Trading futures in the cryptocurrency market can be a powerful way to capitalize on price movements—whether up or down. However, to trade effectively, it’s crucial to understand the full cost structure behind each transaction. On Bitget, futures trading involves three primary types of fees: transaction fees, funding fees, and liquidation fees. This guide breaks down each fee type, explains how they’re calculated, and offers real-world examples to help beginners navigate the platform with confidence.
Understanding these costs not only improves your risk management but also enhances long-term profitability. Whether you're trading perpetual futures or delivery futures, fee structures vary slightly between the two, and we’ll cover both in detail.
Transaction Fees: Maker vs. Taker
Every time you open or close a futures position on Bitget, you’ll incur a transaction fee. These fees depend on whether you're acting as a maker or a taker in the trade.
- Maker: You place a limit order that adds liquidity to the market. Because you’re helping to create market depth, your fee is typically lower.
- Taker: You place a market order (or a limit order that executes immediately), which removes liquidity. As a result, takers usually pay a higher fee.
👉 Discover how low-fee trading can boost your returns over time.
Here are the standard transaction fee rates for USDT-margined perpetual futures:
Perpetual Futures:
- Maker: 0.02%
- Taker: 0.06%
Delivery Futures:
- Maker: 0.015%
- Taker: 0.05%
How to Calculate Transaction Fees
The formula is simple:
Transaction Fee = Order Value × Fee Rate
Where:
Order Value = Quantity × Price
Example:
Trader A places a market order to buy 1 BTCUSDT futures contract at 60,000 USDT. This is a taker trade.
- Taker Fee = 1 × 60,000 × 0.06% = 36 USDT
Meanwhile, Trader B placed a limit order to sell at the same price, making them a maker.
- Maker Fee = 1 × 60,000 × 0.02% = 12 USDT
As shown, makers enjoy significantly lower costs—a key reason many experienced traders prefer limit orders.
Funding Fees: Balancing Perpetual Contracts
Funding fees apply only to perpetual futures, not delivery futures. Their purpose is to align the perpetual contract price with the underlying spot market price. Without this mechanism, perpetual contracts could drift significantly from fair value.
Bitget settles funding fees every 8 hours—specifically at:
- 12:00 AM UTC+8
- 8:00 AM UTC+8
- 4:00 PM UTC+8
The direction and amount of the funding fee depend on the funding rate, which reflects market sentiment:
| Position Type | Funding Rate > 0 (Bullish) | Funding Rate < 0 (Bearish) |
|---|---|---|
| Long Position | Pays funding fee | Receives funding fee |
| Short Position | Receives funding fee | Pays funding fee |
How to Calculate Funding Fees
Funding Fee = Position Value × Funding Rate
Example:
You hold a long position in BTCUSDT perpetual futures worth 20,000 USDT. The current funding rate is +0.01%.
- You will pay: 20,000 × 0.01% = 2 USDT
If the rate were −0.01%, you would instead receive 2 USDT from short holders.
💡 Pro Tip: Monitor funding rates before opening large positions. Consistently positive rates mean longs are paying heavily—often a sign of over-leveraged bullishness.
Delivery futures do not have funding fees because they settle at expiration based on the spot price, eliminating the need for periodic alignment.
Liquidation Fees: The Cost of Margin Failure
When your margin falls below the required maintenance level, your position is automatically closed—a process known as liquidation. This protects both traders and the platform from excessive losses.
Bitget charges a liquidation fee, which serves two purposes:
- Compensates for execution slippage during volatile conditions.
- Deters reckless leverage usage.
How to Calculate Liquidation Fees
Liquidation Fee = Position Value × Liquidation Fee Rate
The standard liquidation fee rate for perpetual futures is typically around 0.5%, though this may vary slightly for delivery contracts.
Example:
You hold a perpetual futures position valued at 50,000 USDT. If liquidated:
- Fee = 50,000 × 0.5% = 250 USDT
This amount is deducted from your remaining margin balance after liquidation.
⚠️ Warning: High leverage increases liquidation risk. Always set appropriate stop-loss levels and avoid overexposure.
How VIP Levels Reduce Your Trading Costs
Your trading fees aren’t fixed—they can decrease based on your VIP level. Bitget determines VIP status using three main factors:
- Spot and futures trading volume
- Account asset balance
- BGB token holdings (Bitget’s native cryptocurrency)
Even if your futures volume qualifies for VIP1 but your spot volume reaches VIP2, you’ll still benefit from VIP2-level fee discounts across both markets.
Higher VIP tiers offer:
- Lower maker/taker fees
- Increased withdrawal limits
- Priority customer support
- Exclusive investment opportunities
👉 See how upgrading your trading activity can unlock lower fees and better tools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do delivery futures have funding fees?
No. Delivery futures settle at contract maturity using the spot price index, so there’s no need for periodic funding payments like in perpetual contracts.
Q: When are funding fees charged?
Funding fees are settled every 8 hours—at 12:00 AM, 8:00 AM, and 4:00 PM (UTC+8). You only pay or receive if you hold a position at the settlement moment.
Q: Can I avoid liquidation fees?
Yes—by managing your leverage wisely and maintaining sufficient margin. Using stop-loss orders and monitoring market volatility helps prevent margin calls.
Q: Are transaction fees different for coin-margined futures?
Slightly. While USDT-margined contracts use standardized rates, coin-margined futures may have different fee structures depending on the underlying asset. Always check the official fee schedule.
Q: How often do VIP levels update?
VIP levels are recalculated daily based on your trailing 30-day trading volume and holdings. Upgrades take effect within 24 hours.
Q: Is the liquidation fee the only cost when my position is closed?
No. In addition to the liquidation fee, you may experience slippage during high volatility, and any open funding payments due at settlement time will also be processed.
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By mastering the nuances of transaction, funding, and liquidation fees, you gain greater control over your trading performance. Combine this knowledge with smart risk management and VIP optimization, and you’ll be well-equipped to navigate Bitget’s futures markets with confidence.
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