#CryptoFees101
What You Need to Know About Cryptocurrency Trading Fees
If you are starting your journey in cryptocurrencies, you might be surprised to see that fees are charged every time you buy, sell, or move your cryptocurrencies. In this quick guide, we break down the basics of cryptocurrency fees so you can trade smarter and avoid surprises.
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💱 1. Trading Fees (Maker vs. Taker)
When you place an order on exchanges like Binance, you are a maker or a taker:
Maker: You add liquidity by placing a limit order that does not match instantly.
Taker: You remove liquidity by filling an existing order immediately.
🔹 Typical Fees on Binance:
Maker: 0.10%
Taker: 0.10%
You can reduce these fees by holding BNB (Binance Coin) or increasing your trading volume.
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🔄 2. Exchange Fees (DeFi)
When using decentralized exchanges (DEX) like Uniswap or PancakeSwap, you pay a liquidity provider fee, usually around 0.3% per trade. Gas fees may also apply depending on the blockchain (e.g., Ethereum gas fees).
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🚀 3. Withdrawal Fees
Every time you send cryptocurrencies to another wallet, the network charges a transaction fee:
Bitcoin: Depends on network congestion
Ethereum: Can be high during peak hours
Binance Smart Chain: Much cheaper on average
Some centralized exchanges add a small platform fee on top of network costs.
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🛡️ 4. Hidden Costs to Consider
Slippage: The difference in price between when you place and fill your order.
Spread: The gap between buy and sell prices on less liquid tokens.
Fiat conversion fees: When buying cryptocurrencies with USD, EUR, etc., platforms may charge between 1% and 3%.
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✅ Quick Tips to Save on Fees
Use limit orders whenever possible to be a maker.
Trade during low network congestion.