#CryptoFees101 Commissions in Cryptocurrencies: Transparency or Illusion?

Many believe that cryptocurrency is freedom from banks and their hidden fees. But the truth is that there are also fees in the crypto economy — just in a different way.

When you transfer Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other coin, you pay a network fee. This is a payment to miners or validators for processing the transaction. In most cases, you see it in advance. In this regard — yes, the system is open.

But there are nuances:

On decentralized exchanges (DEX), exchange fees are often included in the price — you don’t even notice how much you lose on slippage and protocol fees.

On centralized platforms (CEX) like Binance or OKX, there are both trading fees and hidden charges when withdrawing. Sometimes they are higher than in a bank!

On DeFi platforms, there can be opaque “gas fees” during network congestion, especially on Ethereum. A fee of $100 for a transfer? That has happened too.

Fees in crypto are always present. They are often more honest and transparent than in a traditional bank, but that does not mean they are low or obvious. Check, calculate, and don't believe in tales of “free” transactions.