Zornitsa Stefanova
Zornitsa Stefanova is a Financial Research and Platform Testing Analyst at BestBrokers.com, specialising in hands-on reviews of forex, cryptocurrency and stock trading platforms. She evaluates brokerage companies from a user-focused perspective, testing key areas such as account setup, trading conditions, platform usability, available markets and overall reliability.
| Expert Editor 
Matthew Levy, CFA
Matthew Levy, CFA, is a Senior Research Analyst at BestBrokers.com with experience in financial services, securities analysis, portfolio management, and trading. His work supports the broker testing process through detailed research, clear financial analysis, and a strong understanding of what traders and investors expect from reliable online trading platforms. 
| Updated: Trading cryptocurrencies is a popular investment option for millions of traders across the globe. Estimates suggest the number of people using cryptocurrencies could reach 963 million users worldwide by 2026, with user penetration rates increasing to 12.24%. While there are many brokers and exchange platforms that allow crypto trading, it is important to pick a reliable entity that offers competitive trading conditions.
Fees applied to trades are key to success for crypto traders and investors. When traders buy and sell cryptocurrencies or speculate on their price fluctuations, they are typically charged a small fee known as the spread. Low spreads are important for budget-friendly trading. Below are some of the best brokers and crypto exchanges that offer tight spreads, allowing you to review our list of crypto trading platforms and their trading conditions.
Fusion Markets74-89% of retail's CFD accounts lose money
FP Markets73.33% of retail investor accounts lose money
Pepperstone73.7% of retail investor accounts lose money
Eightcap59.57% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Plus500 USThis content applies only to Plus500 US and clients from the United States. Trading futures involves the risk of loss.
eToro52% of retail investor accounts lose moneyTop 10 Crypto Trading Platforms with Low Spreads
Fusion Markets is a retail broker operating since 2019, bringing top-class trading services to customers from 160 countries. The brand offers CFD trading on 250+ markets, including crypto CFDs. Here, you can speculate on the price fluctuations of 13 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and Ripple.
Fusion Markets aims to provide a smooth trading experience for different types of investors, with a user-friendly platform setup suitable for both beginners and experienced traders. To verify this first-hand, we opened a live Classic account, funded it instantly via a Bitcoin wallet transfer, and placed orders on MT4. Cryptocurrency deposits at Fusion Markets start from $10. The broker also follows the regulatory guidelines of authorities such as ASIC, the VFSC, and the FSA.
One of the main reasons we recommend Fusion Markets to crypto traders is its competitive pricing. During our live tests on highly liquid cryptocurrencies, we recorded tight average spreads of 0.03% for BTC/USD and 0.17% for ETH/USD, with minimums dropping to 0.02% and 0.14%.
Gleneagle Asset Management Limited (ABN 29 103 162 278) trading as Fusion Markets, is the issuer of the Fusion Markets Products described in this communication. Trading in Fusion Markets Products involves the potential for profit as well as the risk of loss which may vastly exceed the amount of your initial deposit and is not suitable for all investors. You should read all of these Financial Product Service Terms, the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Financial Services Guide (available on our website) carefully, consider your own financial situation, needs and objectives for investing in these Fusion Markets Products and obtain independent financial advice.- 2. FP Markets
Crypto trading is widely accessible to FP Markets clients, as the broker is one of the established names in the forex and CFD trading sectors. It allows customers to trade over 10,000 CFDs across various asset classes, including a dozen popular cryptocurrencies.
Crypto traders can go long or short to potentially profit from both rising and falling prices. To test the broker’s ecosystem, we opened a Standard account, met the $100 minimum deposit requirement, and connected it to MT4.
FP Markets offers competitive trading conditions, with maximum leverage of 1:2 for cryptocurrencies. During our live tests, average spreads came in at 0.03% for BTC/USD, 0.04% for ETH/USD, and 0.16% for DOGE/USD. We also paid no commissions on our trades, making our crypto trading experience with FP Markets highly cost-effective. Clients can also fund their live accounts with cryptocurrencies, with crypto deposits typically reflecting in their balance within one hour.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73.33% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. BlackBull Markets is one of our top suggestions for traders looking for tight spreads on crypto CFDs and other tradable instruments. Clients can go long or short on over 40 cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, SOL, and LTC. Our team assessed the broker’s execution quality and pricing using a live ECN Standard account, which has no minimum initial balance requirement, and connected it to MT4. We funded the account via a crypto wallet transfer, with supported transaction limits ranging from $25 to $50,000.
