cost_models (Plutus Script Execution Costs)

Darlington Kofa
Darlington Kofa / 17 Nov 2025

Parameter Timeline

Introduced
September 12, 2021
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Protocol Update (Epoch 366)
September 27, 2022
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Protocol Update (Epoch 367)
October 2, 2022
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Protocol Update (Epoch 368)
October 7, 2022
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 372)
October 27, 2022
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 375)
November 11, 2022
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 379)
December 1, 2022
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 380)
December 6, 2022
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 381)
December 11, 2022
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Protocol Update (Epoch 382)
December 16, 2022
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 383)
December 21, 2022
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 385)
December 31, 2022
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 386)
January 5, 2023
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 387)
January 10, 2023
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 393)
February 9, 2023
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 394)
February 14, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 395)
February 19, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 397)
March 1, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 400)
March 16, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 401)
March 21, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 402)
March 26, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 403)
March 31, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 404)
April 5, 2023
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 406)
April 15, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 409)
April 30, 2023
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 410)
May 5, 2023
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 412)
May 15, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 413)
May 20, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 415)
May 30, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 418)
June 14, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 422)
July 4, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 423)
July 9, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 424)
July 14, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 425)
July 19, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 427)
July 29, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 429)
August 8, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 430)
August 13, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 435)
September 7, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 436)
September 12, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 437)
September 17, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 440)
October 2, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 442)
October 12, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 445)
October 27, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 446)
November 1, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 447)
November 6, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 449)
November 16, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 451)
November 26, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 455)
December 16, 2023
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 456)
December 21, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 458)
December 31, 2023
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Protocol Update (Epoch 459)
January 5, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 460)
January 10, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 461)
January 15, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 463)
January 25, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 464)
January 30, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 467)
February 14, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 468)
February 19, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 469)
February 24, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 471)
March 5, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 472)
March 10, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 473)
March 15, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 476)
March 30, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 478)
April 9, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 479)
April 14, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 481)
April 24, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 482)
April 29, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 483)
May 4, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 487)
May 24, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 491)
June 13, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 496)
July 8, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 497)
July 13, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 499)
July 23, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 501)
August 2, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 502)
August 7, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 503)
August 12, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 504)
August 17, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 505)
August 22, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 507)
September 1, 2024
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Protocol Update (Epoch 508)
September 6, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 509)
September 11, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 510)
September 16, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 511)
September 21, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 512)
September 26, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 513)
October 1, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 515)
October 11, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 516)
October 16, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 517)
October 21, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 518)
October 26, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 520)
November 5, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 521)
November 10, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 522)
November 15, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 523)
November 20, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 524)
November 25, 2024
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Governance Proposal (Epoch 525)
November 30, 2024
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Governance Action (Epoch 526)
December 5, 2024
G
Protocol Update (Epoch 527)
December 10, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 528)
December 15, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 530)
December 25, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 531)
December 30, 2024
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 532)
January 4, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 533)
January 9, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 534)
January 14, 2025
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Protocol Update (Epoch 535)
January 19, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 536)
January 24, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 537)
January 29, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 539)
February 8, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 541)
February 18, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 542)
February 23, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 543)
February 28, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 544)
March 5, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 545)
March 10, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 546)
March 15, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 547)
March 20, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 548)
March 25, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 549)
March 30, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 550)
April 4, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 551)
April 9, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 552)
April 14, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 553)
April 19, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 555)
April 29, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 556)
May 4, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 557)
May 9, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 559)
May 19, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 560)
May 24, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 561)
May 29, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 562)
June 3, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 563)
June 8, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 564)
June 13, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 565)
June 18, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 566)
June 23, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 567)
June 28, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 568)
July 3, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 569)
July 8, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 570)
July 13, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 571)
July 18, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 572)
July 23, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 574)
August 2, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 575)
August 7, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 576)
August 12, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 577)
August 17, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 578)
August 22, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 579)
August 27, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 581)
September 6, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 583)
September 16, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 584)
September 21, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 585)
September 26, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 586)
October 1, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 587)
October 6, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 589)
October 16, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 590)
October 21, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 592)
October 31, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 593)
November 5, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 594)
November 10, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 595)
November 15, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 596)
November 20, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 597)
November 25, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 598)
November 30, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 599)
December 5, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 600)
December 10, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 601)
December 15, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 603)
December 25, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 604)
December 30, 2025
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 606)
January 9, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 607)
January 14, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 608)
January 19, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 609)
January 24, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 611)
February 3, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 612)
February 8, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 615)
February 23, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 617)
March 5, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 618)
March 10, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 619)
March 15, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 621)
March 25, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 622)
March 30, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 623)
April 4, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 625)
April 14, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 626)
April 19, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 627)
April 24, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 628)
April 29, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 630)
May 9, 2026
i
Protocol Update (Epoch 631)
May 14, 2026
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Protocol Update (Epoch 632)
May 19, 2026
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Protocol Update (Epoch 633)
May 24, 2026
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Protocol Update (Epoch 634)
May 29, 2026
i

cost_models (Plutus Script Execution Costs)

cost_models  (Plutus Script Execution Costs)
PARAMETER DETAILS
Category
Economic
Status
Active
Type
Changeable
Lido Minute Lido Minute Playing Animation
cost_models (Plutus Script Execution Costs)
Lido Minute
Tags
Economic

In this installment, we will be looking at Cardano’s cost_model parameter.

