Phemex vs Backpack: Complete Comparison Guide
Choosing between Phemex and Backpack depends on your trading style, volume, and priorities. This comprehensive comparison covers everything from trading fees to slippage, helping you make an informed decision about which exchange offers better value for your cryptocurrency trades.
Trading Fees: Phemex vs Backpack
When it comes to spot trading fees, Phemex charges 0.1% for makers and 0.1% for takers. In comparison, Backpack charges 0.085% for makers and 0.095% for takers. This means Backpack offers lower taker fees, which benefits traders who primarily use market orders.
For a practical example, if you trade $10,000 worth of cryptocurrency:
- Phemex: $10.00 in taker fees
- Backpack: $9.50 in taker fees
Futures Trading Fees Comparison
Both exchanges offer futures trading. Phemex charges 0.01%/0.06% (maker/taker) while Backpack charges 0.02%/0.05%. Backpack offers better rates for futures trading.
Slippage and Liquidity Analysis
Slippage is often overlooked but can significantly impact your trading costs. Phemex has high liquidity with an average slippage of ~0.1% under normal market conditions. Backpack offers medium liquidity with ~0.12% average slippage.
During high volatility periods (news events, market crashes), slippage increases significantly:
- Phemex: Up to ~0.24% in volatile markets
- Backpack: Up to ~0.28% in volatile markets
Total Trading Cost Breakdown
When combining fees and estimated slippage for a $10,000 trade:
- Phemex: $20.00 total (0.1% fee + ~0.1% slippage)
- Backpack: $21.50 total (0.095% fee + ~0.12% slippage)
Winner: Phemex - You save $1.50 per $10,000 traded by choosing Phemex over Backpack.
Conclusion
For most traders, Phemex offers the better overall value with lower total trading costs. However, your choice should also consider factors like available trading pairs, user interface preferences, supported countries, and additional features like copy trading or staking.