Maximum crypto leverage is set at 1:100. BlackBull Markets offers three main account types, each with competitive spreads. On the ECN Standard account, spreads on major pairs like EUR/USD start from 0.8 pips. The ECN Prime account lowers trading costs further, with major-pair spreads from 0.0 pips and a $6 round-turn commission.
There are no commissions on cryptocurrency trades. During our live evaluation, average spreads came in at 0.02% for BTC/USD and 0.13% for ETH/USD. For high-volume traders, BlackBull Markets also offers an invitation-only Prime+ account with raw spreads from 0.0 pips. While ECN Standard is the only commission-free option, the tighter spreads on the other two accounts can help offset the added commission and reduce overall trading costs.
Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to trade foreign exchange, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and, therefore, you should not invest money you cannot afford to lose. You should make yourself aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any questions or concerns as to how a loss would affect your lifestyle.- 4. Global Prime
Operating since 2010, Global Prime aims to be one of the leading service providers in the trading sector, covering around 150 markets, including cryptocurrencies, forex, stocks, commodities, and indices. Clients can take both long and short positions, speculating on the price movements of popular coins, as Global Prime offers access to 40 crypto assets. We explored the crypto selection first-hand through a funded Standard account on MT4.
Since cryptocurrencies are traded only as CFDs, we were not required to use a crypto wallet or own the underlying assets to benefit from price movements. Global Prime offers leverage of up to 1:2 at its ASIC-regulated division and 1:5 for retail customers registered under its Vanuatu-licensed entity.
Professional crypto traders from Australia can also access higher leverage of 1:5. Global Prime charges a small 0.1% trading fee separately from the spreads and remains competitive with major crypto exchanges in terms of pricing. Our live market tests showed average spreads of 0.03% for BTC/USD, 0.16% for ETH/USD, and 0.53% for DOGE/USD.
Global Prime is a trading name of FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd (ABN 74 146 086 017) and is regulated by ASIC and licensed to carry on a financial services business in Australia under Australian Financial Services License No. 385620. Gleneagle Securities Pty Limited trading as Global Prime FX, is a registered Vanuatu company (Company Number 40256) and is regulated by the VFSC. The website is owned and operated by FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd, ABN 74 146 086 017. - 5. ActivTrades
ActivTrades is a long-standing broker with over two decades of experience, established in 2001, allowing more than 100,000 customers from over 170 countries to trade the most volatile asset class with competitive spreads and no commissions. The broker quotes tight spreads for 15 popular digital assets, including Solana, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Cardano, Ethereum, and Ripple. Customers can enter and exit crypto positions with minimal slippage, as the broker advertises average order execution speeds of 4 milliseconds.
During our ActivTrades tests, we incurred no commissions on crypto CFDs and recorded average spreads of 0.09% for BTC/USD, 0.24% for ETH/USD, and 0.89% for BCH/USD. The minimum transaction volume is 0.01 lots for most available cryptocurrencies.
Maximum crypto leverage is 1:20 or 1:10 under the Mauritius entity, while the ceiling is considerably lower at 1:2 for European customers. With no minimum deposit requirement, ActivTrades is suitable for crypto traders across different experience levels. Customers at offshore entities can also deposit with Litecoin, Bitcoin, Chainlink, Ethereum, Tether, and other cryptocurrencies.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. - 6. IC Markets
IC Markets is one of the top-performing retail brokers in the online trading sector. Launched in 2007, the broker offers more than 2,850 CFDs across various asset classes and instruments, including cryptocurrencies, indices, forex, bonds, and futures. With over 20 crypto pairs available, IC Markets enables easy diversification, with both stablecoins and altcoins offered on its CFD platform. We evaluated the broker over a 30-day testing period using a funded Standard MT4 account.
Some of the key features of trading crypto CFDs with IC Markets include leverage of up to 1:500 in some countries, 24/7 market availability, and the ability to take both long and short positions. However, we believe one of the most notable advantages of trading cryptocurrencies with IC Markets is its competitively low pricing.
Clients pay zero commissions on crypto CFD trades, while low spreads help reduce overall trading costs further. During our live sessions, average spreads came in at 0.01% for BTC/USD, 0.17% for ETH/USD, and 0.14% for DOGE/USD. The broker supports cryptocurrency trading through MT4 and MT5, among other popular platforms.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70.64% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. - 7. eToro
Popular for its copy trading feature, eToro is also a strong broker for crypto trading. While most retail brokers limit their crypto coverage to CFDs, eToro also offers spot crypto trading, meaning clients can own the digital assets they buy and sell. They can securely store their coins in the custodial eToro Money wallet, although this service is currently unavailable to customers from Estonia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, New York, and Nevada.
