#CryptoFees101

💸 Crypto Fees 101: Everything You Need to Know

When you start using cryptocurrencies, you’ll quickly notice something important — fees. These small (and sometimes not-so-small) costs play a big role in how you buy, sell, and transfer crypto. Understanding them can save you money and frustration.

🧾 Types of Crypto Fees

1. Network Fees (Gas Fees)

These are fees paid to the blockchain network for processing and validating transactions.

Bitcoin and Ethereum are famous for these.

On Ethereum, they’re called gas fees, and they can spike during periods of high activity.

🧠 Tip: Use the network during off-peak hours to save on gas fees.

2. Exchange Fees

Charged by platforms like Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, etc.

Usually include:

Trading fees (e.g., 0.1% per trade)

Deposit/withdrawal fees

Spread: A hidden fee where the buy/sell price is slightly marked up.

🧠 Tip: Use limit orders to avoid high market fees and check for "maker vs taker" fee discounts.

3. Wallet Fees

Some software or hardware wallets may charge for transactions or token swaps within the app.

Wallet-to-wallet transfers usually still require network fees, even if the wallet itself is free.

4. Bridging Fees (Cross-chain Transfers)

Transferring crypto between blockchains (like Ethereum to Polygon) often involves bridge platforms that charge both network and service fees.

⚠️ Hidden Fees to Watch For

High slippage in decentralized exchanges (DEXs)

Dynamic fees during heavy congestion

Fee tokens: Some blockchains require their own coin (e.g., ETH, BNB, MATIC) to pay fees.

🛡️ How to Save on Fees

✅ Use layer 2 networks (like Arbitrum, Optimism, or Base) with lower gas fees.

✅ Choose fee-friendly exchanges (some offer fee-free trading on selected pairs).

✅ Batch transactions when possible.

✅ Learn about staking or using fee rebates with exchange tokens .