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Crypto exchange fees matter, especially for active traders. In 2026, the competition between major exchanges is heating up. Platforms like Binance, OKX, Coinbase, and Bybit are adjusting trading fees to attract users, reward VIP traders, and win market share in a tight market.
This page tracks all crypto exchange fee updates in 2026, including permanent cuts, temporary promotions, and zero-fee trading campaigns. Our goal is to help you stay ahead, pay less in fees, and trade smarter.
If you’re new to how maker and taker fees affect your total cost, check out our explainer on Maker vs. Taker Fees. It’ll help you understand how most fee updates in this tracker are structured.
We verify fees each month using official exchange pages and corporate announcements.
| Exchange | Update Type | Date | Old Fee | New Fee | Permanent or Promo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEXC | Futures trading fee adjustment | January 2026 | Not publicly verified | Maker: 0.01% Taker: 0.04% | Conditional | Applies only to ICNTUSDT, ICNTUSDC, REPPOUSDT, and RUSSELLUSDT futures. |
| MEXC | BTC futures fee rate adjustment (Regional) | January 2026 | Not disclosed | Maker: 0.01% Taker: 0.04% | Permanent | Applies to all BTC futures users in Ukraine and the CIS region starting Jan 3, 2026. |
| MEXC | Spot and futures fee promotion | January 2026 | Standard spot and futures fees | Spot: 0% Selected futures: 0% ETH futures: 0.01% maker / 0.02% taker | Promo | Applies to all spot pairs. Futures promo applies to selected pairs and the Africa region only. Market makers excluded. |
| KuCoin | Spot trading fee reduction (token-specific) | January 2026 | 0.3% | 0.2% | Promo. (Ends January 21 2026) | Applies only to XMN spot trading. Fees reduced automatically during promo window. |
| Binance | Margin API technical update | November 2025 | 0.10% (spot: taker/maker | No change | No change | No fee change. API streaming upgrade only |
| Coinbase Advanced | Trading fee promo for annual members | November 2025 | Standard fees (up to 0.6% retail) + standard Coinbase Advanced fees | Zero trading fees for spot (spread applies) + 50% fee rebate on Advanced spot trades | Promo | Applies only to Coinbase One annual members in US, UK, CA, DE, FR. Ends Nov 16 |
| OKX (US market) | VIP fee structure overhaul | November 2025 | Previous VIP tiers (8-tier system; higher qualification requirements & fees) | New 9-tier VIP system with lower qualification thresholds; reduced maker/taker fees; some zero-fee VIP pairs | Permanent | Lower entry bar to VIP tiers, improved liquidity incentives, and 9-tier structure. Maker fees go as low as 0% for top tier; applies to U.S. spot traders. |
| Bybit | Derivatives fee structure revamp (Pro & MM tiers only) | August 2025 | Previous tier-based maker/taker fees | New grouped system: Pro fees as low as 0.015% taker / 0.000% maker; MM rebates up to -0.0125% | Permanent | 5-group fee model based on liquidity & volume; higher fees on volatile pairs, lower fees on majors; retail spot users unaffected |
| Kraken | New zero-fee tier via Kraken+ | November 2025 | Standard | $0 fees up to $10k/month for Kraken+ users | Promo/plan perk | Applies only to Kraken+ subscription users, not base trading fees |
| KuCoin | Spot trading fee reduction (token-specific) | October 2025 | 0.3% | 0.1% | Permanent | Applies to EUL, GIGGLE & F. Tokens reclassified from Class C to Class A. |
| Bitget | Stock futures trading fee reduction | November 5, 2025 | Maker: 0.02% Taker: 0.06% | 0.0065% (flat) | Promo (Nov 5, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026) | 90% discount on all stock futures pairs during earnings-season promo |
Last updated: January 2026. All data verified from official exchange announcements or blogs.
In 2026, crypto exchanges are using fee cuts to stay competitive and attract traders in a slow market. We’ve seen more platforms experiment with zero-fee trading promos, VIP tier expansions, and region-based discounts.
Exchanges like Bybit and OKX are focusing on institutional clients through structured maker/taker fee models, while Coinbase and Kraken are appealing to retail users with limited-time zero-fee trading campaigns.
The common trend? Exchanges are shifting toward temporary fee relief and loyalty perks instead of permanent base rate cuts. Expect more updates around futures trading, regional promos, and subscription-based fee waivers as competition continues.
Here are some of the notable fee campaigns to note as of January 2026:
| MEXC | Token-specific fee update for select tokens in certain regions |
| KuCoin | Token-specific spot trading reduction |
| Kraken+ | Launches a $0-fee tier for up to $10k monthly trades. |
| OKX | Expands 9-tier VIP system with lower fee thresholds. |
Crypto exchanges are getting more aggressive with their fee strategies in 2026, from temporary zero-fee promos to long-term VIP restructures. These shifts show just how much competition has intensified across global markets.
We’ll keep updating this tracker each month so you can stay on top of every new change. If you want to see which platforms currently offer the lowest overall trading costs, check out our full Low-Fee Crypto Exchange Comparison for 2026. It offers a deeper look at the cheapest exchanges for spot, futures, and derivatives trading.
Not necessarily. DEXs charge more for swap fees, typically around 0.2%- 0.3%, and network fees. Meanwhile, CEXs charge lower base fees and offer discounts and zero-fee trading. So. CEXs are cheaper for frequent and active traders.
High withdrawal and deposit fees can affect your crypto trading costs in several ways:
Yes, in some regions. Trading fees reduce your taxable gains since they add to your cost basis. In addition, fees paid during a sale eat into your profit from that sale. Finally, fees paid for getting the asset often count as part of the overall acquisition cost.
Always confirm with a tax professional in your region.
Exchanges often use various fee structures, such as:
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