Regardless of which form of crypto trading users choose, eToro provides competitive trading conditions. We verified this through tests with a funded live account connected to eToro’s proprietary platform. Third-party platforms such as MetaTrader are not supported at this time.
Since eToro allows clients to trade more than 210 crypto assets, portfolio diversification is straightforward. When buying or selling crypto assets on eToro, users pay a flat 1% fee, which is added to the bid-ask spread. This makes trading costs easy to calculate. Our live tests confirmed that short and leveraged trades are executed as CFDs, with the 1% round-turn fee immediately reflected in the portfolio P&L and settled at the closing market price.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. - 8. Binance
Binance is one of the most popular crypto exchanges, with over 300 million customers and access to 500+ crypto assets. Since Binance supports both Basic and Advanced trading, it can suit beginners and experienced traders alike.
Spot trading is the most straightforward way to invest in cryptocurrencies on Binance. Whether buying or selling crypto, users pay a small trading fee of 0.1%, while those who use BNB can further reduce costs. More advanced options include margin trading, futures, and options, although product availability varies by region.
Margin traders can access leverage of up to 1:125 on perpetual futures and 1:10 for spot transactions. Binance also offers some of the lowest maker/taker fees in the market. Spot and margin fees range from 0.1000% / 0.1000% for regular users with 30-day volume below $1 million to 0.0110% / 0.0230% for VIP 9 institutional clients with volumes of at least $4 billion. During our futures tests on a regular-tier account, we incurred maker fees of 0.0200% and taker fees of 0.0500% for 30-day volumes under $5 million. For options, our maker/taker fees were 0.0240% / 0.0240% for volumes below $100 million.
Binance also offers tight spreads, helping reduce trading costs. While bid-ask spreads vary, we found recent average spreads of around 0.06% for BTC/USDT, 0.08% for ETH/USDT, and 0.34% for USDT/USD.
- 9. MEXC
MEXC is a leading cryptocurrency exchange known for delivering fast trading with minimal or no delays. The exchange provides a broad range of services, giving customers access to over 1,782 spot and 958 futures crypto pairs. More than 40 million traders from over 170 countries use MEXC for low-cost crypto trading, which is unsurprising given the exchange’s competitive pricing. We tested the setup by opening an account and funding it via SEPA transfer, which required a minimum deposit of $10.
There are several ways to gain exposure to the crypto markets at MEXC, from spot and perpetual futures trading to copy trading. During our live spot trading tests, we found that maker fees were 0.000% and taker fees were 0.0400%, down from the previous 0.0500% rate. For Bitcoin and Ether perpetuals, our live execution tests recorded 0.000% maker fees and 0.010% taker fees.
While MEXC offers very tight spreads, trading costs may vary significantly across different markets. High-volume cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum come with average spreads of 0.01%, but the costs may exceed 3.40% for lesser-known coins like PIB (Pibble). Existing customers are eligible for referral commissions for referring friends. Collecting additional rewards is also possible through staking, as MEXC offers locked and flexible savings options.
- 10. KuCoin
KuCoin launched in 2017 and has grown into one of the largest crypto exchanges, with over 45 million registered customers and daily trading volume exceeding $916 million in early June 2025. Its spreads are relatively low, with notable examples including Bitcoin at 0.01%, Ethereum at 0.01%, and Tron at 0.06%. Clients can access over 1,000 coins and more than 1,100 tradable pairs. We tested the platform first-hand by opening an account and making a fiat deposit via bank transfer.
KuCoin users can engage in spot trading and access crypto derivatives such as futures, margin trading, and other products. The starting VIP 0 tier applies to 30-day volumes below $1 million for spot trading and $5 million for futures. During our testing, we observed that spot fees vary by asset class. We incurred lower maker/taker charges of 0.1%/0.1% on Class A coins such as Bitcoin and Ether, while fees for Class B and C assets increased to 0.2%/0.2% and 0.3%/0.3%, respectively. For futures contracts, our execution costs were 0.02% for makers and 0.06% for takers. Withdrawal fees are also coin-specific.
The platform is suitable for both desktop and mobile users. Its smartphone app is available from the App Store and Google Play and is compatible with Android 7.0 and iOS 15.1 or later. KuCoin also provides 24/7 customer support for users who need assistance.
