Ethereum transaction stuck because of gas
When a transaction is 'stuck on gas', it means the gas price you paid is below what validators currently require. It stays in the mempool — and, because of nonce ordering, it blocks every later transaction from that wallet until the fee becomes competitive.
Why gas matters. Validators pick the transactions that pay the most. If your fee is too low, your transaction waits. During congestion the required fee rises, so a once-fine fee can become insufficient.
The fix. Replace the stuck transaction with one that has the same nonce and a higher gas price (at least 10% higher). This is the only reliable way to move it — waiting works only if fees drop back down.
How long to wait. If you replace it at or above the current fast price, confirmation is usually 10–15 minutes. If you do nothing, it may drop from the mempool after several days — and then the transfer simply does not happen.
Quick answers
Will it eventually confirm on its own?
Only if the network fee demand drops below your fee. If demand stays high, it stays pending until it is replaced or dropped from the mempool.
What is a mempool?
The mempool is where transactions wait to be included in a block. Validators select from it based on the fee paid, so a low-fee transaction can wait a long time.
Did my money disappear while it was stuck?
No. While pending, the funds are reserved but not spent. If the transaction is eventually dropped, the funds return to your available balance.