundwork for scaled application in cross-border payments and inclusive finance. The JustLend DAO protocol's Total Value Locked (TVL) exceeding $3.4 billion as of September 2025 further highlights the ecosystem's robust foundation and the potential impact of these cost optimizations.