Comprehensive Comparison of the Top 6 Crypto Trading Brokers with Low Spreads
| Broker | Account Minimum | Regulators | Spread | Avg Execution Speed | Leverage | Instruments | Cryptocurrencies | Other Fees | Negative Balance Protection | Our Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Fusion Markets | $0 | ASIC, FSA (Seychelles), VFSC (Vanuatu) |
| 37 ms | 1:2 (ASIC), 1:10 (FSA, VFSC) | CFDs | 13+ |
| Yes | 4.38 ⭐ |
| 2. FP Markets | $100 | ASIC, CySEC, FSA (Seychelles), FSCA, FSA (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), SCB (Bahamas), FSC (Mauritius) |
| 40 ms | Up to 1:2 (retail clients); up to 1:5 (professional clients) | CFDs | 12 |
| Yes (retail clients) | 4.37 ⭐ |
| 3. BlackBull Markets | FSA (Seychelles, No. SD045), FMA (No. FSP403326) | 20 ms | 1:500 | 20 | Yes | 4.28 ⭐ | ||||
| 4. Global Prime | $0 | ASIC (No. 385620), VFSC (No. 40256) |
| 100 ms; 1 to 5 ms with VPS | Up to 1:2 (ASIC); up to 1:5 (Pro and VFSC) | CFDs | 40 | $7 round-turn commission on Raw accounts; 0.1% trading fee | Yes (ASIC retail traders) | 4.08 ⭐ |
| 5. IC Markets | $200 | FSA (Seychelles), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), SCB (Bahamas), CMA (Kenya) |
| 35 ms | Up to 1:2 (Retail); up to 1:5 (Pro) | CFDs | 23 |
| Yes (European and Australian retail traders) | 4 ⭐ |
| 6. eToro | $50 - $10,000 (varies by jurisdiction) | FCA, CySEC, ASIC, MFSA, FSRA, FSA, FINRA/FinCEN, AMF, SEC, GFSC | Variable spreads | Less than 1,000 ms | 1:2 (CySEC, ASIC), 1:5 (Seychelles) | Spot, CFDs, copy trading | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Dash, Litecoin, Ethereum Classic, API3, Cronos, SKALE Network, IoTeX, Immutable X, Cardano, IOTA, Stellar, EOS, NEO, TRON, Zcash, BNB, Tezos, Polkadot, Maker, Compound, Chainlink, Uniswap, Yearn.finance, Dogecoin, Aave, Filecoin, Algorand, Cosmos, Decentraland, ApeCoin, Loopring, Enjin, Biconomy, Basic Attention Token, Bancor, Origin Protocol, Polygon, Flare, Gala V2, My Neighbor Alice, Chiliz, Hedera Hashgraph, dYdX, Solana, Theta |
| Yes (retail traders) | 3.24 ⭐ |
Best Crypto Exchange Platforms with Low Spreads
| Exchange | Tradable Coins | Maker/Taker Fees | Spread | Slippage Resistance Feature | Interest Rates | Wallet Service | Max Leverage | Payment Methods | Regulators | Trust Pilot Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Coinbase | 340+ | Taker fee between 0.04% and 0.60%, depending on monthly traded volume; Maker fee between 0% and 0.40%, depending on monthly traded volume |
| Yes (protection points) | 8% annual rate | Yes (Self-Custody) | Up to 1:10 (1:50 for institutional and advanced traders) | SEPA Transfer, Bank Transfer, 3D Secure Card, Instant Card Cashouts, Sofort, iDeal, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, BancomatPay, Sofort, iDeal, Crypto | CFTC (US), FCA, CBI, BaFin, CSSF, CySEC, BMA, FINTRAC, Licensed in almost all states in the US | 4.0 ⭐ |
| 2. CoinJar | 60+ | Taker fee between 0.10% and 0.06% depending on monthly trading volume; Maker fee between 0.10% and 0.02% depending on monthly trading volume |
| No | Not specified | Yes (Custodial) | Unavailable | Bank Transfer, SEPA Trasnfer, PayID, Faster Payments, Instant Buy through Visa, Mastercard, ApplePay, and GPay | FCA (No. 928767), ASIC (ACN 163 543 824), MAS | 3.5 ⭐ |
| 3. Kraken | 560+ | Spots: from 0.25% / 0.40% to 0.00%/0.05% (depends on tier); Margin: 0.02% opening fee; Futures: from 0.0200% / 0.0500% to - 0.0060%/0.0125% (depends on tier) |
| Yes (Market Price Protection, Fat finger Warning) | 0.02% on every 4 hours | Yes (Self-Custody) | 1:50 | Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Wire Transfer, Etana Custody, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Crypto, iDeal | FinCEN (US), FINTRAC (Canada), FCA (UK), FSRA (Abu Dhabi), AUSTRAC (Australia), CBI (Ireland), DNB (the Netherlands), BoS (Spain), OAM (Italy), CBB (Bahrain), VARA (Dubai), BAPPEBTI (Indonesia), SEC (Thailand), SAT (Mexico), CNAD (El Salvador), Registered FSP in South Africa | 1.7 ⭐ |
