Crypto trading · Beginner

Slippage And Spreads In Crypto Trading

A 1-minute lesson from the MarketPro academy, one of 20 in crypto trading.

Last reviewed 15 September 2026 by the MarketPro research desk · Editorial policy

Short answer

Two of the most direct trading costs in crypto markets are the spread and slippage. Both affect the actual price achieved on a trade, separate from any exchange or broker fees charged.

Two of the most direct trading costs in crypto markets are the spread and slippage. Both affect the actual price achieved on a trade, separate from any exchange or broker fees charged.

Spread Versus Slippage

The spread is the difference between the best available buy and sell price at a given moment — it exists even before an order is placed. Slippage, by contrast, is the difference between the price a trader expected when placing an order and the price actually achieved once it fills, which can happen with market orders in fast-moving or thin markets.

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Wider spreads generally mean higher implicit cost to enter and exit a position.
Slippage tends to increase during high volatility, low liquidity, or around major news events.
Larger order sizes relative to available liquidity are more prone to meaningful slippage.

These costs are easy to overlook when focusing purely on price direction, but they compound over frequent trading and can meaningfully affect outcomes, particularly for smaller-cap coins or during volatile periods. Checking typical spreads on a given asset and considering limit orders where appropriate are simple ways to keep these costs in view.

Lesson 17 of 20 in Crypto trading

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Written and reviewed by the MarketPro research desk

MarketPro is a trading-signal and trading-education app operated by Harajuku Holdings LTD (Cyprus). Our signal desk publishes and tracks every trade idea in-app, and every page here is checked against the app's live behaviour before publishing. Last reviewed 15 September 2026. How we produce signals and content · About MarketPro

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