Maker and taker fees

On an order book exchange, a maker is a trader whose order rests on the book instead of filling at once, usually a limit order placed away from the current price. A taker is a trader whose order matches immediately against an existing one, such as a market order or a limit order that crosses the spread. Exchanges charge each side a percentage of the trade value, and the maker rate is almost always the lower of the two.

The split exists because resting orders create the depth that makes a market usable, so venues reward them. Most centralized exchanges publish fee tiers that cut both rates as 30-day volume rises or when users hold the exchange's own token, and some pay a small rebate to high-volume makers.

For active traders the difference adds up quickly, since a strategy that always takes liquidity pays the higher rate on every entry and exit. Post-only orders guarantee maker treatment by cancelling any order that would fill immediately. Fee schedules change often, so the current table on the exchange is the only reliable reference.