How to read an exchanger's rate
What buy, sell and spread mean, why the USDT rate differs from the dollar rate and how to work out the final price of a deal.
An exchanger's board shows two numbers. To avoid confusion, read them from the client's side.
Buy and sell
- Buy: how many tenge you pay for 1 USDT. Lower is better.
- Sell: how many tenge you receive for 1 USDT. Higher is better.
On Cryptokurs the labels are always from your side: "buy" means you are buying.
Spread
The spread is the gap between buy and sell. If buy is 460 ₸ and sell is 450 ₸, the spread is 10 ₸, or about 2.2%. That is what you lose if you buy and immediately sell.
| Buy | Sell | Spread | Spread, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 460 ₸ | 450 ₸ | 10 ₸ | 2.2% |
| 458 ₸ | 455 ₸ | 3 ₸ | 0.7% |
Why it is not the dollar rate
USDT is pegged to the dollar, but exchangers add a markup for risk, banking and liquidity. So buying USDT is usually slightly above the official NBK rate and selling slightly below. The official rate is shown on the home page next to exchanger rates.
Final rate
The board rate can differ from what you get:
- Service fee. A fixed amount plus a percentage reduces the result, especially on small amounts.
- Amount-based markup. Small orders get a worse rate, large ones a better rate.
- Bank and network fees are paid separately.
The final rate is the tenge amount divided by the USDT you receive. The calculator works it out for every exchanger at once.
In short
Look at the result, not the board: how much USDT you get for your amount. A narrow spread matters if you plan to both buy and sell.
Updated October 6, 2026