> How are these transaction fee amounts even determined? The number of transactions that can fit into a block (ie. "clear") is roughly fixed. The rate at which

> How are these transaction fee amounts even determined? The number of transactions that can fit into a block (ie. "clear") is roughly fixed. The rate at which new blocks are added (ie. "clearing rate") is roughly fixed. Traders effectively bid for clearing via the transaction fee, and the highest bidding transactions are accepted. In order words: supply of transactions is effectively fixed, and demand for transactions determines the fee. There is work going on to enable external clearinghouses called the lightning network that will fix this problem, but that work isn't ready yet.