💰 Crypto Fees 101: What You Need to Know
There are several types of fees in the crypto world. Some are visible, some are hidden, and some can be avoided if you’re smart.
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🔢 1. Trading Fees
✅ What is it?
Fees charged when you buy or sell crypto on an exchange.
💼 Where?
Centralized Exchanges (CEX) like Binance, KuCoin
Decentralized Exchanges (DEX) like Uniswap, PancakeSwap
🧮 How much?
CEX: Typically 0.1% – 0.3% per trade
DEX: Fees vary but usually include swap fee (0.3%) + network gas fee
Example:
You trade $1,000 worth of ETH with a 0.1% fee → You pay $1 in fees.
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🟢 2. Maker vs Taker Fees
Type Meaning Cost
Maker You add liquidity (place limit order) Usually lower
Taker You remove liquidity (market order) Usually higher
> 💡 On many CEXs, using limit orders = lower fees.
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🔄 3. Swap Fees (DEX)
✅ What is it?
Fee charged for swapping one token to another on DEXs like Uniswap.
Typically 0.3% of the trade value
Some DEXs charge more or less (e.g., 0.05%, 1%)
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⛽ 4. Gas Fees (Network Fees)
✅ What is it?
Fee paid to the blockchain network (not the exchange) to process a transaction.
Blockchain Average Gas Fee (varies by time)
Ethereum $1 – $50 (can spike during congestion)
BNB Chain <$0.10
Solana < $0.01
Bitcoin $0.5 – $20 (depending on demand)
> ⚠️ High gas fees = avoid trading small amounts on Ethereum!
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📤 5. Withdrawal Fees
✅ What is it?
Fee charged when you withdraw crypto from an exchange to your wallet.
Fixed amount (e.g., 0.0005 BTC or 1 USDT)
Varies by coin and platform
Tip: Use cheaper chains (like Tron or BNB Chain) for withdrawals.
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💳 6. Deposit Fees
Most CEXs don’t charge crypto deposit fees.
But if you use credit card or bank transfer, you may face:
2–5% card fees
Bank wire fees
Conversion charges
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🧠 7. Hidden Fees to Watch
Fee Type Hidden Cost Example
Slippage Price change during swap
Spread Difference between buy and sell price
Token tax/transfer fee Some tokens charge 1–10% per transaction
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💡 How to Reduce Fees
✅ Use limit orders instead of market orders
✅ Trade during low congestion times
✅ Withdraw via low-fee networks (e.g., TRC20 instead of ERC20 for USDT)
✅ Use exchanges with fee discounts (BNB on Binance, KCS on KuCoin)
✅ Bundle trades instead of doing many small ones
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📊 Quick Comparison Table
Fee Type Where it Applies Typical Range
Trading Fee Exchange 0.1% – 0.3%
Gas Fee Blockchain network $0.01 – $50+
Withdrawal Fee Exchange Fixed (depends on coin)
Swap Fee (DEX) DEX platform 0.2% – 1%
Slippage All platforms 0.1% – 5%+ (depends)
