The Ethereum merge was originally designed to reduce the costs associated with running a full node on the Ethereum network. Gas fees were hoped to be reduced by reducing the amount of data each node must process.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Nodes needed to process less data after the merge, but the number of transactions they were able to process per block decreased as well. Gas fees increased as a result of congestion on the network.

So why did this happen? There are a few possible explanations. First, it's possible that the original estimate of the effect of the merge was simply incorrect. Second, there may have been unforeseen side effects of the merge that offset its intended effects. And third, it's possible that the Ethereum network is simply not yet ready for a large-scale reduction in gas fees.

Whatever the reason, the fact remains that the Ethereum merge did not lower gas fees as originally intended. There is still a problem sending crypto to each other among us normal people, so this may be disappointing to those who were hoping it would help us, but it did not help worth a DAMN!!