Last Updated on January 9, 2025 by Olga
When it comes to trading cryptocurrency in 2025, the exchange you choose plays a pivotal role in determining your overall profitability. One of the most crucial factors to consider when selecting an exchange is the fees associated with it. Whether you’re an experienced trader or a beginner, understanding and minimizing exchange fees can significantly boost your returns. So, what should you look for to find the cheapest crypto exchange? In this article, we’ll explore the key fees you’ll encounter on crypto exchanges, and which exchanges offer the lowest fees in 2025.
The Types of Fees You’ll Encounter on Crypto Exchanges
To determine what crypto exchange has the lowest fees, it’s essential to first understand the different types of fees that crypto exchanges charge. These fees can vary significantly depending on the exchange and the type of transaction you’re making. Here’s a breakdown of the most common fees:
Trading Fees
Trading fees are the core fees on any cryptocurrency exchange. These fees are charged whenever you buy or sell cryptocurrency on the platform. Trading fees generally fall into two categories: maker fees and taker fees.
- Maker Fees: These are typically lower fees charged to users who provide liquidity to the market by placing limit orders. A limit order is an order to buy or sell an asset at a specific price. Since you’re adding liquidity to the market by placing these orders, exchanges reward you with lower fees.
- Taker Fees: These fees apply when you place a market order, which matches an existing order immediately. Because you’re removing liquidity from the market, taker fees tend to be higher than maker fees.
Deposit Fees
When you fund your exchange account, you may incur deposit fees depending on your payment method.
- Fiat Deposits: Bank transfers are usually the cheapest option for funding your account, though credit card deposits may attract higher fees (often between 2% and 5%). E-wallets like PayPal might charge fees as well, but these are typically lower than card deposit fees.
- Crypto Deposits: Most exchanges do not charge fees for cryptocurrency deposits. However, you’ll still need to pay any blockchain transaction fees (gas fees) when sending funds to your exchange wallet.
Withdrawal Fees
Withdrawing funds from an exchange can also come with a variety of fees, both for fiat and cryptocurrencies.
- Fiat Withdrawals: Withdrawing funds to a bank account usually carries a fee, particularly for international transfers. Some exchanges may charge between 1% and 3% for credit card or e-wallet withdrawals.
- Crypto Withdrawals: The fees for withdrawing cryptocurrency are typically limited to the blockchain network fees, but some exchanges may add their own fees depending on the asset or withdrawal method.
Additional Fees
Some exchanges also charge other fees, including:
- Inactivity Fees: These are fees applied to accounts that remain dormant for a certain period. They are typically charged by exchanges looking to discourage non-active users.
- Transfer Fees: If you move funds between different wallets within the same exchange, some platforms charge transfer fees. These are generally low but can add up over time.
Want to make profits in the world of cryptocurrency? Then don’t miss out on opportunities like BNB to BTC, ETH to BNB, and USDT to BTC exchanges. Unlock the potential of your crypto portfolio today!
What Makes an Exchange “Cheap” in Terms of Fees?
When it comes to finding the cheapest crypto exchange, it’s important to look beyond just the trading fees. You should consider all the types of fees that you might encounter:
- Trading fees: Are the maker fees and taker fees low?
- Deposit fees: Are there any charges for depositing funds? If so, how much do they cost?
- Withdrawal fees: Are the withdrawal fees high, especially for fiat withdrawals or smaller crypto amounts?
- Hidden fees: Does the exchange have hidden costs, like inactivity fees or account maintenance charges?
If you’re looking for what crypto exchange has the lowest fees, you’ll need to examine each exchange’s fee structure in detail, taking into account both direct costs (like trading and withdrawal fees) and any extra charges that may apply.
Strategies for Choosing the Cheapest Crypto Exchange
There are several strategies you can use to minimize your exchange fees, and some exchanges offer tools to help you pay lower fees. Here’s how you can reduce your costs:
1. Use Market Maker Strategies
If you want to reduce your trading fees, consider becoming a market maker by placing limit orders instead of market orders. As a market maker, you’ll typically pay lower fees (since you’re adding liquidity to the exchange).
