A spread is the gap between the highest price buyers bid for an asset and the lowest price sellers ask. When you buy crypto, you pay the higher ask price, so this bid-ask spread is part of your cost even when no separate fee is shown. Compare the total you pay with the crypto you receive.
How does a spread work?
A spread exists because a market always has two prices: what buyers will pay and what sellers will accept. The bid is the highest price a buyer will pay. The ask, or offer, is the lowest price a seller will accept. The bid is almost always lower, and the difference is the spread (Investor.gov, as of September 2026).
A service that sells to you directly may quote a buy price and a lower sell-back price, with the same kind of gap. Crypto prices are quoted in trading pairs such as BTC/USD, so a bitcoin spread is measured in dollars.
Spreads change. A narrow spread can be a sign of good liquidity. Illiquid assets often have wide spreads, and in volatile markets they can become even harder to trade (FINRA, as of September 2026).
What is an example of a spread?
In this illustrative example with made-up prices, a $200 spread costs a buyer $2 on a $1,000 purchase.
| Step | Illustrative amount |
|---|---|
| Bid for 1 BTC | $99,800 |
| Ask for 1 BTC | $100,000 |
| Spread (ask minus bid) | $200 |
| You spend $1,000 at the ask | You get 0.01 BTC |
| You sell it straight back at the bid | You get $998 |
| Cost of the spread | $2, before any fees |
The midpoint, $99,900, is a reference, not the price you pay.
Why does the spread matter when you buy crypto?
The spread is part of what a purchase costs, even when it is not shown as a separate fee. For international money transfers, the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that exchange rates often reflect a spread and counts that as part of the cost (CFPB, as of September 2026). The same idea applies when you swap dollars or euros for crypto.
So compare totals: what you pay, including every fee, and how much crypto you receive.
Once you have compared the totals, you can buy crypto on Coinmama.
Spread vs fee: what is the difference?
A spread is built into the price, while a fee is a separate charge. Both reduce the crypto you get for your money.
| Feature | Spread | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The gap between the buy and sell price | A charge for a service, such as processing a payment |
| Where you see it | Inside the quoted price | As its own amount |
| How to check it | Compare buy and sell prices, or a reference price | Read every fee line before you confirm |
Network fees, paid to move crypto on a blockchain, are a separate cost. See also crypto fees explained.
What are the risks and red flags?
The main risk is judging a purchase by the headline price alone. Watch for:
- A quote that shows a price but not the amount of crypto you will receive.
- A “free” or “no fee” claim with no total shown. A spread can still be built into the price.
- Very wide gaps between buy and sell prices, often on rarely traded coins.
- Frequent buying and selling. You cross the spread on every round trip.
- Prices that move while you decide. Check the final amount again on the confirmation screen.
Go deeper: How to buy crypto: a beginner’s guide walks through a full purchase step by step.
