#CryptoFees101
**Crypto Fees 101: What You're Really Paying For**
Buying, selling, or moving crypto? Expect fees. Here’s the breakdown:
1. **Network/Gas Fees:**
* Paid to blockchain miners/validators to process your transaction.
* **Volatile:** Surge when networks are busy (e.g., Ethereum).
* **Fixed-ish:** Often lower/fixed on chains like Solana or BNB Chain.
* *You pay this for transfers & DeFi swaps.*
2. **Exchange/Trading Fees:**
* Charged by platforms (CEXs like Binance or DEXs like Uniswap) for executing your trade.
* Usually a small % of the trade value (e.g., 0.1%).
* *You pay this when buying/selling.*
3. **The Hidden Costs:**
* **Spread:** Difference between buy/sell prices – wider on low-liquidity assets.
* **Slippage:** Getting a worse price than expected on large or illiquid trades (common on DEXs).
**Key Takeaway:**
**Always check fees before confirming!** Network fees can make small transfers pointless, and slippage can eat profits. Factor them into every move.