| 4. Binance | 500+ | Spot & Margin: from 0.1000% / 0.1000% to 0.0110% / 0.0230% (depends on tier); Futures: from 0.0200%/0.0500% to 0.0000%/0.0170% (depends on tier) |
| Yes (Slippage Resistance Tool) | from 0.00068958% to 0.001104% hourly rate (based on tier); from 6.04% to 9.67% yearly rate (based on tier) | Yes (Self-Custody) | Up to 1:125 on crypto futures, 1:10 to 1:20 (spot markets) | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, iDEAL, Digital Wallets, Crypto | AMF (France), OAM (Italy), FIU (Lithuania), BoS (Spain), FSA (Sweden), AIFC (Kazakhstan), FSRA (Abu Dhabi), CBB (Bahrain), VARA (Dubai), AUSTRAC (Australia), JFSA (Japan), BAPPEBTI (Indonesia), FMA (New Zealand), SEC (Thailand), SFCA (South Africa), SAT (Mexico), CNAD (El Salvador) | 1.4 ⭐ |
| 5. Crypto.com | 400+ | Spot & Margin: 0.250%/0.500% (Level 1); 0.080%/0.180% (Level 5) |
| Yes (Slippage Tolerance) | from 0.0800% to 0.0100% daily rate (depends on tier) from 29.20% to 3.65% annual rate (depends on tier) | Yes | 1:5 | Bank Transfer, Wire Transfer, SEPA Transfer | FCA, AMF, CySEC, FSA (Malta), MAS, CBI, VARA (Dubai), DNB, South Korea, AUSTRAC/ASIC, Bank of Spain, OAM, HCMC, CIMA, CFTC, Ontario Securities Commission, Canada Securities Administrators, COAF, FSRA (Abu Dhabi), Hong Kong, Central Bank of Bahrain, FSC (Mauritius) | 1.3 ⭐ |
Coinbase
Coinbase stands out for offering competitive crypto trading conditions, combining regular platform upgrades, low fees, a broad asset range, and an interface suitable for both beginners and experienced investors. Customers can access over 270 tradable cryptocurrencies, 22 stablecoin pairs, and 400 spot pairs. The exchange also offers hosted and self-custody wallet options. To test Coinbase, we opened a real account and funded it via bank wire transfer, which carried a fixed $10 deposit fee. Bank wire withdrawals cost us $25 each.
Spot trading at Coinbase allows users to buy and sell digital assets, with maker and taker fees decreasing as monthly trading volume rises. During our tests, execution costs were 0.40% for makers and 0.60% for takers at the lowest-volume tier, which covers monthly transactions up to $10,000. At institutional scale, fees drop to 0.00% for makers and 0.04% for takers once an account exceeds the $400 billion volume threshold. Users can also speculate on crypto price movements through futures and perpetual futures contracts.
Coinbase spreads are also competitive, helping lower overall costs. While spreads vary with market conditions, average spreads on major pairs such as BTC/USD, ETH/USD, and USDT/USD are estimated at around 0.5% for regular customers and 0.01% for Coinbase Advanced users.
Kraken
Kraken is a popular crypto exchange used by over 13 million traders from more than 190 countries, likely due to its low fees and advanced trading features. Once users create and verify an account, they can trade more than 600 crypto assets, making diversification straightforward. We tested both the core Kraken platform, designed for casual investors, and Kraken Pro, built for advanced traders.
Kraken allows users to buy and sell crypto with ownership of the underlying asset. On Kraken Pro, we found that 0.25% maker and 0.40% taker fees apply to 30-day volumes of up to $10,000, falling to 0.00% and 0.05% once volume exceeds $500 million. By contrast, the standard Kraken platform charges a flat 1% fee on instant and recurring orders, on top of the spread. Custom orders incur a 1.5% flat fee plus spread charges.
Futures trading is also available, allowing investors to trade crypto without owning it. Our Kraken Pro tests confirmed lower entry-tier futures costs, with 0.0200% maker and 0.0500% taker fees for volumes under $5 million. At the highest tier, above $5 billion in 30-day volume, fees drop to -0.0060% for makers and 0.0125% for takers. Casual investors using the core Kraken platform pay a 0.25% fee on perpetual futures. Margin trading is also available, with maximum leverage of 1:50 for futures and 1:10 for spot margin trading.
