Spread
Compare the quoted buy and sell price with a liquid reference market. A zero-fee label can still conceal cost.
Exchanges · real cost
The cheapest fee is not always the cheapest decision.
Compare the order-book rate, spread, funding, withdrawal, execution and legal entity together. Saving basis points is not worth ignoring jurisdiction or custody.
PlatformMakerTakerUK positionDecision note
OKX0.08%0.10%Aux Cayes FinTech · SeychellesLowest headline spot fee; jurisdiction is a material trade-off
Kraken Pro0.25%0.40%Payward Ltd · check FCA RegisterBalanced order-book pricing and deeper controls
Coinbase AdvancedUp to 0.40%Up to 0.60%CB Payments Ltd · check FCA RegisterAdvanced is usually cheaper than the simple purchase flow
Provider-published entry spot tiers checked 24 August 2026. Rates vary by volume, pair, region and product; verify the live schedule and trade preview.
Funding + exit
Add bank/card charges, currency conversion, crypto withdrawal and fiat withdrawal to the round trip.
Execution
A market order may move through the book. For larger trades, depth and slippage can outweigh the stated fee.
Maker versus taker
A maker order rests on the order book and adds liquidity. A taker order executes against existing liquidity. Limit orders are not guaranteed to fill, so a lower maker fee does not automatically create a better outcome.
Run your own £1,000 check
Record pounds deposited, crypto received, pounds obtainable immediately after the trade and the cost to withdraw. That single round trip is more useful than a marketing table.
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