Spreads

In crypto trading, the spread refers to the difference between the buy price (what the platform charges you to buy a cryptocurrency) and the sell price (what you’d receive if you sold it). This gap is a form of fee — even if the platform advertises “zero commission,” it may still make money from the spread.

For example, if Bitcoin is listed at £25,000 to sell and £25,300 to buy, the spread is £300. That means you'd effectively need the price to rise by at least £300 just to break even.

Spreads tend to be wider on beginner-friendly platforms or instant buy features, where convenience comes at a cost. On advanced trading platforms or exchanges with high liquidity, spreads are usually much tighter, saving you money over time.

Always check both the buy and sell price when making a trade to understand the true cost.