#CryptoSecurity101
How to Save Money on Crypto Fees: A Complete Guide for Traders
Crypto fees can silently drain your profits. From maker/taker fees to gas and withdrawals — here’s what you need to know and how to reduce costs smartly.
Whether you’re buying Bitcoin or moving coins to a wallet — every action has a fee.
The trick is not to avoid fees completely, but to understand and minimize them.
What Are the Main Types of Crypto Fees?
1. Maker vs Taker Fees
• Maker: You place a limit order that waits on the order book — you add liquidity.
• Taker: You place a market order that gets filled instantly — you take liquidity.
Taker fees are usually higher than maker fees. On Binance, it’s around 0.1% (less with BNB or VIP status).
2. Gas Fees
These are paid to use blockchains like Ethereum.
• Can vary wildly based on network congestion
• Example: Swapping tokens on Ethereum may cost $20, while the same on BNB Chain might be $0.10
3. Withdrawal Fees
Exchanges charge network-specific fees when you move crypto to an external wallet.
• BTC has higher withdrawal fees
• TRON (TRX) or MATIC are cheaper alternatives for transfers
What Fees Do You Encounter Most Often?
Trading fees (maker/taker) on spot and futures
Gas fees while using DeFi or bridging
Withdrawal fees for moving funds off-exchange
Funding fees on perpetual futures (longs pay shorts or vice versa)
How to Reduce or Avoid High Fees
1. Use Limit Orders
Avoid taker fees by using limit orders wherever possible.
2. Trade with BNB on Binance
Paying fees with BNB gives up to 25% discount instantly.
3. Choose the Right Chain
Send funds via TRC20 or BEP20 instead of ETH to avoid heavy gas.
4. Batch Withdrawals
Don’t withdraw every time you trade. Consolidate and withdraw once.
5. Monitor Funding Fees on Futures
Check the funding rate before entering a futures trade — it can impact your PnL over time.
Pro Tip:
I treat fees like slippage — it’s part of every trade. But if you reduce them over 100 trades, it makes a huge difference in your overall returns.
