As a trader with many years of experience, I want to share with you what really works in the cryptocurrency market. Today I will talk about the types of orders on the exchange , how to use them to minimize commissions and manage positions as efficiently as possible. Many traders lose money simply because they do not understand the difference between maker and taker orders , incorrectly set stop-losses or do not use trailing stops.
I will show everything using the example of the OKX via a mobile app, because most of you trade from your phone.
What is a maker and a taker?
There are two types of commissions on any exchange: maker and taker .
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A maker order is an order that adds liquidity to the market . It is usually a limit order that remains in the order book until executed. The maker fee on OKX for futures is 0.02% .
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A taker order is an order that takes liquidity from the market . It is a market order that is executed immediately. The taker's commission is 0.05% , which is 150% more expensive than the maker's.
For example: you open a position for $10,000 . If you are a taker, you pay $5 , if you are a maker, you pay only $2 . On large volumes, the difference becomes significant.
Main types of orders and their application
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Limit order
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Used to open a position at a price lower or higher than the current market price (depending on your strategy).
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Adds liquidity to the market → maker's commission.
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Ideal for saving on commissions .
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Market order
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Executed immediately at the market price → taker's commission.
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Used only in urgent situations , such as a sudden news impulse.
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Stop-loss and take-profit
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Used to protect the deposit and lock in profit .
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If you place a stop loss as a market order, you pay a taker's commission.
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To minimize commissions, I recommend using trigger orders for stop losses and take profits, which work like limit orders.
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Trailing stop
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An order that automatically follows the price by a specified percentage or amount.
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Allows you to capture maximum profit during sharp fluctuations.
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Especially effective in shorts when the market can move sharply against the position.
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I often use deviations of 0.1–0.3% to capture maximum profit and minimize risks.
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Scalable order and iceberg order
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Used by whales for large positions.
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Scalable breaks a large order into several parts so as not to affect the market .
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An iceberg order allows you to show only part of the order in the glass, which hides the real volume.
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How to properly average positions
Many beginners lose money when averaging. I always use partial averaging with a limit order and a stop loss .
Example:
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Opened a short on Pepe coin at a price of $0.22 for $10,000.
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The price rose 20% to $0.25.
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I place a limit order for averaging at $0.25 and a stop loss at $0.26.
Thus, I increase the position, but limit the risk without losing the entire deposit.
Pros and cons of using orders correctly
Pros:
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Reduced commissions thanks to limit orders.
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The ability to automatically lock in profits through take-profit and trailing stops.
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Effective averaging of positions without exceeding risk.
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Convenient control of all orders in a demo or real account.
Cons:
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If you set up the order incorrectly, you may lose some of your profit.
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The market can "skip" the stop loss during strong impulses → taker commission.
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For beginners, the interface and order types may seem complicated.
Typical mistakes of beginners
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Using market orders unnecessarily → unnecessary fees.
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Closing the entire position, instead of a partial take profit.
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Incorrect averaging → increased risk.
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Setting stop losses as market → extra 0.05% commission on each trade.
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Lack of control over commissions and financing costs.
Safety tips
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Use two-factor authentication on the exchange.
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Always check the size and type of order to avoid taker/maker errors.
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Use a demo account to test all order types before real trading.
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Do not exceed 5–10% of your deposit per position for volatile coins.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Question: What is the difference between a limit order and a market order?
Answer: A limit order adds liquidity → maker's commission. A market order takes away liquidity → taker's commission.
Question: When is it better to use a trailing stop?
Answer: When you want to automatically lock in profit during market volatility or when shorting/longing to protect profit.
Question: How to average positions without much risk?
Answer: Use partial averaging with a limit order and stop loss.
Question: Why is it important to save on commissions?
Answer: On large volumes, the difference between the maker and the taker can be tens and hundreds of dollars. This directly affects your profitability.
Conclusion
The correct use of maker and taker orders , limit and market orders, trailing stops, and partial averaging is not just theory. These are practical tools that allow you to save on commissions, increase profits, and control risks.
I recommend that all traders switch to a demo account on OKX or another exchange and test all the types of orders I described today. This will allow you to gain confidence, avoid newbie mistakes, and increase your profits on a real account.
Always remember: limit orders save commission, trailing stops fix maximum profit, and proper averaging reduces the risk of losses . Use this knowledge and earn