Changelly Fees Explained: Broker Fees, Gas, and Spreads
Crypto-to-crypto floating-rate swaps on Changelly cost 0.25% of the trade volume, plus a variable blockchain network fee. Fixed-rate swaps do not charge a separate fee but build a wider spread buffer (1%-3%) into the exchange rate. Buying crypto with fiat (credit cards/Apple Pay) is expensive, incurring 3% to 8% in payment processor fees.
1. Changelly Fee Breakdown
The following table breaks down the typical fees charged across different swap types on Changelly:
| Swap Type | Service Fee | Network Fee | Exchange Rate Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floating-Rate Swap | 0.25% | Variable (Gas cost) | None (Market rate) |
| Fixed-Rate Swap | Included in rate | Variable (Gas cost) | 1.0% – 3.0% (Rate buffer) |
| Fiat Purchase (Card) | 3.0% – 8.0% | Variable (Gas cost) | Varies by gateway processor |
2. The 0.25% Service Fee
For standard crypto-to-crypto trades, Changelly charges a flat **0.25% commission**. This is their broker fee for searching liquidity partners, matching rates, and executing the transaction.
This fee is automatically integrated into the exchange rate shown when setting up a swap. There are no hidden broker fees. However, you must also pay the blockchain network fee to complete the transaction.
3. Blockchain Network Fees
When you swap on a non-custodial exchange, your assets are moved directly on-chain. This movement requires a blockchain network transaction fee (gas), which goes to miners or validators who process transactions on the respective blockchain.
- **Impact on Small Swaps:** If you swap $20 worth of BTC to ETH, the network fees for sending Bitcoin to Changelly and receiving Ethereum from Changelly can exceed $10, making the swap highly inefficient. - **Impact on Large Swaps:** For swaps above $500, network fees become negligible compared to the total swap value.
Rule of thumb: Avoid swapping low-value amounts of assets native to expensive blockchains (like Ethereum or Bitcoin) during times of peak network congestion.
4. Slippage vs Fixed Rate Spreads
Changelly provides two execution modes that impact how much you pay:
- Floating Rate: You pay the 0.25% service fee. The rate changes dynamically until your deposit is confirmed on the blockchain. If the market moves during confirmation, you face **slippage**—the rate might improve or degrade.
- Fixed Rate: Changelly locks the exchange rate for 15-20 minutes. To protect themselves from price swings during this period, Changelly adds a **rate spread** (buffer) of 1% to 3%. This is less transparent but guarantees the final amount you receive.
5. Credit Card & Fiat Gateway Fees
Purchasing crypto with fiat money (USD, EUR, GBP) using a debit card, credit card, or bank transfer requires routing through payment providers like Simplex, Banxa, or MoonPay.
These gateways charge standard payment processing fees and markup spreads:
- Simplex: ~3.5% to 5.0% fee ($10 minimum).
- MoonPay: ~3.5% to 4.5% fee.
- Banxa: ~1.9% to 3.5% fee.
Because of these high gatekeeper fees, we recommend buying crypto on centralized custodial platforms and transferring them to a self-custody wallet before using swap aggregators.
6. Tips to Minimize Swap Costs
To keep your transaction costs as low as possible:
- Use cheap network assets: If swapping, use networks with cheap gas fees, such as Solana, TRON (for USDT), Polygon, or Litecoin, rather than Ethereum ERC-20.
- Prefer Floating Rates: Unless you are in a highly volatile market and need guaranteed settlement numbers, floating rates generally offer a lower total cost than fixed-rate spreads.
- Avoid Card Purchases: Use standard bank transfers or buy crypto on specialized spot markets rather than purchasing directly via instant swap card widgets.