What fees do crypto off-ramps charge? spread, network fees, and withdrawal fees explained

09 October 2026

When you cash out cryptocurrency to a bank account, you pay three main types of fees: the spread between the buy and sell price, a network fee to move the crypto off the exchange, and a withdrawal fee to send fiat currency to your bank. Each one works differently, and all three can add up to more than you might expect. This page explains what each fee is, how it is calculated, and where to check the current rates before you sell.

The spread: the hidden cost of every trade

The spread is the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay for a coin (the bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept (the ask). When you sell crypto, you get the bid price, not the mid-market price you see on a price ticker.

Exchanges make money on the spread. A wider spread means you receive less fiat for your crypto. The size of the spread depends on the exchange, the trading pair, and market conditions. On major exchanges with high trading volume, the spread for popular pairs like BTC/KRW or ETH/KRW is typically narrow - often less than 0.1 percent. On smaller exchanges or for less liquid coins, the spread can be several percent.

You cannot avoid the spread entirely, but you can minimise it by using a reputable exchange with deep order books. Compare the actual sell price on your chosen exchange against the mid-market price on a site like CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko before you trade. The difference is your spread cost.

Network fee: the cost of moving crypto

The network fee (sometimes called a miner fee or gas fee) is what you pay to send your crypto from your wallet to the exchange. This fee goes to the network validators, not to the exchange. It is required for every on-chain transaction.

Network fees vary by blockchain and by network congestion. For Bitcoin, fees can range from a few dollars to over fifty dollars during busy periods. For Ethereum, gas fees can spike dramatically when the network is congested. For faster blockchains like Solana or Polygon, fees are typically fractions of a cent.

Key points about network fees:

• They are paid in the native coin of the blockchain (BTC for Bitcoin, ETH for Ethereum, SOL for Solana).
• You must have enough of that coin in your wallet to cover the fee before you can send.
• Fees are not set by the exchange. The exchange shows you the current recommended fee, but you can sometimes adjust it manually in your wallet software.
• If you set the fee too low, your transaction may be delayed or never confirmed.

If you are moving a large amount, the network fee is usually a small percentage. For small amounts, the fee can eat a significant portion of your value. Some exchanges offer zero-fee deposits for certain coins, but this is not common for on-chain transfers.

Withdrawal Fee: The Cost of Moving Fiat to Your Bank

Once you have sold your crypto for fiat currency (KRW, USD, EUR, etc.), you need to withdraw that fiat to your bank account. Most exchanges charge a withdrawal fee for this service. The fee structure varies:

• Some exchanges charge a flat fee per withdrawal (for example, a fixed amount in KRW or USD).
• Others charge a percentage of the withdrawal amount.
• Some offer one free withdrawal per month, then charge for subsequent withdrawals.
• Bank transfer type matters. ACH transfers (or their local equivalent) are usually cheaper than wire transfers. Wire transfers often carry higher fees from both the exchange and the receiving bank.

Withdrawal fees are typically published on the exchange's fee schedule. Check this before you sell. If you plan to withdraw a small amount, a flat fee can be disproportionately large. If you plan to withdraw a large amount, a percentage-based fee may cost more than a flat fee.

How these fees stack up: A practical example

Suppose you want to cash out 0.5 Bitcoin through an exchange.

1. Spread: The mid-market price is 50,000,000 KRW per BTC. The exchange's bid price is 49,950,000 KRW. You lose 50,000 KRW on the spread (0.1 percent).
2. Network fee: You send your BTC from your wallet to the exchange. The network fee is 0.0005 BTC, which at 50,000,000 KRW per BTC is 25,000 KRW.
3. Withdrawal fee: You withdraw the KRW to your bank account. The exchange charges a flat 1,000 KRW withdrawal fee.

Total fees: 76,000 KRW on a 25,000,000 KRW sale, or about 0.3 percent. This is a reasonable scenario. On a smaller exchange or with a less efficient blockchain, the total could be higher.

How to find current fees

Exchange fee schedules change. Do not rely on outdated information. Before you cash out, check:

• The exchange's fee page for withdrawal fees.
• The current network fee for your chosen blockchain. Sites like bitcoinfees.net or ethgasstation.info show real-time estimates.
• The actual bid price on the exchange for your trading pair. Compare it to the mid-market price.

Minimising your total cost

You cannot eliminate these fees entirely, but you can reduce them:

• Use an exchange with tight spreads and low withdrawal fees.
• Choose a blockchain with low network fees for transferring your crypto. If you are holding a coin on an expensive network, consider converting it to a cheaper chain before sending it to the exchange.
• Consolidate multiple small withdrawals into one larger withdrawal to reduce flat fees.
• Time your withdrawal for periods of low network congestion if you control when you send.

The Bottom Line

Three fees apply to almost every crypto off-ramp: the spread, the network fee, and the withdrawal fee. None of them are fixed. They depend on the exchange, the blockchain, and market conditions. Check the current rates before you sell, and factor all three into your calculation. The price you see on a chart is not the price you will receive.

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