How Does a Transaction with a Zero Fee Get Confirmed in a Low-Traffic Blockchain?

In a low-traffic blockchain, block space is not scarce, making it economically feasible for a miner to include a zero-fee transaction. A miner may choose to include it simply because there are few or no other transactions to fill the block.

The miner's primary reward is the block subsidy, so they may include a zero-fee transaction to ensure a non-empty block or as an act of good faith. However, even in low-traffic scenarios, the transaction must first reach the miner's mempool, which is unlikely if most relay nodes reject zero-fee broadcasts.

Direct communication or specialized software might be necessary for the sender.