MEXC Fees Explained: Zero Maker Fees and What's the Catch
MEXC charges 0% maker fees on futures. We break down the real costs, hidden fees, spot rates, withdrawals, and how MEXC compares to Binance, Bybit, and OKX.
MEXC charges 0% maker fees on all USDT-margined futures contracts at every VIP tier — no volume minimums, no token requirements, no catch in the fine print. Taker fees are 0.020% at the base tier, dropping to 0.010% at VIP 5. These rates are the lowest published futures fees of any major centralized exchange.
Zero percent maker fees is a headline designed to grab attention, and it works. But trading costs are more than the fee schedule. Withdrawal fees, deposit options, slippage on thinner order books, and the sustainability of the zero-fee model all factor into what you actually pay per month on MEXC.
This guide covers every cost you will encounter on MEXC and whether the zero-maker-fee promise holds up under scrutiny.
MEXC Futures Fees: The Zero-Maker Breakdown
MEXC’s futures fee structure is straightforward. Maker fees are 0% at every tier. Taker fees decrease with volume.
USDT-Margined Futures Fee Tiers
| Tier | 30-Day Volume (USDT) | Maker Fee | Taker Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | <10M | 0.000% | 0.020% |
| VIP 1 | ≥10M | 0.000% | 0.018% |
| VIP 2 | ≥50M | 0.000% | 0.016% |
| VIP 3 | ≥100M | 0.000% | 0.014% |
| VIP 4 | ≥200M | 0.000% | 0.012% |
| VIP 5 | ≥500M | 0.000% | 0.010% |
Compare this with Binance’s base futures fees of 0.020% maker and 0.050% taker. MEXC’s base taker (0.020%) is the same as Binance’s maker fee. The difference is enormous for limit-order traders.
Even the taker fee of 0.020% is the lowest base taker rate among major exchanges. Here is the comparison:
| Exchange | Base Maker | Base Taker |
|---|---|---|
| MEXC | 0.000% | 0.020% |
| Binance | 0.020% | 0.050% |
| OKX | 0.020% | 0.050% |
| Bybit | 0.020% | 0.055% |
| Bitget | 0.020% | 0.060% |
| Gate.io | 0.015% | 0.050% |
MEXC’s futures fee structure is in a category by itself. No other major exchange offers 0% maker fees at the base tier.
What’s the Catch?
This is the question everyone asks, and it deserves an honest answer. There are several trade-offs that partially offset the fee advantage.
1. Lower Liquidity
MEXC’s BTC/USDT perpetual order book is significantly thinner than Binance’s. For retail-sized orders (under $10,000 notional), this does not matter much — you will get filled at or near the mark price. For larger orders, the price impact can exceed the fee savings.
A rough comparison of BTC/USDT perpetual order book depth (within 0.1% of mid-price):
| Exchange | Typical Depth (BTC/USDT Perp) |
|---|---|
| Binance | $10-30M |
| OKX | $5-15M |
| Bybit | $5-12M |
| MEXC | $2-5M |
If you place a $500K market order on MEXC, you might move the price 0.03-0.05%. On Binance, the same order barely registers. That 0.03-0.05% slippage erases the fee advantage for that trade. For a detailed analysis of these hidden costs, see our hidden exchange fees guide.
2. Withdrawal Fees Are Higher Than Average
MEXC makes up some of the fee revenue it loses on trading through withdrawal fees that are slightly above average.
| Asset | Network | MEXC Fee | Binance Fee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USDT | TRC-20 | 1.0 USDT | 1.0 USDT | None |
| USDT | ERC-20 | 5.0 USDT | 3.5 USDT | +$1.50 |
| USDT | Arbitrum | 1.0 USDT | 0.5 USDT | +$0.50 |
| BTC | Bitcoin | 0.0003 BTC | 0.0001 BTC | +$16 @ $80K |
| ETH | Ethereum | 0.003 ETH | 0.0013 ETH | +$5 @ $3K |
| SOL | Solana | 0.01 SOL | 0.01 SOL | None |
The BTC withdrawal fee is triple Binance’s. If you withdraw BTC once a month, that is an extra $16 that chips away at your trading fee savings. The ERC-20 USDT fee is also notably higher.
