What are maker and taker fees?
Two different trading fee rates, charged according to whether your order adds liquidity to the order book or removes it.
A maker order rests on the book and waits; a taker order fills immediately against orders already there. Venues usually charge takers more, and sometimes pay makers a rebate.
Why it matters
Headline fee comparisons almost always quote the maker rate, which is the lower one — and most retail activity is taker, because market orders fill instantly. If you place market orders, the number you should compare is the taker fee at your realistic volume tier. The gap is frequently a multiple, not a few percent, and it compounds with every round trip. Volume tiers and discounts for holding the venue’s own token complicate the comparison further, which is precisely why a fee table without an “as of” date and a stated tier is close to useless.