Maker and taker fees

There are two roles on an exchangeGlossaryExchange (crypto exchange)A trading platform where buyers and sellers trade bitcoin with each other via an order book. The price results from supply and demand; fees usually follow the maker-taker model.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 1 – Ways to get Bitcoin →In the glossary →×. The maker places an order in the order bookGlossaryOrder bookA list of all open buy and sell orders for a trading pair such as BTC/USD, sorted by price. The price forms between the highest bid and the lowest ask.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 1 – Ways to get Bitcoin →In the glossary →× that isn’t executed immediately, such as a buy limit orderGlossaryLimit orderA buy or sell order with a price limit: it is only executed at your price or better. That secures the price, but not the execution – the market may never get there.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 3 – Buying Bitcoin →In the glossary →× below the current price. The taker accepts a waiting order, typically with a market orderGlossaryMarket orderAn order that is executed immediately at the best available price in the order book. You get speed but no price guarantee: with large amounts, the price can differ from the last price shown.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 3 – Buying Bitcoin →In the glossary →×. Because exchanges rely on lots of waiting orders, they usually charge makers less.

Example

Kraken ProProvider · ExchangeKrakenLarge crypto exchange with an EU licence from Ireland: simple in-app buying or an order book, withdrawals via Lightning too.Licence: MiCA (Central Bank of Ireland) · reviewed Sept 2026Costs: App 1% plus spread; Kraken Pro 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker (as of Sept 2026)On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 2 – Choosing a provider →Our profile →AdVisit Kraken* (paid link, opens in a new window)on kraken.com*Paid link: if you sign up or buy through it, we earn a commission. Your price stays the same. How we make money →18+ · Crypto assets are highly volatile; you could lose all your money. No deposit protection.× charges 0.40% for makers and 0.80% for takers in its entry tier. At very high trading volumes, the rates fall to 0% and 0.05% (as of September 2026).^[1] In the entry tier, the fee on a $1,000 purchase is therefore:

• as a maker: $4
• as a taker: $8

Good to know

• What happens matters, not the order type. If your buy limit reaches the cheapest sell offer in the order book, the order is executed immediately – and you are a taker.
• Being a maker means waiting. The lower fee is no use if the order is never executed.
• Apps and brokersGlossaryBroker (crypto broker)A provider that sells you bitcoin or buys it from you at a displayed price, instead of letting you trade in the order book yourself. The costs usually come from the spread, a fee or both.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 1 – Ways to get Bitcoin →In the glossary →× often charge a spreadGlossarySpread (bid-ask spread)The difference between the buy and sell price. With many apps, the spread is the real fee – it just doesn’t appear as a separate item on your statement.On the learning path: Stage 4 · Step 2 – Choosing a provider →In the glossary →× instead of maker and taker fees, sometimes plus a fee.

Understanding the fees shows how all the costs add up.