Meta-Transaction
Also known as: Gasless Transaction, Signed Off-chain Transaction, Relayed Transaction
A transaction model where a third party pays gas fees on behalf of a user, enabling gasless or simplified user experiences.
Meta-transactions allow users to interact with a blockchain without directly paying gas fees. Instead, a relayer (third party) submits the transaction and covers the gas cost, often in exchange for a fee or as part of a subsidized service. This is enabled through signature-based authorization where users sign a message off-chain. Meta-transactions are especially useful for onboarding new users, improving UX in dApps, and enabling mobile-friendly or walletless interactions. Frameworks like GSN (Gas Station Network) and EIP-2771 standardize meta-transaction support across Web3 platforms.