Kraken makes its fee structure easy to check before trading. While bid-ask spreads vary with market conditions, average spreads on major crypto pairs such as BTC/USD, ETH/USD, and USDT/USD are around 0.01%.
Crypto.com
Launched in 2016, Crypto.com is another strong crypto exchange, offering multiple trading options across more than 400 digital assets and 300 tradable pairs. Trusted by over 150 million clients from more than 90 countries, the exchange allows users to buy, sell, and trade different altcoins while building a diversified crypto portfolio. Clients can engage in both spot and margin trading, depending on their goals.
Our testing at the entry-level retail tier, which covers 30-day trading volume below $10,000 with no native Cronos (CRO) tokens staked, showed base spot fees starting at 0.250% for makers and 0.500% for takers. However, these fees decrease to 0.000% and 0.440%, respectively, with the 12% CRO staking discount for the same tier.
Traders invited to VIP Level 7 can reduce their maker/taker fees further to 0.000% and 0.025%, or 0.022% for takers with a CRO stake. Customers who actively participate in Crypto.com’s CRO staking program can also receive discounts on crypto trading fees. Staking is available for more than 30 coins, with maximum rewards reaching 18.24% for emerging assets such as EigenLayer (EIGEN).
Crypto.com also aims to offer tight spreads for clients looking for competitive pricing. While spreads may vary, major crypto pairs such as BTC/USD, ETH/USD, and USDT/USD generally average around 0.01%. Spot margin traders can access maximum leverage of 1:10 on selected pairs.
CoinJar
CoinJar is one of the most prominent crypto exchanges in Australia and the UK, offering investors a safe and fair environment to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies. This over-the-counter trading exchange provides fast order execution and competitive pricing for its customers.
CoinJar members can buy, sell, and convert more than 60 crypto assets, with initial investments starting from just $10. Instant crypto purchases with Mastercard or Visa incur a 2% transaction fee, while fiat-to-crypto conversions cost 1%. Our testing across the exchange’s multi-currency order books showed that AUD, USD, and GBP pairs are charged 0.10% maker and taker fees at the base tier, which covers monthly trading volume of up to $60,000. Fees drop to 0.02% for makers and 0.06% for takers at institutional volumes above $6 million. Crypto-to-crypto and crypto-to-stablecoin pairs were even more cost-effective, with a flat 0.00% maker fee and a 0.06% taker fee regardless of monthly volume.
CoinJar’s crypto trading spreads are also reasonable, helping traders secure competitive prices for their orders. Since the exchange operates mainly in Australia and the UK, major cryptocurrencies are commonly traded against fiat currencies such as GBP and AUD. Average spreads on major pairs like BTC/AUD, ETH/AUD, and USDT/AUD may range around 0.28%, 0.32%, and 0.07%, respectively.
Spread in Crypto Trading
Whether buying or selling crypto assets on a brokerage platform or via a crypto exchange, the goal is usually to make a profit from the difference between the buy and sell price of the asset. That said, you should also keep in mind that you will end up paying some trading fees, with the spread being one of these charges.
Since the crypto market has both buyers and sellers, both sides try to generate profits from the best possible price point. However, the difference between the two values creates the bid-ask spread. In the crypto sector, the spread is considered the gap between the ask and bid price recorded in the order book.
It should be noted that the way the spread is created can differ depending on the market you are trading in. Retail brokers usually rely on market makers or liquidity providers to determine spreads. Meanwhile, crypto markets determine the spread based on the difference between the limit orders set by buyers and sellers.
If traders wish to buy crypto instantly at the market price, they will have no other choice but to settle for the highest ask price, which is more favorable to the seller. Meanwhile, if you want your sell order matched instantly, you will need to accept the best available bid price. Assets with higher liquidity, like Forex, have tighter spreads, generally allowing buyers and sellers to trade without experiencing a drastic difference between the two price points, depending on the forex pair traded. Meanwhile, less liquid markets could require traders to wait longer for their orders to be matched and executed.
Creating liquidity is crucial for trading, with many markets relying on brokers and market makers to provide liquidity. Buying and selling the same asset is often used by market makers as a method to create a spread and ultimately generate arbitrage profits. As there is significant competition among market makers, assets that enjoy higher demand tend to come with lower spreads.