2. Trade More to Access Volume Discounts
Many exchanges offer volume-based fee discounts. As your trading volume increases, your fees typically decrease. If you’re planning to trade frequently, look for exchanges with this type of structure. By hitting higher trading tiers, you can access progressively lower fees.
3. Use Exchange-Specific Tokens
Some exchanges, like Binance, offer discounts if you pay trading fees with their native token (e.g., Binance Coin – BNB). If you’re frequently trading, holding the exchange’s native token can be a smart way to cut costs.
4. Consider Subscription-Based Models
Exchanges like Coinbase One offer subscription plans that provide zero trading fees up to a certain limit. If you’re a high-volume trader, such a plan can significantly reduce your trading costs. Keep in mind that the subscription fee itself may add up, so evaluate whether it makes sense for your trading style.
And remember, the key to success in the cryptocurrency world is knowledge and staying up-to-date with the latest information. If you want to stay ahead of the game and always be in the know about the most important trends and opportunities, check out our articles on best BNB wallet, web3 investments, and how to choose the best crypto lending platform. Seize the opportunity — be ready for future prospects and make informed decisions!
Top 5 Cheapest Crypto Exchanges in 2025
Now that we’ve broken down the fees and strategies to reduce them, let’s explore some of the cheapest crypto exchanges you should consider in 2025:
1. Binance
Binance is one of the most well-known exchanges globally, and it’s also one of the cheapest crypto exchanges. Binance offers incredibly low maker fees (0.10%) and taker fees (0.10%), making it a great choice for both casual traders and high-volume investors. Additionally, using Binance’s native token (BNB) to pay for trading fees can save you up to 25%.
2. CoinRabbit
CoinRabbit is a fast crypto exchange that focuses on privacy and security. The platform aggregates liquidity from multiple exchanges, ensuring smooth and efficient trading while offering competitive rates. It is designed with a user-friendly interface, catering to both beginners and experienced traders. Security is a top priority, with advanced encryption and privacy features protecting users’ data and transactions.
One of the key advantages of CoinRabbit is its transparent fee structure. There are no hidden fees—all costs are included in the estimated rate, which represents the best possible rate available for the trade. This makes it easy for users to understand exactly what they are paying without any surprises.
3. Coinbase
If you’re a high-volume trader, Coinbase offers a subscription plan that eliminates trading fees for up to $10,000 in trades per month. While the subscription costs $29.99/month, this is an attractive option for frequent traders who want to avoid the high fees typically associated with retail accounts on exchanges like Coinbase.
4. Gemini
Gemini is a highly-regulated and secure exchange that offers competitive fees for experienced traders. With maker fees of 0.20% and taker fees of 0.40%, Gemini provides a solid fee structure. Additionally, it does not charge withdrawal fees beyond blockchain transaction fees, making it a good choice for users who frequently withdraw their assets.
5. Phemex
Phemex offers one of the lowest fee structures for crypto exchanges. With maker fees of 0.30% and taker fees of 0.40%, Phemex is affordable for both small traders and large institutional investors. Notably, Phemex charges zero withdrawal fees, making it particularly attractive for users who need to transfer assets regularly.
Conclusion: Choosing the Cheapest Crypto Exchange in 2025
Finding the cheapest crypto exchange in 2025 requires careful consideration of the entire fee structure, not just trading fees. By evaluating maker and taker fees, deposit and withdrawal fees, and any hidden costs, you can make an informed decision on which platform offers the best value. Exchanges like Binance, CoinRabbit, and Phemex are excellent choices for those looking to minimize their costs.
Additionally, if you’re looking to optimize your investments, consider exploring the option of a crypto loan. With a crypto loan, you can leverage your existing crypto holdings as collateral to borrow funds. This opens up opportunities to invest those borrowed funds in additional crypto assets, or even in other income-generating opportunities, while still maintaining exposure to the market. This could be a smart way to maximize your returns without needing to sell your holdings. Whether you’re focused on minimizing trading costs or expanding your investment strategies, CoinRabbit could provide even more value for your crypto portfolio.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry a high level of risk, and it is essential to conduct thorough research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any financial institution or organization. Always invest responsibly and consider your individual financial situation before making investment choices.
