Bitfinex just scrapped all trading fees for good, a bold move to drive up liquidity and put some serious pressure on other major exchanges.
Key Takeaways:
- Bitfinex has rolled out a permanent zero-fee trading structure covering spot, margin, derivatives, tokenized securities, and OTC markets.
- The fee waiver applies automatically to eligible trades, with no volume thresholds, loyalty tiers, or token-holding requirements.
- Broader crypto markets showed limited immediate reaction, with Bitcoin and Ethereum trading lower amid ongoing risk-off sentiment.
On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Bitfinex confirmed it has permanently waived all trading fees across its platform, marking one of the most aggressive pricing shifts by a major centralized crypto exchange in recent years. The change removes both maker and taker fees for spot and margin trading, perpetual and dated derivatives, tokenized securities, and over-the-counter desks. The exchange stated that the fee-free model takes effect immediately and applies automatically to qualifying trades, where there is no need for users to do anything to enjoy it.
Bitfinex clarified that while execution fees have been eliminated, standard non-trading charges remain in place. These include withdrawal fees, certain deposit costs, and funding rates tied to margin lending and derivatives positions. The exchange emphasized that these charges reflect network or financing costs rather than trading activity itself.
Exchange Signals Long-Term Shift in Revenue Strategy
Bitfinex stated that eliminating trading fees reflects its confidence in operational efficiency and long-term sustainability. By removing both maker and taker fees, the exchange positions itself as a lower-cost platform for active traders, institutions, and high-frequency participants, whose strategies are sensitive to execution costs. The move also simplifies participation by reducing reliance on token-based fee discounts previously tied to UNUS SED LEO.
Analysts see this as a potential catalyst for competitive pressure across centralized exchanges, which traditionally rely on tiered fee models to generate revenue. While immediate market impact has been limited, the zero-fee model could gradually increase trading volume and liquidity on Bitfinex, reshaping how fees are structured across the broader crypto exchange landscape.
Crypto Market Show Limited Immediate Reaction
As of this writing (9:30AM UTC), the broader crypto market remains muted amid Binfinex’s announcement, with major assets continuing to track macro-driven sentiment rather than exchange-specific developments. Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $87,125.94, showing modest 0.8% gains over the past 24 hours, peaking intraday highs around $90,100 before retreating back to intraday lows near $85,400, per CoinGecko’s latest market data. Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) saw some noticeable volatility resulting to a 2.4% drop in the last 24 hours. The token also rose to intraday highs around $3,020 but quickly retreated to intraday lows around $2,800.
Analysts note that while the elimination of fees significantly improves cost efficiency for traders, it is unlikely to act as a near-term price catalyst in a market environment dominated by macroeconomic uncertainty and reduced speculative appetite.
What’s Next?
For now, Bitfinex’s fee waiver stands out as a bold structural shift rather than a short-term growth tactic. While broader market conditions continue to dictate price direction, the policy may gradually influence trader behavior, liquidity distribution, and competitive positioning within the centralized exchange landscape.
As the market stabilizes, investors and traders will be watching closely to see whether the zero-fee model drives sustained volume growth on Bitfinex and whether other major platforms feel compelled to follow. In a maturing crypto market, pricing innovation may become just as important as new products or technological upgrades.
Summary
Bitfinex has permanently removed all trading fees across its trading products to boost liquidity and pressure rival exchanges, while non-trading charges like withdrawals and funding rates remain in place.
