Spread and markup: what you really pay an exchanger
What the spread between USDT buy and sell rates is, how exchangers earn through markups and service fees, how to calculate the real cost of an exchange and compare exchangers.
What the spread is
An exchanger publishes two rates:
- buy is the price at which you buy USDT from the exchanger;
- sell is the price at which the exchanger buys USDT back from you.
The difference is the spread. Example: buy 458 ₸, sell 448 ₸. The spread is 10 ₸, or about 2.2%.
What the cost of an exchange consists of
| Component | How it works | Where to see it |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Built into the buy and sell rates | The exchanger's board |
| Service fee | A fixed amount plus a percentage per trade | Exchanger terms |
| Size-based markup | A worse rate on small orders | Tariffs and calculator |
| Network fee | The blockchain's charge for a transfer | Order, wallet |
How to calculate the real price
The real rate equals what you paid divided by the USDT received. Example: you paid 100,000 ₸ and received 210 USDT. The real rate is 476.19 ₸, even if the board said 458 ₸.
That is exactly how the Cryptokurs calculator and the converter pages calculate.
Why exchangers use different models
- some put the entire margin in the spread and charge no fees;
- others keep a narrow spread but charge a fixed fee;
- others change the markup with the amount.
No model is worse in itself: one wins for small amounts, another for large ones. Head-to-head comparisons are in the comparisons section.
Rate basics are in the lesson how to read an exchanger rate.
FAQ
What is the spread in plain words?
The difference between the price at which an exchanger sells USDT and the price at which it buys it back. If you buy and immediately sell, you lose exactly the spread.
What spread is normal for USDT?
At licensed exchangers in Kazakhstan the USDT spread is usually 1% to 10%. Live values are on the Cryptokurs home page.
Which is better, a narrow spread or no fee?
It has to be calculated for a specific amount. The Cryptokurs calculator applies both the spread and the fees of every exchanger.
Updated October 6, 2026