The cryptocurrency trading landscape is evolving rapidly, and platforms must adapt to meet the growing demands of traders worldwide. In response to user feedback and market trends, OKX has completed a major upgrade to its core trading infrastructure. This enhancement paves the way for expanded futures offerings and more competitive fee structures designed to boost liquidity and improve trading efficiency.
Starting October 30, 2017, OKX introduced significant updates to its crypto-to-crypto trading model, shifting to a maker-taker fee system—a widely adopted standard in professional trading environments. This change rewards users who add liquidity to the market while maintaining fair costs for those executing immediate trades.
👉 Discover how OKX’s new fee model can enhance your trading strategy.
New Maker-Taker Fee Structure for Crypto-to-Crypto Trading
Effective October 30, 2017, at 12:00 PM Beijing Time, OKX implemented a revised transaction fee model across its crypto-to-crypto trading pairs:
- Maker fee: -0.1%
- Taker fee: +0.1%
Under this system, traders who place limit orders that do not immediately execute (thereby adding liquidity to the order book) are rewarded with a -0.1% fee, effectively earning rebates from the platform when their orders are filled. Conversely, traders who place market orders or any order that immediately matches with existing liquidity are charged a 0.1% taker fee.
This incentive-based structure encourages deeper order books and tighter spreads—key factors in improving overall market efficiency and user experience.
Launch of New Futures Contracts: ETH, ETC, and BCC
Expanding its derivatives lineup, OKX announced the launch of futures contracts for Ethereum (ETH), Ethereum Classic (ETC), and Bitcoin Cash (BCC) on November 3, 2017, at 5:00 PM Beijing Time.
These new futures products follow a specialized maker-taker fee model tailored for derivatives trading:
- Maker fee: -0.025%
- Taker fee: +0.075%
- Settlement fee: 0.05%
Traders providing liquidity by placing non-executable limit orders will receive a rebate of 0.025%, while takers—those closing the spread—will be charged 0.075% per transaction for both opening and closing positions. The settlement process incurs an additional flat fee of 0.05%.
This structure balances cost-efficiency with strong incentives for market makers, promoting stable and liquid futures markets for these key digital assets.
Updated Fee Model for BTC and LTC Futures
In alignment with the broader platform optimization, OKX also updated the fee structure for existing Bitcoin (BTC) and Litecoin (LTC) futures contracts, effective November 3, 2017, at 5:00 PM Beijing Time.
The new model introduces separate fees for opening, closing, and settling positions:
- Open Position: 0.015%
- Close Position: 0.015%
- Contract Settlement: 0.015%
While the process now includes distinct charges for each stage, the total round-trip cost remains unchanged at 0.03%. This adjustment increases transparency and aligns with industry best practices, allowing traders to better track and manage their transaction costs.
👉 Learn how OKX’s transparent fee structure benefits active futures traders.
Why These Changes Matter
These strategic updates reflect OKX's commitment to building a more efficient, transparent, and user-centric trading environment. By adopting the maker-taker model across both spot and futures markets, OKX empowers traders with:
- Improved liquidity: Rebates for makers encourage consistent order flow.
- Lower effective trading costs: Active participants can reduce—or even profit from—transaction fees.
- Greater pricing accuracy: Tighter bid-ask spreads enhance execution quality.
- Enhanced market depth: A healthier order book benefits all users.
Additionally, the addition of ETH, ETC, and BCC futures provides traders with more opportunities to hedge risk or speculate on price movements in some of the most widely followed cryptocurrencies.
Core Keywords
- Futures contracts
- Maker-taker fee model
- Cryptocurrency trading fees
- Liquidity incentives
- ETH futures
- BCC futures
- ETC futures
- Trading platform updates
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the difference between a maker and a taker in trading?
A: A maker places an order that adds liquidity to the market (e.g., a limit order that doesn't execute immediately). A taker removes liquidity by executing an order against existing bids or asks (e.g., a market order). Makers are often rewarded; takers are charged fees.
Q: When did the new fee structure take effect?
A: The updated crypto-to-crypto trading fees went live on October 30, 2017, at 12:00 PM Beijing Time. The new futures contracts and BTC/LTC fee changes took effect on November 3, 2017, at 5:00 PM Beijing Time.
Q: Do the new fees increase my trading costs?
A: Not necessarily. For passive traders who place limit orders (makers), costs decrease due to rebates. For aggressive traders (takers), fees are slightly adjusted but remain competitive. The total round-trip cost for BTC/LTC futures remains unchanged.
Q: Are settlement fees charged on every trade?
A: No. Settlement fees apply only when a futures contract reaches expiration or is settled early. They are separate from opening and closing transaction fees.
Q: Can I trade ETH, ETC, and BCC futures before November 3?
A: No. These contracts became available starting November 3, 2017, at 5:00 PM Beijing Time.
Q: How does the maker rebate work? Will I get paid?
A: Yes. If your limit order is filled and it added liquidity (i.e., it was a maker order), you will receive a rebate of 0.1% (spot) or 0.025% (futures) credited directly to your account.
👉 Start trading with optimized fees and enhanced futures options today.