Fides Crypto Exchange Review - Features, Fees, and Security Explained
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Oct, 14 2025
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2 Comments
Fides Trading Fee Calculator
Calculate your expected trading fees on Fides based on your trading volume and type. Fides uses a volume-based fee structure with discounts for higher trading volumes.
Maker fees: 0.12% (discounted to 0.08% for monthly volume > 5 BTC)
Taker fees: 0.18% (discounted to 0.12% for monthly volume > 5 BTC)
Your Estimated Fees
Enter your trading volume and type to see your fees
Quick Takeaways
- Founded in 2022, Fides is a mid‑size exchange that emphasizes regulatory compliance and user‑friendly design.
- Maker‑taker fees start at 0.12% / 0.18%, with discounts for high‑volume traders.
- Security stack includes cold‑storage of 98% of assets, multi‑factor authentication, and regular third‑party audits.
- Supports about 120 trading pairs, ranging from major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum to niche DeFi tokens.
- Licensed in Estonia and Malta, making it compliant with EU AML/KYC standards, but it does not hold a US charter.
What Is Fides?
When you hear the name Fides is a cryptocurrency exchange that launched in 2022, targeting retail traders with a splash‑friendly UI and a focus on regulatory compliance. The platform is operated by Fides Ltd., a company registered in Tallinn, Estonia, and holds a license from the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). In 2023 the exchange obtained a virtual asset service provider (VASP) licence from Malta, expanding its reach across the European Economic Area.
Fides markets itself as a “trusted gateway for digital assets,” promising low latency order execution, transparent fee structures, and a suite of educational resources for newcomers. Its branding leans on the Latin word “fides,” meaning trust, which the team hopes reflects the platform’s security‑first mindset.
Fees and Trading Costs
Fees are often the first thing traders compare, so let’s break them down. Fides uses a classic maker‑taker model:
- Maker fee: 0.12% (reduced to 0.08% for monthly volume over 5BTC)
- Taker fee: 0.18% (reduced to 0.12% for volume over 5BTC)
- No deposit fees for fiat (bank transfers) or crypto
- Withdrawal fees are network‑based; for example, Bitcoin withdrawals cost 0.0005BTC
Unlike some ultra‑low‑cost rivals, Fides does not hide fees in the fine print. The fee schedule is displayed on the dashboard, and the platform offers an online fee calculator that updates in real time based on your 30‑day trading volume.
Security and Custody
Security is where Fides crypto exchange review gets most of its credibility. The exchange employs a multi‑layered approach:
- Cold storage of roughly 98% of user assets, kept in geographically dispersed vaults.
- Hot wallet balances are limited to a daily transaction cap to reduce exposure.
- Two‑factor authentication (2FA) via authenticator apps, plus optional hardware‑token support.
- Regular penetration testing by an external security firm, with audit reports published quarterly.
- Insurance coverage of up to $25million against custodial breaches, underwritten by a reputable Lloyd’s‑affiliated insurer.
In addition, Fides follows strict AML/KYC procedures. New users must submit a government‑issued ID, proof of address, and undergo facial verification before they can trade. The platform integrates with Chainalysis for real‑time transaction monitoring.
Supported Assets and Liquidity
As of October2025, Fides lists 120+ trading pairs across 45+ base assets. The most liquid pairs include:
- BTC/USD
- ETH/USD
- USDT/BTC
- ADA/ETH
The exchange sources liquidity from a mix of internal order books and external liquidity providers, achieving an average spread of 0.2% on major pairs. While it doesn’t match the depth of Binance’s global network, Fides generally offers sufficient depth for retail and medium‑size institutional traders.
User Experience and Trading Tools
The web‑app is built with React and offers a clean layout: a left‑hand navigation pane, a central chart area powered by TradingView, and a right‑hand order‑book panel. Mobile apps for iOS and Android mirror the desktop experience and support push notifications for price alerts.
Key tools include:
- Limit, market, stop‑limit, and trailing‑stop orders.
- Instant buy/sell for fiat‑on‑ramp users.
- Staking options for selected PoS assets, yielding up to 6% APY.
- Basic API access (REST) for algorithmic traders, with rate limits of 30 requests per second.
For beginners, Fides runs a “Learn & Earn” academy that awards small amounts of BNB for completing quizzes on blockchain fundamentals.
How Fides Stacks Up - Comparison Table
| Exchange | Year Launched | Supported Assets | Maker/Taker Fees | Security Highlights | Regulatory Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fides | 2022 | ≈120 pairs (45 base assets) | 0.12% / 0.18% (volume discounts) | 98% cold storage, insurance $25M, quarterly audits | Estonia VASP licence, Malta VASP licence |
| Binance | 2017 | ≈2,000 pairs (300+ base assets) | 0.10% / 0.10% (tiered to 0.02%) | Multi‑sig hot wallets, SAFU insurance fund | Unregulated in many jurisdictions, seeks licences |
| Coinbase | 2012 | ≈300 pairs (100+ base assets) | 0.50% / 0.50% (lower for institutional) | US‑based custodial vaults, $320M insurance | US Money Services Business, regulated in many states |
| Kraken | 2011 | ≈200 pairs (80+ base assets) | 0.16% / 0.26% (tiered to 0.00% maker) | Cold storage 95%, proof‑of‑reserves audits | Registered with FinCEN, EU licences |
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Clear, volume‑based fee structure with modest rates.
