‘Memepool’ full: Here’s how exchanges adjust Bitcoin withdrawal fees

Amid the ongoing spike in Bitcoin (BTC) transaction fees, some cryptocurrency exchanges have moved to adjust the cost of withdrawing BTC from their platforms.

The United States-based exchange Kraken has increased Bitcoin withdrawal fees to match the current fees on-chain, the company’s customer support manager wrote on Reddit on May 10.

“This helps ensure withdrawals are processed on-chain in a timely manner,” the support manager noted.

Kraken’s representative also referred to the company’s public list of cryptocurrency withdrawal fees and minimum withdrawal amounts. According to the data, Kraken charges 0.00035 BTC, roughly $10, for a Bitcoin withdrawal, with a minimum amount of 0.0005 BTC, roughly $13.

*Kraken Support on increasing BTC fees. Source: Reddit*

The minimum BTC withdrawal amount on the Lightning Network (LN) also significantly differs from non-Lightning BTC, starting from as low as 0.00001 BTC, less than $1.

The support manager also advised customers to consider using the Lightning Network as an alternative. Adopted by Kraken in March 2022, the LN option allows users to withdraw BTC from the platform free of charge.

*Bitcoin withdrawal fees and minimum withdrawal amounts on Kraken. Source: Kraken*

Kraken’s public withdrawal fees are significantly less than other major exchanges. Crypto exchange OKX charges between 0.00096 BTC ($26) and 0.00192 BTC ($53) for a BTC withdrawal, a spokesperson for OKX told Cointelegraph. The minimum withdrawal amount is 0.001 BTC, or $27.

OKX declined to comment on whether the exchange will increase withdrawal fees due to skyrocketing Bitcoin transaction costs. The platform also implemented the LN in 2022.

However, Kraken isn’t the only exchange that has adjusted BTC withdrawal fees amid the ongoing memecoin trading frenzy.

Crypto exchange KuCoin uses dynamic adjustment for BTC withdrawal fees and minimum withdrawal amounts, a spokesperson for the firm told Cointelegraph on May 10. The adjustment is based on the amount of actual processing fees on the chain so that KuCoin is “compatible with the market situation,” the representative noted.

“As of this moment, our withdrawal fee is between 0.00002 and 0.001 BTC, and the minimum withdrawal amount is 0.0005 BTC,” the spokesperson stated, adding:

“With regard to implementation of Lightning Network, KuCoin has not yet deployed LN, however, we will actively monitor the market and make adjustments if needed.”

KuCoin’s current Bitcoin withdrawal fees are similar to those implemented on other exchanges like Huobi or Binance.

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“On-chain withdrawal fees are increased due to BTC network congestion. The current withdrawal fee is 0.001 BTC,” a spokesperson for Huobi told Cointelegraph on May 11. Before the increase, the original BTC withdrawal fee was 0.0004 BTC ($11), the representative added. Huobi has also not implemented Lightning yet. “The Lightning Network is currently under discussion,” the Huobi spokesperson said.

According to public information, Binance also charges 0.001 BTC ($27) as a BTC withdrawal fee, while the minimum withdrawal amount is 0.002 BTC, or $55.

Despite relatively expensive BTC withdrawal fees, Binance has still experienced major issues with withdrawals amid the ongoing “memepool” congestion recently. On May 8, Binance was forced to halt withdrawals two times in 12 hours amid 400,000 transactions getting stuck on the Bitcoin mempool. The events have pushed Binance to seriously consider implementing LN.

Multiple exchanges, including Coinbase, Bybit and Crypto.com, didn’t respond to Cointelegraph’s request for comment.

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