| Pricing Tier | Taker Fee | Maker Fee |
|---|---|---|
| $0 - $10K | 0.60% | 0.40% |
| $10K - $50K | 0.40% | 0.25% |
| $50K - $100K | 0.25% | 0.15% |
| $100K - $1M | 0.20% | 0.10% |
You also pay less in the higher tiers as a maker because makers increase the market's liquidity, which allows the exchanges to continue trading.
Some exchanges might still charge a per-transaction fee, but for the most part, they have transitioned to a combination fee schedule similar to the one used by Coinbase. As such, small and infrequent trades are not cost-efficient at cryptocurrency exchanges, unless you're only looking to buy a cryptocurrency. If that's the case, most exchanges charge a spot trading fee to buy and take possession of a digital coin.
Cryptocurrency Exchange Location
Some regulators around the world have taken a hands-off approach to cryptocurrency regulation, which means that many cryptocurrency exchanges are unregulated.
However, cryptocurrency exchanges in the U.S. must register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the appropriate regulator for the state they operate in. This means that U.S.-based exchanges are regulated and may not offer the same services as exchanges outside the U.S.
Cryptocurrency Availability
Most well-known cryptocurrency exchanges do not offer access to all coins. Some only provide a few dozen, while others might offer hundreds. You might need to use different exchanges to get access to the cryptocurrencies you're interested in.
Top 2 Cryptocurrency Exchanges
Here is a brief comparison of trading fees for cryptocurrency at the top two exchanges according to CoinMarketCap's exchange rating. This score accounts for each exchange's web traffic, volume, average liquidity, and confidence.
Binance
Originally founded in 2017 and registered in the Cayman Islands, Binance established a U.S. version in 2019 with headquarters in California. By 2022, Binance was at the top of the list, out-trading all other cryptocurrency exchanges.
Cryptocurrency fans can choose from over 400 cryptocurrencies on Binance; however, U.S. customers can only select from a little more than 150 cryptocurrencies on Binance.US due to regulations. Internationally, Binance lets users trade the cryptocurrency futures markets, buy currency, earn cryptocurrency, create non-fungible tokens, and learn about all things cryptocurrency through its Binance Academy.
You can access all of the material on Binance's international website, such as the academy and other resources; the U.S. only restricts buying, selling, and trading on the international platform to protect U.S. investors.
Most people who use Binance.US will be charged fees and have withdrawal limits. Fees are based on your 30-day trading volume and are offered in two tiers. Tier 0 offers free trading for makers and takers of all volumes, while Tier 1 fees range from 0.05% to 0.6% (takers) and free to 0.4% (makers), depending on trading volume. Spot trading fees go down by 5% if you use BNB.
In the U.S., you can trade USDT pairs, BTC pairs, and ETH pairs, but your choices are limited. In addition, you can make advanced trades on the price movements of these pairs or trade them over the counter.
Coinbase
Coinbase was formed in 2012 with the goal of granting everyone access to a cryptocurrency financial system. The exchange became publicly traded after an initial public offering and listing on Nasdaq in April 2021. It offers access to thousands of cryptocurrencies.
The maker/taker fees for using Coinbase's services are based on the current pricing tier when the order was placed, not on the post-trade tier. Also, Coinbase recalculates the pricing tier hourly and bases it on the total trading volume. While there are no account fees, Coinbase does charge mining fees.
How Much Does a Crypto Exchange Cost?
It depends on the exchange. Many charge a percentage based on your trading volume and their fee schedule.
Which Cryptocurrency Exchange Has the Lowest Fees?
Robinhood does not charge fees or commissions for trading crypto, and Uniswap charges 0.3%.
What Is the Transaction Fee for $1,000 of Bitcoin?
It depends on the rate at the time you make the purchase. The average transaction fee on August 25, 2024, was 0.0000094 BTC ($0.605), so you might have paid close to that amount that day.
The Bottom Line
You don't have to use a cryptocurrency exchange to buy or sell cryptocurrency. You can find parties to trade with via other methods, such as social media or newsgroups; however, cryptocurrency exchanges are services that bring traders and users together in one place, making it easier and more convenient to trade. For the service provided, exchanges generally charge fees to help them cover expenses. Not all exchanges have fees, but most regulated exchanges do. Exchange fees are usually based on a percentage of your trading volume and go down the more you trade.
The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed on Investopedia are for informational purposes only. Read our warranty and liability disclaimerfor more info. As of the date this article was written, the author does not own cryptocurrency.
