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Why crypto costs more than the advertised fee

The advertised fee is often only one part of the total exchange-side buy cost. Spread, route choice, and convenience pricing can matter more.

What actually determines how much crypto you receive

Advertised fee — the percentage the exchange publishes

Spread / markup — the gap between the buy price offered and the mid-market price

Route surcharge — card processing, convenience premium, or instant-buy fee where applicable

Actual exchange-side buy cost — what actually determines how much crypto you receive

The advertised fee is often the smallest part of what you actually pay.

·The fee shown was not the whole cost. Spread or markup was applied on top.

·The buy price may have included a markup above mid-market that was not labelled as a fee.

·Card or convenience-buy routes often cost more than deposit-then-trade routes on the same exchange.

·A platform advertising low or zero fees can still produce a worse result if spread is wider.

You buy

$1,000 of BTC

Advertised fee

But the buy price is 2% above mid-market (spread)

You receive ~$980 worth of BTC

The fee was zero, but the exchange-side cost was still

~$20

This is a simplified hypothetical. Actual costs vary by exchange, route, and market conditions.

How you buy can matter more than where you buy. Many exchanges offer both a simpler, faster buying flow and a lower-cost trading interface.

Convenience / instant-buy routes

Faster, fewer steps, but typically higher fees and wider spreads. Card purchases often fall into this category.

Deposit-then-trade routes

More steps, but often lower fees and tighter spreads. Bank transfers with pro/advanced trading interfaces often fall into this category.

Same exchange, different route, very different result. Availability of advanced/pro interfaces varies by exchange and country.

·Exchange trading fee

·Spread and markup where applicable

·Payment method surcharge (card processing, convenience premium)

·Your bank's own fees (wire charges, transfer fees)

·Card issuer fees (cash-advance charges, foreign transaction fees)

·Withdrawal fees or tax implications

Estimates, not quotes. Always verify costs directly on the exchange before transacting.