There’s a number of variables to examine when choosing a crypto exchange on which to trade, ranging from the assets it lists to the quality of its mobile app. While these characteristics are important, arguably the most critical factor of all – as well as being the easiest to quantitatively measure – is trading fees.
Different exchanges charge different fees for spot trading, which start at a base rate before reducing further for high volume traders. While the fees may seem miniscule, at a few fractions of a percent, over the course of hundreds of trades these can quickly add up. Depending on your trading volume, picking an exchange that offers the lowest fees can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars a year. It’s one of the most important crypto trading decisions you’ll ever make.
To help you make that decision, the following seven exchanges offer some of the most competitive spot fees in the industry. They also score highly for the other attributes that go into a good exchange, from user experience to security. Not only will they save you money with every trade you make, but they’ll keep your assets safe while offering access to all the cryptocurrencies you could ever wish for.
BitMEX
BitMEX may have started out as a derivatives exchange, which remains a cornerstone of its business, but its spot exchange is equally accomplished – and its fees are very attractive. Maker and taker fees start at just 0.05%, which place it near the top of the list, with the potential for these to drop further according to your trading volume or the amount of BMEX you’ve staked.
Five VIP levels offer increasingly lower fees as you level up the rankings, with the highest tier – OG – earning a −0.0150% rebate. If you’re a whale accustomed to swapping with size, this means you’ll pay a nominal sum for the trades you make. Even if you’re a smaller fish, however, the 0.05% starting level for BitMEX spot trading is still a very good baseline to work from, leaving more money in your account and allowing you to maximize your profits.
Binance
Binance needs no introduction, its shadow looming large over the crypto exchange landscape. In terms of liquidity and the number of crypto assets supported, it scores highly, while its security track record is also impressive. When it comes to trading fees, Binance also excels, offering 0.1% maker and taker fees as the default for spot trades.
Like other exchanges profiled here, Binance also offers lower fees for VIPs – which essentially means high volume traders, ensuring that the more you swap, the less you’ll pay. But there’s also another way to minimize your trading fees on Binance: by using BNB to pay fees. This provision will knock another 25% off spot fees. It accounts for why Binance has become so popular among retail crypto traders – and why the BNB token has also thrived due to its wide utility on the company’s CEX and also on the blockchain whose name it bears.
KuCoin
The problem traders can sometimes face on mid-tier exchanges is inconsistent liquidity and unpredictable fees. KuCoin sidesteps both issues, combining a wide range of assets with solid order book depth, and its fee structure is straightforward enough that traders can map their costs with confidence.
KuCoin sets its base maker and taker fees at 0.1%, matching those of the industry’s most competitive platforms. Like its peers, the exchange uses a tiered structure that reduces fees for higher-volume accounts or for users who hold enough KCS, KuCoin’s native token. This creates a predictable path to lower trading costs for users who are shifting serious volume. KuCoin offers a balanced proposition of low starting fees, lower VIP fees for active accounts, and a reliable spot market across hundreds of assets.
MEXC
The challenge with many fast-growing exchanges is that they lure traders with low fees, only to quietly raise them later. MEXC has taken the opposite approach, cementing its appeal by consistently offering some of the industry’s lowest spot trading costs while maintaining access to one of the broadest altcoin selections around.
The exchange charges 0% maker and 0.1% taker fees as a baseline for spot trading. Combined with periodic fee-free campaigns on select assets, this makes MEXC a strong contender for traders who turn over high volumes or chase emerging tokens where every basis point matters. Holding MX, the platform’s native token, can further reduce trading fees through its tiered discount system, ensuring that MEXC can hold its own against the big spot exchanges.
Gate.io
Gate.io has long positioned itself as the exchange for discovery-driven traders who want early access to new assets without paying excessive fees for the privilege. Its spot trading fees reflect that strategy, starting at 0.1% for both makers and takers. Users who hold GT, the exchange’s native token, or who climb the VIP volume tiers, can drive fees significantly lower.
Gate.io is a solid option on account of its steady fee structure that doesn’t punish smaller traders. This is particularly useful for users who diversify across numerous tokens and asset classes, where incremental fees can add up quickly. The platform’s transparency around fee tiers makes it easier for traders to plan ahead, especially when managing multiple positions.
Bybit
Bybit built its brand on derivatives, just like BitMEX, but its spot exchange has matured into a competitive venue with a fee structure engineered for efficiency. Spot traders start at 0% maker and 0.1% taker fees, placing Bybit firmly in the low-cost category from the outset. As with its peers, higher-volume accounts can progress into lower VIP fee tiers, cutting costs further.
Fees aside, Bybit’s pitch is straightforward, centered around deep liquidity and an intuitive user interface. For traders who place limit orders strategically or who rely on precise execution, the 0% maker fee is particularly compelling. The platform also supports fee reductions for users holding BIT or meeting certain staking criteria, adding another way to make savings.
OKX
OKX is a favorite among Asian traders especially, although its reach is global. As one of the OGs of the CEX landscape, OKX has been faithfully serving up spot and derivatives trading for years, during which it’s maintained an impressive security track record. It also excels when it comes to fees, making it a good choice for traders looking to shave a little off their costs. Unlike many competitors that stick to the industry standard of 0.1%, OKX undercuts the market with a starting fee of just 0.08% for makers and 0.1% for takers.
This immediate discount for maker orders makes it an excellent choice for traders who use limit orders to provide liquidity. If you’re looking to optimize further, OKX employs a dual-track fee schedule. Regular users can lower their fees simply by holding the platform’s native OKB token and as your OKB holdings increase, your fees decrease. Meanwhile, high-volume traders are categorized as VIPs, where fees are determined by 30-day trading volume and asset balance, eventually dropping to negative rates for top-tier makers.
Pick Your Perfect Low-Fee Exchange
All of the exchanges profiled here score well when it comes to spot fees, with baselines that typically start around 0.1% for maker and taker fees before dropping further depending on volume and in some cases native token staking. You can’t choose the amount of volume you put through, since you can’t magically turn yourself into a whale overnight – but you can choose to reduce your fees through token staking where this is possible.
Whichever exchange you select, keep an eye on promotions that are occasionally offered during certain periods or to celebrate new token listings. These can slash fees to 0% in some cases, allowing you to extract maximum value from every swap you make.
Source: https://thenewscrypto.com/7-crypto-exchanges-with-the-lowest-spot-fees/
