Ethereum: How are fees charged on Kraken?
One of the most frustrating aspects of trading on cryptocurrency exchanges like Kraken is the fee structure. The fees charged can reduce your returns, especially for active traders who need to trade frequently. In this article, we examine how fees are charged on Kraken and explore ways to reduce them.
How are fees charged?
Kraken’s fee structure is transparent and competitive compared to other exchanges. Fees are based on the type of order you place and include:
- Market Order: These orders are equal to your current market price. Market orders incur a small “execution cost” fee, but this fee is usually minimal.
- Limit Order: These orders specify a specific price to buy or sell at. Limit orders incur a buy or sell fee depending on whether you are buying or selling.
- Stop-Loss Orders: Similar to limit orders, stop-loss orders incur fees for entering or exiting a trade.
Are fees deducted from my order amount?
Yes, Kraken deducts the fee from the amount of your order. This means that if you place a 100% in-train market order (buy or sell) valued at $10,000 per share, the fee will be deducted from your $1 million trading volume.
Are fees deducted separately from my account balance?
Yes, the fees are separate from your account balance. When you initiate a trade on Kraken, your transaction fee is applied to the amount of your order and then deducted from your account balance.
Can I specify the currency in which my fees should be applied?
Unfortunately, no. Kraken does not allow you to specify which currency you want your fees to be calculated in. Your account balance is always used as the default currency for fee calculation.
Minimize your trading fees on Kraken
How to reduce your trading fees on Kraken:
- Use limit orders: Limit orders are more expensive than market orders, but they help you avoid buying or selling when the price has already been set.
- Trade in large quantities
: Large transactions can result in lower fees as volume is high and fees are usually lower.
- Avoid overbought/oversold positions
: Be cautious of overbought (high prices) or oversold (low prices) positions as these are more likely to attract market makers who charge higher fees.
- Consider using a trade desk: Trade desks like Binance and Huobi offer lower fees for large trades compared to individual brokers.
To sum up, fees on Kraken can be frustrating. However, if you understand how they are charged and what you can do about them, you can reduce their impact on your trading profits. By using limit orders, placing large trading volumes, and monitoring overbought/oversold positions, you can keep more of your hard-earned money in the market.