Crypto arbitrage: a €10 price edge loses out to trading fees

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry a high degree of risk. Always conduct your own research.Bitcoin costs slightly different amounts on every exchange, and crypto arbitrage lives off exactly that. Our calculation using real order books from four euro exchanges shows why the price advantage disappears into fees for retail investors.The same bitcoin can briefly carry two prices on two exchanges, and that is the starting point of every arbitrage trade.Add as a preferred source on GoogleFollow on Google NewsCrypto arbitrage means buying the same coin more cheaply on one exchange and selling it at a higher price on another, pocketing the price difference as profit. The idea sounds like risk-free money, and advertisements sell it in exactly those terms. Our own calculation using real prices shows the opposite: on Thursday evening, November 5, 2026, the largest price gap for Bitcoin across four major euro exchanges was around €10 per bitcoin. Trading fees for buying and selling €1,000 came to €10.50. A retail investor who had tried it would have walked away with a loss. This ...