Introduction
Choosing a crypto exchange with the lowest fees can significantly impact your trading profits, especially for active traders. This guide benchmarks top US-accessible platforms based on trading costs, deposit/withdrawal fees, and volume discounts—helping you optimize your trading strategy while staying tax-compliant.
Top Crypto Exchanges with Lowest Fees
We evaluated exchanges using maker/taker rates, spread data, and volume-tiered rebates. Here are the winners:
Best for Spot Trading
- Binance.US: Flat 0.10% fee; zero-fee BTC pairs.
- Robinhood Crypto: Commission-free trades (average 0.4% spread).
Best for High-Volume Traders
- Kraken Pro: 0% maker / 0.10% taker fees above $10M monthly volume.
- Coinbase Advanced Trade: Rebates scale to 0% maker fees at $500M+ volume.
Other Low-Fee Options
| Exchange | Spot Fee | Futures Fee |
|----------------|----------|-------------|
| BYDFi | 0.10% | 0.02%/0.06% |
| KuCoin | 0.1% | 20% off with KCS |
👉 Compare real-time fees across exchanges
Breakdown of Crypto Exchange Fees
1. Trading Fees
- Why It Matters: Even 0.10% per trade erodes profits in high-frequency strategies.
- Tip: Use limit orders to qualify for maker rebates.
2. Deposit/Withdrawal Fees
| Method | Binance.US | Kraken |
|--------------|-----------|--------|
| ACH | Free | Free |
| Crypto | Free | Network fee |
3. Hidden Costs
- Liquidation Fees: Kraken charges 0.25% on margin positions.
- Token Surcharges: ERC-20 withdrawals may incur extra costs.
How to Reduce Fees
- Pay fees in native tokens (e.g., BNB, KCS).
- Consolidate trading volume to unlock VIP tiers.
- Withdraw via Polygon to avoid high ERC-20 gas fees.
👉 Learn tax-saving strategies for crypto traders
Tax Implications of Low-Fee Exchanges
- Capital Gains: Every trade is taxable.
- Rebates: Treated as income at fair market value.
- Tools: Use TokenTax to automate Form 8949 and Schedule D.
FAQs
Are there crypto exchanges with no fees?
Robinhood offers commission-free trades but embeds costs in spreads.
Which exchange has the lowest fees for high-volume traders?
Kraken Pro and Coinbase Advanced Trade offer 0% maker fees at scale.
How can I save money on withdrawal fees?
Use stablecoins on low-fee networks like Polygon.
Key Takeaways
- Binance.US and Robinhood lead for low spot fees.
- Volume-tiered rebates benefit professional traders.
- Always factor in tax obligations—low fees don’t mean tax-free.
For updates, follow TokenTax on Twitter @tokentax.