Commission
A commission is a fee charged by a broker or exchange for executing a trade on behalf of a client. In the context of cryptocurrency and derivatives, this is often a percentage of the total trade value or a fixed fee per contract.
It serves as the primary revenue stream for centralized exchanges and traditional brokerage firms. Commissions cover the costs of order matching, infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory compliance.
Traders must account for these costs when calculating their break-even point, as high commissions can significantly erode profit margins, especially in high-frequency trading strategies. Unlike spreads, which are implicit costs, commissions are explicit fees deducted from the account balance.
They may vary based on the trader's volume, account type, or the specific asset class being traded. Understanding commission structures is essential for optimizing trading performance and managing transaction costs effectively.