To determine which crypto exchange or broker offers the lowest spreads on cryptocurrencies, you need to be able to calculate spreads. To assess the spread you will be charged for trading a cryptocurrency, you can use the following formula:
(Ask price – Bid price) / Ask price x 100 = Spread Percentage
If we use the formula above, we can take a cryptocurrency like GNO, which at the time of writing has an ask price of $263 and a bid price of $261, making the spread $2. If we divide 2 by 263, we get a spread percentage of about 0.8%. Now, if we explore the BTC price points for the same period, we will see that traders might pay a spread of around $6. While this surcharge is three times higher than the GNO spread, it is actually lower in percentage, representing a much tighter spread of around 0.010%. That means trading bigger volumes of the highly liquid cryptocurrency would actually impose lower spread fees.
What is Slippage and How Does it Affect Crypto Traders?
While keeping track of the spread can be done by comparing the ask and bid price of the crypto asset, traders should also consider slippage. This factor is a key element that will help you assess the potential price you will end up with when your order is executed.
Slippage is a common occurrence in highly volatile or low-liquidity markets. The simple way of describing it is when an order is executed at a price different from the one the trader expected. As mentioned earlier, to get your orders matched instantly or at least faster, it is often necessary to agree to a higher price.
Let us assume you have decided to invest in a cryptocurrency and you have placed a buy order for $100, but due to low liquidity, there is no matching sell order in the order book. If you want the order to fill, you may need to accept orders that exceed your buy price so your order gets executed. The difference between your original buy order and the order that gets executed at a higher price is called slippage.
Whenever you create a market order, the crypto exchange will automatically fill the order in the order book to allow you to execute your trade at the best possible price. However, if your order cannot be matched, the exchange will expand the list of orders, including possible matches at higher prices. In unstable and low-liquidity crypto markets, it is possible for slippage of 10% or higher to occur, for example.
It is worth noting that slippage can sometimes be positive, as the price difference may occasionally be in your favor. This occurs whenever market prices decline when you place a buy order or whenever market prices increase when you place a sell order. Positive slippage is not that common, but it may happen in some volatile or more liquid markets.
As slippage is something that crypto traders generally wish to avoid, some crypto exchanges allow their customers to set up a slippage tolerance level. This feature is available in automated market makers such as PancakeSwap on Binance Smart Chain. If you use this feature, it is possible that your orders execute more slowly, or not at all. For example, if you set the slippage tolerance level too low, it may take a very long time until your order is matched, and in some cases, it may not get matched at all.
How to Minimize Slippage When Trading Cryptocurrencies
It is difficult to completely avoid slippage while trading cryptocurrencies, but there are a few ways you can minimize the occurrence of negative slippage. Here are a few tips that can help you whenever you place your buy and sell orders, allowing you to trade crypto coins more effectively.
Opt for Multiple Smaller-Size Orders
Instead of making one large order, you can break it down into smaller blocks with more reasonable prices, giving you a better chance of quick execution. Make sure to keep an eye on your order book and avoid placing orders that surpass the available volume.
Avoid High Surcharges
While it is good to avoid negative slippage, you should also consider other trading fees you may be charged for your orders. Some decentralized crypto exchanges charge significantly higher fees depending on the blockchain’s traffic. That can easily cost you more, even if there is minimal slippage.
Consider the Liquidity Factor
If you are trading crypto assets with low liquidity, the orders you place can have a serious impact on the asset’s price. Even if a single transaction has a low slippage percentage, multiple small orders in a low-liquidity market can have a serious impact on the price of your next transactions.
Use Limit Orders
Sometimes, the speed of execution is worth sacrificing if you are able to minimize slippage. Limit orders allow you to get the exact price that you expect or even execute your order at a better price.
Trade Highly Liquid Pairs at Peak Times
Choose crypto pairs with higher liquidity. Also, trading during peak market hours, when US and European markets overlap, for example, can mean more buyers and sellers and tighter spreads, minimizing slippage.
Monitor Order Book Depth
Before placing trades, check the order book to gauge market depth. Large orders in a shallow order book increase the risk and size of slippage. Monitoring real-time order book changes can help you time your market entries better or split your orders optimally.
Factors that Affect Spread Fluctuations
There are several factors that have an impact on spreads in crypto trading. Being aware of these will help you understand how a spread may change and affect your crypto trades. The main factors that may affect the spreads of crypto trades include the market’s volatility, liquidity, current trading volume, and the exchange platform that you use.
There is a correlation between the market’s volatility and the spread you may pay. High volatility typically indicates increased risk and an unstable market. Naturally, that would normally lead to wider spreads when trading a cryptocurrency.