3. Wider Spreads on Altcoins
MEXC lists 2,000+ spot trading pairs — one of the largest selections in the industry. But many of those pairs have paper-thin liquidity. Trading a newly listed micro-cap token on MEXC might show a 0.3-1.0% bid-ask spread. You pay 0% in maker fees but lose far more on the spread.
This is not a MEXC-specific problem — Gate.io and other high-listing-count exchanges face the same issue. But it matters more on MEXC because the zero-fee headline can lure traders into illiquid markets where the real cost is much higher than the fee schedule suggests.
4. Sustainability Questions
Zero maker fees is a loss-leader strategy. MEXC is effectively subsidizing futures maker liquidity to attract volume. The question is how long this lasts. If MEXC changes the fee structure, traders who built their strategies around 0% maker fees will need to re-optimize.
To be fair, MEXC has maintained the zero-maker-fee policy for over two years. It does not appear to be a temporary promotion. But it is worth noting that the policy could change.
MEXC Spot Trading Fees
Spot fees on MEXC are less distinctive than the futures rates but still competitive.
Spot Fee Tiers
| Tier | 30-Day Volume (USDT) | MX Holding | Maker Fee | Taker Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | <1M | — | 0.050% | 0.050% |
| VIP 1 | ≥1M | ≥1,000 MX | 0.040% | 0.050% |
| VIP 2 | ≥5M | ≥10,000 MX | 0.030% | 0.045% |
| VIP 3 | ≥10M | ≥50,000 MX | 0.020% | 0.040% |
| VIP 4 | ≥50M | ≥200,000 MX | 0.000% | 0.030% |
| VIP 5 | ≥100M | ≥500,000 MX | 0.000% | 0.025% |
The 0.050% base spot rate is significantly lower than Binance (0.100% without BNB) and on par with MEXC’s position as a fee-competitive exchange. With the MX token discount (currently offering additional reductions), effective rates can drop further.
Note that MEXC, like Gate.io, requires both volume AND MX token holdings for VIP tier qualification on spot trading.
MEXC vs Binance: Monthly Cost Comparison
Let’s run the numbers for two trader profiles.
Profile 1: $100K Monthly Futures Volume (80/20 Maker/Taker)
A limit-order-heavy trader doing $100,000 per month in perpetual futures.
| Cost | MEXC | Binance (w/ 20% ref + BNB) |
|---|---|---|
| Maker fees ($80K) | $0.00 | $11.52 |
| Taker fees ($20K) | $4.00 | $7.20 |
| Withdrawal (1x/month, USDT TRC-20) | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| Total | $5.00 | $19.72 |
MEXC saves this trader nearly $15 per month — roughly $177 per year. Not life-changing, but a real difference.
Profile 2: $1M Monthly Futures Volume (50/50 Maker/Taker)
A more active trader with equal market and limit order usage.
| Cost | MEXC | Binance (w/ 20% ref + BNB) |
|---|---|---|
| Maker fees ($500K) | $0.00 | $72.00 |
| Taker fees ($500K) | $100.00 | $180.00 |
| Withdrawal (2x/month, USDT Arbitrum) | $2.00 | $1.00 |
| Total | $102.00 | $253.00 |
At $1M monthly volume, the savings are substantial: $151 per month, or $1,812 per year. That is enough to matter for a serious trader.
Profile 3: $5M Monthly Futures Volume (50/50 Maker/Taker)
| Cost | MEXC | Binance (w/ 20% ref + BNB) |
|---|---|---|
| Maker fees ($2.5M) | $0.00 | $360.00 |
| Taker fees ($2.5M) | $500.00 | $900.00 |
| Withdrawal (4x/month, USDT Arbitrum) | $4.00 | $2.00 |
| Total | $504.00 | $1,262.00 |
At $5M monthly volume, MEXC saves $758 per month — over $9,000 annually. However, at this volume level, slippage costs on MEXC’s thinner books can erode a meaningful portion of those savings on pairs beyond BTC and ETH.
Deposit Methods
MEXC supports several deposit methods:
- Crypto deposits: Free (you pay network gas only)
- P2P trading: Variable spreads, typically 0.5-2%
- Third-party fiat purchases: 1.5-3.5% through payment providers (Visa/Mastercard)
- Bank transfer: Available in select regions
The most cost-effective approach is depositing USDT via TRC-20 or Arbitrum. Fiat purchase fees are comparable to what you would pay on Binance or any other exchange using third-party processors.
Who Should Use MEXC?
