When trying to sign a transaction or swap tokens, Rabby may block the confirmation button with a "Gas balance is not enough" error. This occurs when your wallet lacks the specific token required to pay network fees on that blockchain, even if your total wallet balance looks sufficient.
Here is why this error occurs and how to resolve it.
What are Gas Fees and why are they mandatory?
Gas fees are required to process transactions and actions on the blockchain. They compensate the network’s validators for securing and maintaining the system.
Why can’t USDT/USDC pay for gas fees?
Blockchains do not accept stablecoins like USDT or USDC to pay for network fees. They only accept the specific native token belonging to that network.
For example:
On Ethereum, you must pay in ETH.
On BNB Chain, you must pay in BNB.
On Polygon, you must pay in POL.
On Base or Arbitrum, you must pay in ETH (specifically on that network).
If your balance of the network's native token is $0, your transaction cannot be processed, even if you hold a large amount of USDT or USDC.
Holding the gas token on the wrong network
Sometimes you may have the correct token (like ETH), but it is located on a different network than the one you are trying to use.
To complete a transaction on Arbitrum, you must hold ETH on the Arbitrum network.
Holding ETH on Ethereum Mainnet or Optimism cannot cover fees for a transaction on Arbitrum.
Each blockchain operates independently. Your gas tokens must be on the exact same network where you are attempting the transaction.
How to fix it: Get some Gas
To unlock the signature button, you need to add a small amount of the native gas token to the correct network. You can do this in a few ways:
Use Rabby’s Built-in GasAccount: If you have funds on any chain, click the GasAccount button on the homepage to deposit tokens into your GasAccount. This balance can then be used to pay for gas fees across multiple networks.
Deposit from an Exchange: Withdraw a small amount of the native token (like ETH, BNB, or POL) from a centralized exchange directly to your Rabby address. Ensure you select the correct target network during the withdrawal process.
Bridge Funds: If you already have gas tokens on one chain (like Ethereum Mainnet) but need them on another (like Base), use a cross-chain bridge to move a portion over.
Once the native token is received on the correct network, the error will disappear and the signature button will unlock.