Low liquidity also affects spreads negatively, as it indicates fewer participants in the market, which in turn will slow down the execution of orders. Generally, the slower your orders get executed, the wider the spread. Similarly, low trading volume also shows that there are fewer buyers and sellers participating in the market. A decline in trading activity equals slower order execution, which can also make spreads wider.
Comparing spreads across multiple exchanges is another option, as competition may be a driving force behind lower spreads on crypto trading. Since crypto exchanges base their spreads on factors like gaps in the order book, other trading fees, and competition, it is worth comparing several exchanges before you choose where to trade crypto.
Other Fees Associated with Crypto Trading
While spreads will give you a good indication of what you will end up paying for your order execution, there are also other surcharges to consider whenever you trade cryptocurrencies. Whether you choose to trade with a broker or a crypto exchange, you need to fund your trading account before you can place any type of order. In most cases, deposits via payment methods like credit/debit cards, e-wallets, wire transfers, and instant banking services will incur no fees.
If you choose to directly purchase a cryptocurrency via an exchange platform, you can often choose from a wide range of fiat payment options suitable for traders in different jurisdictions. Depending on the amount of crypto coins purchased, the current price of the asset, and other market conditions, you will be charged a transaction fee that should be clearly stated before you confirm the purchase.
Whenever you are trading crypto as CFDs using the services of a retail broker, you will rarely be charged a commission for your trades. Instead, brokers tend to include a small fee in the spread, which is applied to the trade. However, as traders may also keep their positions open overnight, brokers might charge an overnight fee, which is variable and depends on several market factors.
Spot trading, as well as other forms of crypto trading that you can enjoy as an exchange client, will also come with certain trading fees. Whenever you place an order that is instantly matched and executed, you may be charged a taker fee. Meanwhile, if your order is placed in the order book and takes some time to be executed, you may be charged a maker fee. This is because you are considered a client who helps create the market. Typically, maker fees are lower than taker fees, but both surcharges tend to get lower when traders accumulate higher monthly trading volumes.
As you can see, there are various types of fees to consider whenever you are trading crypto, including spreads that will be applied to your orders. We recommend doing your research and picking the platforms that will offer the most cost-effective crypto trading experience.
How to Choose a Crypto Trading Platform with Low Spreads?
To pick a trading platform that will offer the most competitive prices and fair trading conditions, you should base your choice of broker or exchange on several factors. While it is important to select a platform with competitive spreads, here are a few other features to keep in mind.
Choose a trading platform that corresponds to your trading experience. While many brokers and exchanges strive to cater to both beginners and experienced traders, some platforms lack the educational materials and tools to help novices get accustomed to crypto trading faster. Most of the brokers and crypto exchanges we have covered in this article are suitable for any type of trading experience, as their platforms boast user-friendly designs. In addition, newbies can find plenty of educational materials on the websites of these trading platforms, allowing inexperienced traders to learn about crypto trading topics.
The fee structure adopted by the trading platform you plan on joining is also an important factor. As we have already mentioned, while low spreads are definitely something to look for, you should also consider other applicable fees.
If you are charged for your deposits and withdrawals, and there are extremely high maker/taker fees and commissions, even lower spreads cannot help you reduce the overall cost of trading. Instead of focusing only on one type of surcharge, we suggest combining all kinds of fees applicable to your trades to get a proper estimate of the overall cost of trading.
Safety is another major factor when choosing a broker or exchange to trade with. We suggest you do your own research on the platform and check the validity of the licenses and permissions it has obtained. You should also consider your country of residence, as some brokers and exchanges are authorized to operate legally in fewer regions. Opting for a platform that is not regulated within your country of residence can be dangerous, and it offers no protection in case of unfortunate trading events.
One very important thing to consider before settling for a crypto exchange or retail broker is your trading goal. Depending on your preferences, you may find some platforms more suitable than others. If you are looking to diversify your portfolio, you may choose a platform that covers a larger range of altcoins. The majority of retail brokers offer their customers the ability to trade CFDs on several popular cryptocurrencies, but there are brokers like eToro that will also offer spot trading, allowing you to engage in different trading strategies.
There are a few exchange platforms that focus mainly on spot trading, enabling fast order execution and cost-effective transactions. That said, if you wish to make use of leverage, you might opt for a crypto exchange that offers margin trading as well as futures, perpetuals, or options, which may also allow traders to use leverage.
Whatever your trading goals are, it is important that they align with the services offered by the broker or crypto exchange. We believe that if you pay attention to these factors and opt for a platform delivering competitively low spreads, you can enjoy a solid crypto trading experience.