MEXC Makes Sense If:
You are a maker-heavy futures trader. If 70%+ of your futures volume uses limit orders, MEXC’s 0% maker fee translates to real savings that no other exchange matches. The savings scale linearly with volume.
You trade BTC/ETH perpetuals. On major pairs, MEXC’s liquidity is adequate for retail order sizes (under $50K per trade). The order book is deep enough that slippage does not negate the fee advantage.
You do not withdraw frequently. MEXC’s higher withdrawal fees are a fixed cost. If you withdraw once a month via TRC-20, the cost is identical to Binance. If you withdraw BTC on-chain weekly, the extra fees add up.
Stick with a Larger Exchange If:
You trade large positions on altcoin perpetuals. MEXC’s order book depth on mid-cap perpetuals drops off sharply. A $100K market order on SOL/USDT perp might cost you more in slippage than you save in fees.
You need deep spot liquidity. While MEXC lists 2,000+ pairs, liquidity on many of them is thin. For serious spot trading, Binance and OKX offer substantially deeper books.
You want an integrated ecosystem. MEXC has a functional earn section and launchpad, but the product breadth is narrower than Binance’s. If you use staking, NFTs, Web3 wallet, and launchpool products alongside trading, a larger exchange offers more value.
You withdraw BTC or ETH frequently. The 3x higher BTC withdrawal fee ($24 extra per withdrawal at $80K BTC) erases the trading fee savings quickly for frequent withdrawers. For more on these hidden costs, check our real break-even price guide.
How to Optimize Your MEXC Costs
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Use limit orders exclusively for futures. This is the obvious one. At 0% maker fees, every market order costs you the full 0.020% taker fee for no reason if you could have placed a limit order instead. Our maker vs taker guide covers the mechanics.
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Withdraw via TRC-20. MEXC’s TRC-20 withdrawal fees match industry norms. Avoid ERC-20 withdrawals where MEXC charges a premium.
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Batch your withdrawals. One withdrawal per month versus four saves you $3-$60 depending on the asset and network.
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Consider MEXC as a secondary exchange. Use Binance or OKX for spot trading and altcoin perps where liquidity matters. Use MEXC specifically for BTC/ETH futures with limit orders. This hybrid approach captures the 0% maker rate without sacrificing execution quality on thinner markets.
MEXC Exclusive Offer
20% Fee Discount (Spot + Futures)
Clicking will copy the code and open MEXC in a new tab.
Binance Exclusive Offer
20% Fee Discount (Spot + Futures)
Clicking will copy the code and open Binance in a new tab.
FAQ
Is MEXC’s 0% maker fee permanent?
MEXC has maintained 0% maker fees on USDT-margined futures for over two years. There is no announced end date. However, the exchange reserves the right to change its fee structure. The policy could be modified or discontinued at any point, though there is no indication that a change is imminent.
How do MEXC fees compare to Binance?
MEXC’s futures fees are dramatically lower: 0.000% maker and 0.020% taker versus Binance’s 0.020% maker and 0.050% taker. On spot, MEXC charges 0.050%/0.050% versus Binance’s 0.100%/0.100% (without BNB discount). MEXC’s withdrawal fees for BTC and ETH are higher than Binance’s, partially offsetting the trading fee advantage.
Does MEXC require KYC?
MEXC allows basic trading without KYC in some jurisdictions, but withdrawal limits are restricted. Full KYC verification unlocks higher withdrawal limits and all features. The specific requirements depend on your country of residence.
Is MEXC safe to use?
MEXC has operated since 2018 and publishes proof of reserves. The exchange has not experienced a major security breach. However, it is a smaller exchange than Binance or OKX, with less regulatory oversight. Standard advice applies: keep only active trading capital on the platform. See our proof of reserves guide for what these audits actually prove.
What’s the cheapest way to deposit on MEXC?
Deposit USDT via TRC-20 (Tron network). MEXC does not charge a deposit fee, and Tron gas costs are typically under $1. Avoid buying crypto directly on MEXC with a credit card, as third-party payment processors charge 1.5-3.5% in fees.
Why trust this author?
James is a former quantitative trader at a top-tier hedge fund who transitioned to crypto in 2017. He now leads research at CryptoFeeDiscount, personally testing every exchange with real capital. His systematic approach to fee analysis has helped traders save over $2M collectively.