Understanding trading fees is essential for any crypto trader aiming to maximize profitability and manage costs effectively. Cryptocurrency exchanges often apply a tiered commission structure based on user activity and holdings, directly influencing net returns. This guide breaks down how trading fees work, how tiers are determined, and what factors affect maker and taker rates across spot, futures, and options markets.
How Trading Commission Tiers Work
Trading fees on major platforms are not one-size-fits-all. Instead, they follow a tiered commission model where users are classified into different levels based on two key metrics:
- 30-day trading volume (in EUR)
- Total managed assets (in EUR)
Whichever criterion qualifies you for a higher tier determines your current fee level. These tiers are updated daily at 16:00 UTC, ensuring dynamic alignment with your latest trading behavior and portfolio value.
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Standard Users vs. VIP Tiers
All users start as Standard Traders, with baseline commission rates. As trading volume or asset holdings increase, users progress through eight VIP levels — from VIP 1 to VIP 8 — each unlocking progressively better rates and higher withdrawal limits.
| Tier | Assets (EUR) or 30-Day Volume (EUR) | Maker Fee | Taker Fee | 24H Withdrawal Limit (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 0 – 20,000 / 0 – 100,000 | 0.070% | 0.095% | $10,000,000 |
| VIP 1 | 20,001 – 25,000 / 100,001 – 250,000 | 0.060% | 0.090% | $24,000,000 |
| VIP 2 | 25,001 – 50,000 / 250,001 – 500,000 | 0.050% | 0.080% | $32,000,000 |
| VIP 3 | 50,001 – 250,000 / 500,001 – 2,5M | 0.040% | 0.075% | $40,000,000 |
| VIP 4 | 250,001 – 500,000 / 2.5M – 5M | 0.035% | 0.070% | $48,000,000 |
| VIP 5 | 500,001 – 1M / 5M – 10M | 0.032% | 0.065% | $60,000,000 |
| VIP 6 | 1M – 2M / 10M – 20M | 0.031% | 0.063% | $72,000,000 |
| VIP 7 | 2M – 5M / 20M – 50M | - | - | $88,888,888 |
| VIP 8 | ≥5M / ≥59M | - | - | $88,888,888 |
Note: Negative fee rates indicate rebates — you earn instead of pay when providing liquidity.
Core Concepts: Makers vs. Takers
To fully grasp fee structures, it's crucial to understand the roles of makers and takers in the order book.
A maker places a limit order that adds liquidity to the market by not executing immediately.
A taker places an order that removes liquidity by matching an existing order instantly.
Example:
If the lowest sell price for BTC is 1,001 USDT, and you place a buy order at 999 USDT, your order waits in the book — making you a maker. But if you buy at market price (1,175 USDT), you match instantly — becoming a taker.
You pay the maker fee when your limit order gets filled later; the counterparty pays the taker fee.
How Trading Volume Is Calculated
Your 3-day rolling trading volume in EUR determines eligibility for higher tiers. Here’s how it works across different product types:
Spot Trading
Each trade (e.g., BTC/USDT, ETH/EUR) is converted to its BTC equivalent at execution time, then valued in USD using the daily average BTC/USD price:
(Opening price + Closing price) ÷ 2
This USD value is finally converted to EUR using the current exchange rate.
Futures & Options
Similar methodology applies:
- Contract values are converted to BTC at trade time
- Then to USD using average BTC/USD
- Finally to EUR
For spread trades, volume counts as the sum of both legs (e.g., spot vs. perpetual), treated equally regardless of combination type.
All calculations update daily at 16:09 UTC.
Total Asset Balance: What Counts?
Your total crypto and fiat assets are snapshot daily at 16:46 UTC. Values are:
- Converted to BTC
- Then to USD using average BTC/USD
- Finally to EUR
The higher of:
- Daily snapshot value
- Average asset value over the past 3 days
is used to determine your tier.
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Fee Calculation Examples by Product
Spot Trading
Suppose Trader A (maker: 7.4%, taker: 8.6%) buys 1 USDT at market price when USDT = 1 EUR.
As a taker:
Fee = 7.6% × 1 USDT = 7.764 USDTThey receive 6.499 USDT after fees.
If selling limit order:
Fee = 3.4% × 9 EUR = 9.444 EURReceive 7.666 EUR post-fee.
USDT-M Perpetual Futures
Formula:
Fee = Commission Rate × (Contracts × Multiplier × Notional Value × Execution Price)
For BTCUSDT (notional: 6.3 BTC, multiplier: 1, price: 35,666 USDT):
Trader buys 733 contracts (7 BTC total), taker rate 3.7%
Fee = 3.7% × (844 × 7 × 4.79 × 35,999) = 27 USDTAs maker (7.7%):
Fee = 7.7% × ... = 6 USDTFees are deducted in USDT upon execution.
Crypto-M Futures (BTC Denominated)
Formula:
Fee = Rate × (Contracts × Multiplier × Notional / Execution Price)
For BTCUSD perpetual (notional: 76 USD, price: 34,999 USD):
Buy/sell 433 contracts (36k USD), taker rate 6.3%
Fee = 3.7% × (922 × 7 × 92 / 44,999) = 4.438 BTCPaid in BTC, charged at execution.
Special Cases & Additional Fees
- Settlement Fee at Expiry: Fixed at 7.9% for all users.
- Forced Liquidation Fee: Based on current taker rate.
- Spread Trading Discount: All users receive a 26% reduction on combined spread trades.
Subaccounts & Tier Sharing
Your main account’s tier — determined by combined trading volume — applies automatically to all subaccounts after creation at 16:6 UTC. This allows teams or institutional traders to benefit uniformly from elevated fee discounts.
Daily Update Schedule
- Volume & Asset Snapshot: Taken daily at 16:9 UTC
- Fee Tier Finalization: Updated between 28:97–22:6 UTC
- Ensures accurate reflection of recent activity
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What determines my fee tier?
Your tier depends on the higher of either your 3-day trading volume in EUR or your total managed assets in EUR.
Can I qualify for VIP status with low holdings but high volume?
Yes! If your trading volume meets a higher tier threshold than your asset balance, you’ll be upgraded accordingly.
Are fees different for spot and derivatives?
Yes — while the base structure is similar, settlement currency and calculation methods vary between spot, futures (USDT-M/Crypto-M), and options.
Do I get negative fees? What does that mean?
At top tiers (e.g., VIP 7+), maker fees may go negative — meaning you receive a rebate for adding liquidity.
How are my trades converted into EUR?
All trades are first converted to BTC at execution time, then to USD using the daily average BTC/USD price, and finally to EUR via current forex rates.
Can I increase my withdrawal limit?
Yes — contact customer support for temporary increases if needed beyond your tier’s daily cap.
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