Skip to content

    guide

    Crypto Trading Fees: Rates, Products and Total Cost

    Compare crypto trading fees by product and region, understand maker and taker charges, and calculate trading costs without return forecasts.

    Last reviewed:
    AI-generated content

    What each charge means

    Maker commission

    A maker execution fills an order that previously rested in the book and provided liquidity. A limit order is a maker only for the portion that rests before execution; a marketable limit order can immediately take liquidity. Maker rates can be lower than or equal to taker rates. An unfilled order has no execution commission, but it also leaves your intended trade unexecuted.

    Taker commission

    A taker execution matches existing liquidity immediately. Market orders and immediately matched portions of limit orders are taker executions. The applicable rate depends on the product, pair and account tier; choosing a limit price alone does not ensure a lower fee.

    Spread and slippage

    A broker or instant-buy quote can include a spread as well as a stated charge. An order-book trade also crosses a bid–ask spread when it takes liquidity and can incur slippage. Compare the final asset quantity for the same cash outlay; there is no universal spread percentage shared by all platforms. Kraken card purchases

    Costs outside the headline trading rate

    Quoted spread and execution price

    A low stated commission does not guarantee the best execution price. Compare an executable quote for the same amount at the same time, including any spread or slippage; avoid adding an included spread twice.

    Withdrawal and network charges

    The exchange's withdrawal quote and the blockchain transaction fee are different measurements. Providers can batch withdrawals or use different charging policies. Do not assume every withdrawal fee is an exchange markup, and do not reuse a fixed Bitcoin amount across networks. Kraken cryptocurrency withdrawal charges

    Currency conversion

    Your bank, card issuer or payment provider can convert a payment currency and charge for it. Confirm the supported account currency and the provider's quote. The EUR costs in this guide keep their stated denomination; changing a display-currency preference does not change the provider’s charges.

    Account and service charges

    Check the terms for the exact account and service: subscriptions, custody, financing or inactivity can have separate conditions. No universal twelve-month inactivity fee or standard percentage is assumed for the platforms in this comparison.

    Funding over the holding period

    Record each actual funding debit or credit, its settlement currency and contract interval. A changing notional or funding rate changes the payment; periodic funding does not by itself imply fixed compound interest. A funding debit may reduce available margin and affect liquidation risk.

    Read the comparison with its product limits

    The rates below belong to the named products and tiers described above. Bybit's global crypto-pair spot schedule differs from Bybit EU's non-VIP spot schedule, which quotes 0.10% maker and 0.25% taker. A global derivatives fee is not evidence that a European account may use that product. Product eligibility and applicable law must be checked separately. Bybit EU spot fees The applicable total depends on your account, transaction size and payment method; confirm product availability separately from the fee percentage.
    PlatformSpot makerSpot takerFutures makerFutures takerSEPA depositProduct and tier scope
    Kraken Ad 0.40%0.80%0.02%0.05%Free for listed supported methodsPro entry tiers; qualifying volume or assets may change the applicable rate.
    BitpandaBroker premium: see Bitcoin quote aboveBroker premium: see Bitcoin quote aboveNot compared hereNot compared hereConfirm selected methodBroker Bitcoin quote differs from Fusion order-book pricing.
    Bybit0.10%0.10%0.02%0.055%Entity and method dependentGlobal rates shown; Bybit EU spot uses a separate schedule.
    PrimeXBTNot compared hereNot compared here0.01%0.045%Confirm supported local methodRegular Crypto Futures tier; regional eligibility and contract limits differ.

