Crypto Fees, Explained

Every crypto transaction involves a provider fee (charged by the payment processor) and a network fee (paid to blockchain validators). Swaps shows both upfront.

Provider Fees by Payment Method

Credit/Debit Card: 1.5–3.5% — instant but higher fee
Bank Transfer (SEPA): 0–1.5% — lowest fees for EUR
Bank Transfer (ACH): 0–1.5% — lowest fees for USD
Apple Pay / Google Pay: 2–4% — convenient mobile
Crypto Swap (DEX): 0.1–0.5% spread — on-chain

Network Fees

Bitcoin: $1–5, Ethereum: $2–15, Solana: < $0.01, Polygon: < $0.01

FAQ

Does Swaps charge fees? No — you pay only the provider fee and network fee.

How can I minimize fees? Use bank transfers and low-fee blockchains like Solana or Polygon.

Spreads vs explicit fees

Provider fees are the explicit cost shown at checkout. Spread is the implicit cost — the difference between the mid-market price and the rate the provider quotes you. A provider with a low headline fee but a wide spread can deliver less crypto than a competitor with a higher fee and tighter spread. Swaps ranks providers on the all-in receive amount (after both spread and fees), so the comparison reflects the actual cost rather than marketing-friendly fee schedules.

Why fees vary by corridor

The same provider may charge different rates for different combinations of coin, payment method, country, and amount. Card-network costs (Visa, Mastercard) are passed through; bank-rail costs (SEPA, ACH, Faster Payments) are usually lower because no card-network is involved. Volatile coins or thin-liquidity corridors carry wider spreads to cover provider risk. Swaps re-evaluates every quote in real time so changing market conditions are reflected immediately.