- Strong custody model: most funds are offline.
- EU licences give a level of regulatory certainty for European users.
- User‑friendly UI and solid mobile apps.
- Educational resources for beginners.
Cons
- Liquidity on smaller alt‑pairs can be thin compared with Binance.
- No dedicated US banking partnerships; American users face higher friction.
- Advanced charting tools are limited to the integrated TradingView widget.
- API access is basic; professional algo traders may need upgrades.
Who Should Choose Fides?
If you live in Europe and want an exchange that blends decent liquidity with a regulated environment, Fides is a solid pick. Retail traders who value a clean UI and transparent fees will feel comfortable. Institutional or high‑frequency traders may look elsewhere for deeper order books and more sophisticated APIs, but midsize funds can still execute sizable orders without slippage.
For U.S. residents, the lack of a domestic licence means you’ll face extra KYC steps and possibly delayed fiat withdrawals. In that case, a U.S.-registered platform like Coinbase might be smoother.
Final Thoughts
Fides positions itself as a trustworthy middle ground between the hyper‑aggressive pricing of Binance and the ultra‑regulated stance of Coinbase. Its security posture, insurance coverage, and EU licences make it appealing for risk‑aware traders. While it doesn’t dominate any single niche, it offers a balanced package that suits the average crypto enthusiast who wants safety without sacrificing usability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fides licensed to operate in the United States?
No. Fides holds VASP licences in Estonia and Malta but has not obtained a U.S. money‑transmitter licence. American users can create accounts, but fiat on‑ramps are limited and withdrawals may be delayed.
How does Fides protect my crypto holdings?
About 98% of user funds are kept in cold storage across multiple vaults. The remaining hot assets are covered by multi‑signature wallets and a daily transaction cap. Quarterly third‑party audits and a $25million insurance policy add extra layers of protection.
What are the withdrawal fees for major coins?
Fees follow the underlying blockchain’s network cost. As of October2025, typical fees are 0.0005BTC for Bitcoin, 0.005ETH for Ethereum, and $0.50 for USDT (TRC‑20). The platform updates these rates automatically.
Can I trade on Fides using an API?
Yes. Fides offers a REST‑based API with rate limits of 30 requests per second. It supports market, limit, and stop orders, but advanced order types like iceberg are not yet available.
Does Fides provide staking services?
Fides offers on‑platform staking for several PoS tokens, including Cardano (ADA) and Polkadot (DOT). Annual yields range from 4% to 6% depending on the asset and network conditions.
Kim Evans
October 14, 2025 AT 09:00Hey folks, just a quick heads‑up about the fee calculator on Fides – it’s pretty straightforward once you plug in your 30‑day volume. The maker fee drops to 0.08% and the taker to 0.12% once you cross the 5 BTC threshold, so high‑frequency traders can shave a few basis points off each trade. Remember that withdrawal fees are still network‑based, so those can add up if you move a lot of BTC. Also, the insurance coverage of $25 million provides an extra safety net for custodial breaches 😊. All in all, Fides offers a transparent fee structure compared to some of the more opaque platforms.
Shrey Mishra
October 18, 2025 AT 14:32Esteemed members of this community, I find myself compelled to articulate a comprehensive appraisal of the Fides exchange, a platform whose emergence in the tumultuous year of 2022 heralded a modest yet noteworthy shift in the crypto landscape. The architecture of its fee regime, anchored in a classic maker‑taker paradigm, may appear unremarkable at first glance, yet its volume‑based discounts bespeak a nuanced understanding of trader incentives. When a participant surpasses a monthly turnover of five Bitcoin, the maker fee descends from 0.12 % to a mere 0.08 %, while the taker fee contracts from 0.18 % to 0.12 %, a reduction that, though modest, accumulates significance over sustained activity. One must also contemplate the ancillary cost structures: deposit operations incur no fees, whereas withdrawals are subject to the prevailing network rates, a practice that aligns with industry standards yet warrants vigilant monitoring. The security apparatus of Fides, comprised of a 98 % cold‑storage allocation and multi‑signature hot‑wallet safeguards, evokes a palpable sense of custodial prudence. Moreover, the quarterly third‑party audit reports, publicly disclosed, engender an atmosphere of accountability that is regrettably scarce among many contemporaries. It is further noteworthy that the exchange procures an insurance policy of twenty‑five million dollars, underwritten by a Lloyd’s affiliate, thereby furnishing an additional bulwark against potential breaches. Regulatory compliance, too, occupies a central role; licensing in Estonia and Malta accords the platform a veneer of legitimacy within the European Union, albeit at the expense of direct access to the United States market. This exclusion imposes a palpable friction for American users, whose fiat on‑ramps remain limited and withdrawals may encounter latency. Nonetheless, the user interface, constructed upon a React framework, presents an elegant and intuitive experience, complete with integrated TradingView charts and mobile applications that mirror the desktop functionality. The provision of educational resources, such as the “Learn & Earn” academy, constitutes a laudable endeavour to cultivate novice proficiency. While the liquidity depth for peripheral altcoins may not rival the leviathan that is Binance, the average spread of 0.2 % on principal pairs remains competitive for retail participants. In summation, Fides occupies an intermediary niche, eschewing the extremes of ultra‑low fees and over‑regulation, thereby offering a balanced proposition for the prudent trader.