Small Uniswap v3 Positions Struggle to Beat HODLing After Gas Fees
A new study reveals that only 18% of Uniswap v3 positions under $1,000 generate profits after accounting for gas fees.
A new study reveals that only 18% of Uniswap v3 positions under $1,000 generate profits after accounting for gas fees. Uniswap (UNI) is trading at $7.33, up 1.0% since this brief published. This is an original TLT brief based on reporting by CryptoSlate, with live market data added, as of Sat, 17 Oct 2026 04:00:04 UTC.
This finding highlights the growing challenge for retail traders on Uniswap v3, where high gas costs significantly impact profitability for smaller trades, potentially discouraging participation and favoring larger players.
- Only 18% of Uniswap v3 positions under $1,000 outperform HODLing after gas fees.
- Uniswap TVL stands at $3.92B, down 2.4% over the past week.
- High gas costs may disproportionately impact retail traders on Uniswap v3.
A recent study by Bitquery, as reported by CryptoSlate, indicates that small traders on 
Uniswap v3 are struggling to achieve profitability. The analysis shows that only 18% of Uniswap v3 positions valued under $1,000 outperform simply holding the assets after factoring in gas fees.
This finding underscores the impact of high transaction costs on retail traders, who may find it difficult to justify the expenses associated with trading on the platform. The data suggests that larger trades are more likely to absorb the gas fees and still generate profits.
Uniswap's Total Value Locked (TVL) currently stands at $3.92 billion, according to DeFiLlama, marking a 2.4% decrease over the past week. This decline in TVL, combined with the findings of the study, paints a picture of potential challenges for the platform's smaller participants.
The broader crypto market remains relatively flat, with a total market cap of $2.8 trillion. 
Bitcoin is down 0.73% in the last 24 hours, while the Fear & Greed Index sits at 55, indicating a state of 'Greed.' Uniswap's native token, UNI, is also experiencing a slight downturn, currently trading at $7.26, with a 24-hour decrease of 2.46%.
The study's results raise important questions about the accessibility and profitability of decentralized exchanges for retail traders. As the industry evolves, it will be crucial to monitor how platforms like Uniswap address these challenges and whether innovations in v4 or other versions can mitigate the impact of gas fees on smaller trades.
Since this brief published about 11 hours ago, Uniswap (UNI) has moved from $7.26 to $7.33 — +0.96%.
The chart plots UNI's price: grey is the move before this brief published, the vertical dashed line marks the moment it published, the horizontal dashed line is the price then, and the coloured area is the move since — from TLT's market data (daily resolution). It shows what happened after the news, not that the news caused it; many factors move prices. Not financial advice.
At today's peer-to-peer rate, 1 UNI ≈ ₦9,991.12 (about $7.33), down 0.9% over 24 hours. The naira itself trades about 2.3% above the official rate on the P2P market, so a Nigerian buyer's effective cost differs from the headline dollar price.
Live market data
Current prices for the asset in this story — live, source-stamped, updated every 15 minutes.
Figures and sectors in this story, checked live against on-chain aggregators · October 17, 2026.
TLT reads these figures directly from on-chain aggregators (DeFiLlama, mempool.space) at build time — independent of what any outlet reported. Sector totals aggregate every protocol DeFiLlama tracks in that category. Values are live and will change.
Small Uniswap v3 Positions Struggle to Beat HODLing After Ga — questions & answers
What percentage of Uniswap v3 positions under $1,000 beat HODLing?
Only 18% of Uniswap v3 positions under $1,000 outperform simply holding the assets after accounting for gas fees.
How much is Uniswap's TVL?
Uniswap's TVL is $3.92 billion, down 2.4% over the past week.
What is the current price of Uniswap's token, UNI?
UNI is currently trading at $7.26, with a 24-hour decrease of 2.46%.
How much is 1 Uniswap worth in naira today?
About ₦9,991.12 at the live peer-to-peer (P2P) USDT rate, which is what Nigerians typically trade at — equivalent to roughly $7.33. The naira price moves with both UNI's US-dollar price and the USDT/NGN rate; use our Uniswap in naira page for any amount.
Has Uniswap's price moved since this brief was published?
UNI is up 0.96% since this brief first published — trading at $7.33 now versus $7.26 at publication. TLT re-checks this figure against CoinGecko and Binance every 15 minutes.
Which outlets reported this story?
This is an original TLT brief that synthesises reporting from CryptoSlate. It is not a copy of any one article — follow the source links above for the original reporting.
Original summary — not financial advice. This is an original TLT brief that summarises a development reported elsewhere and adds live market data for context; it is not the original article and reproduces no part of it. Follow the source link above for full details. Crypto is volatile and high-risk — always do your own research.