Crypto Arbitrage Calculator
Estimate the profit you can capture by buying crypto on one exchange and selling it on another at a higher price. Use this before executing a trade to confirm the opportunity is worth the fees.
About this calculator
Crypto arbitrage exploits price differences for the same asset across different exchanges. The profit formula is: Arbitrage Profit = (priceExchange2 − priceExchange1) × amount − totalFees. Here, priceExchange1 is where you buy (the cheaper exchange), priceExchange2 is where you sell (the more expensive exchange), amount is the number of coins traded, and totalFees covers all trading and withdrawal costs on both platforms. The gross profit is the price spread multiplied by the quantity traded. Fees are then subtracted to find net profit. A positive result means the trade is profitable; a negative or zero result means fees consume the entire spread. Because spreads are often thin and close quickly, speed and low fees are critical to successful arbitrage.
How to use
Suppose Bitcoin trades at $29,800 on Exchange A and $30,050 on Exchange B. You plan to move 0.5 BTC, and total fees (trading plus withdrawal) are $30. Enter priceExchange1 = $29,800, priceExchange2 = $30,050, amount = 0.5, and totalFees = $30. The calculator computes: Profit = ($30,050 − $29,800) × 0.5 − $30 = $250 × 0.5 − $30 = $125 − $30 = $95. You would net $95 from this arbitrage trade if executed at those exact prices.
Frequently asked questions
What fees should I include when calculating crypto arbitrage profit?
You need to account for every cost that erodes the spread: the trading fee on the buying exchange, the trading fee on the selling exchange, the blockchain withdrawal fee to transfer coins between platforms, and any deposit fees the destination exchange charges. In some cases, you must also factor in the cost of transferring fiat back, or the opportunity cost of capital tied up during the transfer window. Overlooking even one fee category can turn a seemingly profitable opportunity into a net loss.
Why do crypto arbitrage opportunities disappear so quickly?
Arbitrage opportunities are self-correcting: as traders buy on the cheaper exchange, demand pushes that price up, and as they sell on the expensive exchange, supply pushes that price down, until the spread closes. In liquid markets this can happen in seconds. Automated trading bots scan hundreds of exchange pairs simultaneously and execute trades faster than any manual trader can react. By the time most retail traders notice a spread, it has usually already narrowed to below the fee threshold, making the trade unprofitable.
What is the difference between crypto arbitrage and market manipulation?
Arbitrage is legal and economically beneficial — it improves price efficiency across markets by closing gaps between exchanges. Market manipulation, such as wash trading or spoofing, involves artificially distorting prices to deceive other participants. Arbitrageurs are reacting to genuine price differences that already exist; they do not create them. Most jurisdictions explicitly permit arbitrage trading. However, using inside information or coordinating with exchange insiders to front-run orders could cross into illegal territory, so traders should always operate transparently and within each exchange's terms of service.