How each of the three cost types is charged
Trading fees: notional × fee rate, charged twice for one full buy-and-sell round trip.
Withdrawal fees: charged per transfer by the platform, usually independent of the amount withdrawn (some venues charge a percentage).
On-chain gas: paid to the network for transfers and contract calls, varying in real time with congestion.
Adding all three gives the true cost of a trading round.
Formulas
notional × fee ratesingle-side fee × 2one round trip × number of round tripscumulative fees + withdrawal fees + on-chain gasWorked example (recompute it yourself)
Notional 10,000 USDT per trade, 0.1% rate, four round trips a month for 12 months, plus two withdrawals at 5 USDT each and two on-chain interactions at 3 USDT of gas each:
Single-side fee = 10,000 × 0.1% = 10 USDT; one round trip = 20 USDT.
Cumulative trading fees = 20 × 4 × 12 = 960 USDT.
Total trading cost = 960 + 2 × 5 + 2 × 3 = 960 + 10 + 6 = 976 USDT — 9.76% of the 10,000 USDT notional.
Trading fees make up 960 USDT of that and dominate at this frequency. Withdrawals and gas are minor here, but their share rises noticeably with low-frequency, large transfers.
Notes
Real rates vary by venue, VIP tier and whether platform tokens are used for discounts. Use your own account rate.
Slippage and funding rates are not in the three categories above, yet they also erode returns and need separate assessment.
Withdrawal fees differ widely across networks; congested or bridged routes are often much more expensive.
FAQ
Why multiply the trading fee by two?
Buying and selling are two separate fills, each charged on its own notional. Counting one side only badly understates the total cost.
Are withdrawal fees and gas the same thing?
No. The withdrawal fee is the platform's service charge; gas is paid to the blockchain network. Some venues bundle gas into the withdrawal fee, others show them separately.
How can I reduce the total?
Arithmetic can only show the amount and share of each component. Whether to trade less often or use a cheaper network is your decision — this page makes no recommendation.