Any sophisticated computing system needs precise rules to manage resource allocation. Think about it – processing power, storage, and time are all valuable resources. They must be doled out fairly, and in a way that allows the system to work for everyone.

Blockchain networks are no different. Consider these questions:

  • What should happen when someone submits a smart contract that is written in a way that it could consume unlimited resources?
  • How do you ensure the network remains stable while still allowing complex decentralized applications to flourish?

Here is an answer: One effective mechanism to control and manage resource allocation on a blockchain is transaction price.

These questions –and this answer– about resource management and fair pricing are at the core of the cost_model parameter, also known as cost_model Parameters for Plutus script execution.

What are cost_model Parameters?

In Cardano, the cost_model parameter defines the computational cost of executing Plutus smart contracts on the blockchain.

Every operation within a Plutus script—from basic arithmetic to complex data manipulations—consumes computational resources that must be accounted for and limited in order to prevent network abuse. The cost_model parameters establish the precise “price” in “execution units” for each type of operation that a Plutus script can perform.

Mathematically, each Plutus builtin function has an associated cost_model that defines how much “CPU” and “memory” execution units it consumes based on its inputs. For example, adding two integers might cost 100 CPU units, while performing cryptographic operations could cost several thousand units depending on the size and complexity of the operation.

The cost_model serves as Cardano’s resource metering system for smart contracts. When a transaction includes a Plutus script, the network calculates the total execution cost by summing up the costs of all individual operations performed. This total cost is then compared against predefined limits to ensure the script doesn’t consume excessive resources that could slow down or destabilize the network.

The outcome of the cost_model calculation can go two ways:

  • If the size of the operation is within accepted limits, the transaction can be processed – with an appropriately scaled transaction fee to fairly cover processing costs.
  • If the size of the operation exceeds a limit, or if the code is faulty in a way that could consume excess resources, the transaction will not be allowed. No transaction fee is high enough to risk destabilizing the network!

Why Do cost_model Parameters Matter?

The careful calibration of this parameter is one of the main reasons why the cost to run something on Cardano is predictable, efficient and secure.

Network Security & Stability: Properly set cost_model parameters prevent denial-of-service attacks where malicious actors could submit resource-intensive scripts designed to overload validators. By accurately pricing computational operations, the network can reject scripts that would consume excessive resources.

Economic Efficiency: cost_model ensures that transaction fees reflect the actual computational burden of smart contract execution. Users pay proportionally for the resources they consume, creating a fair and sustainable economic model for the network.

Developer Experience: Well-calibrated cost_model enables developers to predict and optimize the execution costs of their smart contracts. This predictability is crucial for building economically viable dApps and planning the cost of creating transactions.

Innovation Enablement: Accurate cost_modeling allows more complex smart contracts to execute within reasonable resource limits, enabling sophisticated DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, and other advanced applications.

How are cost_model Parameters Determined?

cost_model parameters are derived through extensive benchmarking and empirical testing of Plutus Core operations. The process involves running thousands of test cases with varying input sizes to determine the actual computational cost of each builtin function on reference hardware.

The Cardano development teams use sophisticated profiling tools to measure CPU cycles, memory usage, and execution time for each Plutus primitive. This data is then analyzed to create mathematical models that can predict the cost of any operation based on its input parameters.

Since Cardano’s big Hard Fork upgrade (the Plomin upgrade), the cost_model and the rest of the parameters can be set through Cardano’s governance process. The community of Delegated Representatives (DReps) can vote on proposals to update the cost_model parameter as the understanding of actual execution costs improves or as the underlying Plutus interpreter becomes more efficient.

Real-World Impact: cost_model in Action

The effects of cost_model parameters are visible every time a Plutus script executes on Cardano. Consider a decentralized exchange (DEX) swap transaction: the cost_model determines how much execution budget is needed for operations like validating signatures, checking token balances, calculating swap ratios, and updating the liquidity pool state.

When Project Catalyst funds developers building complex dApps, the cost_model parameter directly influences their development decisions. A carefully optimized cost_model enables developers to build more sophisticated applications within the same execution budget, fostering innovation while maintaining network security.

DeFi protocols rely on predictable execution costs to ensure their operations remain economically viable. NFT marketplaces need accurate cost_modeling for batch minting and complex royalty calculations. Gaming applications depend on an efficient cost_model for managing large amounts of game state and complex rule validation that are stored on the blockchain.

Challenges and Considerations

While cost_model parameters are essential for network security and efficiency, they present several challenges:

Benchmarking Accuracy
cost_model must accurately reflect real-world execution costs across diverse hardware configurations. Underestimating costs could lead to network instability, while overestimating costs unnecessarily limits smart contract capabilities. The challenge lies in creating models that are both accurate and conservative enough to handle edge cases.

Balancing Performance and Security
There’s an inherent tension between allowing powerful smart contracts and preventing resource abuse. cost_model must be restrictive enough to prevent attacks while permissive enough to enable meaningful applications. Finding this balance requires continuous refinement as the ecosystem evolves and new computer hardware is developed.

Evolution and Updates
As the Plutus interpreter becomes more efficient or new builtin functions are added, cost_model must be updated accordingly. However, changes to cost_model can break existing applications that were designed around specific execution cost assumptions, requiring careful coordination and update strategies.

Hardware Diversity
Cardano validators run on diverse hardware configurations, from powerful servers to modest consumer devices. cost_model must account for this diversity to ensure consistent performance across all validators while not being overly conservative

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