    Illustration: trading cost over twelve months

    This illustration buys €1,000.00 of assets before fees each month for 12 months. Trading fees are paid separately on top of that amount. Annual traded notional is €12,000.00; total cash outlay is that notional plus the calculated fee. The five percentages are illustrative rates, not all-inclusive quotes for a named provider. Spread, slippage, funding, deposits, withdrawals, tax and asset-price changes are excluded. Monetary results are rounded to cents. No portfolio return or compounding is calculated.
    Illustrative rateAnnual traded notionalFees paid separatelyTotal cash outlay
    0.075%€12,000.00€9.00€12,009.00
    0.10%€12,000.00€12.00€12,012.00
    0.80%€12,000.00€96.00€12,096.00
    0.99%€12,000.00€118.80€12,118.80
    2.00%€12,000.00€240.00€12,240.00

    Compare before opening an account

    The total is not just the trading percentage: funding, currency conversion, spread, slippage, execution fees and withdrawal charges can all matter. Compare the amount of the same asset you would receive for the same cash budget at approximately the same time. Separate a simple quoted purchase from an order-book trade; comparing different interfaces can make one exchange appear cheaper without being a like-for-like test.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does a limit order always pay a maker fee?
    No. A limit order that immediately matches resting orders is a taker execution for that portion. A portion that rests in the order book and later executes can be a maker execution. Maker fees can equal taker fees at some tiers. Check the actual fills and applicable schedule.
    Are crypto trading fees tax-deductible?
    Treatment depends on your tax jurisdiction, activity, asset and transaction. Acquisition expenses, sale expenses, business expenses and funding payments can be treated differently. Retain dated records of trades, fees and currencies, and consult the current local tax rules or a qualified adviser. The guide does not establish one deduction rule for the EU. German BMF crypto tax guidance, 6 March2025
    How can I reduce trading costs?
    Compare your actual execution quote and funding method, use the account tier you already qualify for, and check whether a discount saves more than it costs. Do not assume a limit order is automatically a maker, or increase turnover or hold a risky exchange token solely to obtain a lower advertised rate.
    What costs can sit outside the stated trading fee?
    The spread, slippage, payment processing, currency conversion, funding, liquidation-related charges and withdrawals can affect total cost. Some charges are already included in a quoted price, so avoid double-counting them. Their amount depends on the specific service and transaction; there is no universal hidden-fee percentage.
    Are futures fees cheaper than spot fees?
    A lower execution-rate percentage does not necessarily mean a lower total cost. Futures commission applies to executed notional, and both entry and exit can incur it. Funding may be payable or receivable at the contract's current intervals; liquidation-related charges may also apply. Leverage increases notional relative to initial margin.
    How do Kraken's cross-platform fee tiers work?
    Kraken's July 2026 structure can qualify an account using spot volume, futures volume or assets held on the platform, according to the relevant tier table. Spot Tier 1 is 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker. Assets are assessed at the applicable current valuation, not as a promise of a permanent tier. Consult the detailed thresholds for the exact product; the instant-buy app and special pairs have separate pricing. Kraken cross-platform tiers
    Do global fee tables establish availability in Europe?
    No. The contracting entity, country, client classification and product determine access. A stablecoin's status under MiCA does not by itself authorize leveraged derivatives, and MiCA excludes crypto-assets that qualify as financial instruments from its scope. Verify the exact provider and instrument through current official information. ESMA MiCA Article2

    Derivatives & Leveraged Products — Important Risk Warning

    Derivatives and leveraged products are complex and carry a high risk of rapid, substantial losses. Depending on the product and account rules, losses can exceed the initial margin or money committed. A stand-alone purchased option can lose its entire premium plus transaction costs; writing options, exercising into another position, or combining positions can create additional obligations. An uncovered call writer can face unlimited loss. Applicable legal protections can affect the loss boundary.

    You should carefully consider whether you understand how derivatives work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, or a recommendation to trade derivatives.

    Legal availability and regulatory protections depend on the product, service, provider and jurisdiction. In the EU, check the applicable investment-services rules, including MiFID II where relevant, and any product restrictions. Before trading, verify with the relevant regulator whether the provider has the permissions required for the service and whether the product may be offered to you. A website being accessible, or a product appearing on this website, does not establish authorization or eligibility.

    Continue Learning

    Get Started with Kraken

    Sign up in minutes and get started with Kraken — a regulated exchange operating since 2011, with deep liquidity and low fees.

    Visit Kraken

    Ad · Digital asset prices are subject to high market risk and price volatility. Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. Terms & risk disclosure

    This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.