# How Does a Node Decide Which Low-Fee Transactions to Drop from Its Mempool? ⎊ Path

**Published:** 2025-12-04
**Author:** Greeks.live
**Categories:** Path

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## How Does a Node Decide Which Low-Fee Transactions to Drop from Its Mempool?

Nodes have a finite amount of memory to store unconfirmed transactions. When the Mempool becomes full, nodes must prune or drop transactions to make space for new, higher-fee ones.

The decision is typically based on the transaction's fee-per-byte (or fee-per-gas). Transactions below a certain minimum fee threshold or those that have been pending for an excessive duration are usually the first to be dropped.

- [How Does a Miner Select Which Transactions to Include in a Block?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-a-miner-select-which-transactions-to-include-in-a-block/)

- [What Is the Minimum Number of Nodes Required to Form a Valid Threshold Signature?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-the-minimum-number-of-nodes-required-to-form-a-valid-threshold-signature/)

- [How Do Nodes Manage the Size and Contents of Their Mempools?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-do-nodes-manage-the-size-and-contents-of-their-mempools/)

- [What Is the Significance of a “Memory-Hard” Algorithm in Resisting ASIC Development?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-the-significance-of-a-memory-hard-algorithm-in-resisting-asic-development/)

- [What Are the Potential Consequences of Setting a TWAP Time Period That Is Too Short or Too Long?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-are-the-potential-consequences-of-setting-a-twap-time-period-that-is-too-short-or-too-long/)

- [Why Do Some Nodes Have a Minimum Fee Threshold for Relaying?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/why-do-some-nodes-have-a-minimum-fee-threshold-for-relaying/)

- [How Does a Miner Choose Which Transactions to Include from the Mempool?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-a-miner-choose-which-transactions-to-include-from-the-mempool/)

- [How Does a Miner Decide Which Transactions to Include in a Block?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-a-miner-decide-which-transactions-to-include-in-a-block/)

## Glossar

### [Node](https://learn.greeks.live/area/node/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Entity ⎊ A Node is an individual participant computer that validates transactions, maintains a copy of the ledger, and contributes to the overall security and decentralization of the cryptocurrency Network.

### [Minimum Fee Threshold](https://learn.greeks.live/area/minimum-fee-threshold/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Threshold ⎊ The Minimum Fee Threshold represents the lowest acceptable fee rate, often enforced by node relay policies, required for a transaction to be considered valid and propagated across the network.

## Discover More

### [How Does the Concept of "Miner Capitulation" Relate to a Prolonged Price Drop?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-the-concept-of-miner-capitulation-relate-to-a-prolonged-price-drop/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does the Concept of "Miner Capitulation" Relate to a Prolonged Price Drop?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sharp-Geometric-Projection-of-DeFi-Collateral-Pool-Dynamics-Over-Dark-Pool-Liquidity.webp)

Miner capitulation is the forced shutdown of unprofitable miners due to a prolonged price drop, leading to a sharp hashrate decrease.

### [What Happens to Low-Fee Transactions during Peak Network Usage?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-happens-to-low-fee-transactions-during-peak-network-usage/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![What Happens to Low-Fee Transactions during Peak Network Usage?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Precision-Engineering-Mechanics-Interfacing-Cryptocurrency-Derivatives-Settlement-Infrastructure-Physicalization.webp)

Back Queue. uparrow Time Hours/Days. Drop checkmark.

### [What Financial Derivative Could a Miner Use to Hedge against a Drop in the Cryptocurrency Price?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-financial-derivative-could-a-miner-use-to-hedge-against-a-drop-in-the-cryptocurrency-price/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![What Financial Derivative Could a Miner Use to Hedge against a Drop in the Cryptocurrency Price?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Symmetrical-Bifurcation-Visualizing-Decentralized-Finance-Derivative-Contract-Settlement-Mechanics.webp)

Selling a futures contract or buying a Put option locks in a minimum selling price for future mined coins.

### [How Does a Sharp Drop in Implied Volatility Affect Gamma near Expiration?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-a-sharp-drop-in-implied-volatility-affect-gamma-near-expiration/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does a Sharp Drop in Implied Volatility Affect Gamma near Expiration?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Precision-Engineered-Cryptocurrency-Asset-Apex-Representing-Volatility-Surface-Skew-Configuration.webp)

A drop in IV increases Gamma, especially for ATM options, by compressing the probability distribution and magnifying sensitivity.

### [Which Cryptocurrencies Are Most Vulnerable to Attacks Related to Low Difficulty?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/which-cryptocurrencies-are-most-vulnerable-to-attacks-related-to-low-difficulty/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![Which Cryptocurrencies Are Most Vulnerable to Attacks Related to Low Difficulty?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bifurcated-Quantum-Entanglement-Architecture-Governing-Decentralized-Exchange-Liquidity-Provision-Mechanisms.webp)

Newer or less popular PoW altcoins with low hashrate are most vulnerable, especially if they share a common mining algorithm.

### [How Does a Low-Fee Pool Attract More Arbitrage Volume?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-a-low-fee-pool-attract-more-arbitrage-volume/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does a Low-Fee Pool Attract More Arbitrage Volume?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sharp-Apex-Precision-Blue-Anodized-Edge-Meeting-Beige-Surface-Signaling-Volatility-Surface-Penetration.webp)

Low fees reduce the cost of arbitrage, lowering the profitability threshold and increasing the frequency and volume of arbitrage trades.

### [How Does a Miner Select Which Transactions to Include in a Block?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-a-miner-select-which-transactions-to-include-in-a-block/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does a Miner Select Which Transactions to Include in a Block?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Symmetrical-Financial-Instrument-Metaphor-Illustrating-Delta-Hedging-Dynamics-Across-Impermanent-Loss-Curves.webp)

Miners prioritize transactions with the highest fee rate (fee per byte) to maximize their revenue within the block size limit.

### [How Does Staking by Node Operators Secure a Decentralized Oracle Network?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-staking-by-node-operators-secure-a-decentralized-oracle-network/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does Staking by Node Operators Secure a Decentralized Oracle Network?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Layered-Precision-Mechanism-Simulating-Decentralized-Autonomous-Organization-Governance-Token-Staking-Apparatus.webp)

Node operators stake collateral which is slashed for submitting false data, creating an economic incentive for honest and accurate data reporting.

### [How Does PoA Differ from Proof-of-Stake (PoS) in Terms of Node Selection?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-poa-differ-from-proof-of-stake-pos-in-terms-of-node-selection/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does PoA Differ from Proof-of-Stake (PoS) in Terms of Node Selection?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Symmetrical-Convergence-of-Translucent-Prismatic-Structures-Approaching-Centralized-Decentralized-Finance-Node.webp)

PoA validators are pre-approved based on identity and reputation; PoS validators are selected based on the economic value of the tokens they have staked.

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**Original URL:** https://learn.greeks.live/learn/how-does-a-node-decide-which-low-fee-transactions-to-drop-from-its-mempool/
