Phemex was purpose-built for derivatives trading. With the lowest futures maker fee in the industry (0.01%) and a 300,000 TPS engine designed by ex-Morgan Stanley engineers, it’s the go-to platform for cost-conscious futures traders. This guide covers everything from setup to advanced order types.
⚡ Why Phemex for Futures?
0.01% maker fee (vs 0.02-0.05% everywhere else) means you pay half what Bybit/Binance traders pay for the same volume. On $1M/month: saves $1,200/year vs Bybit, $4,800/year vs Binance taker. The engine was built from scratch — not adapted open-source code — giving institutional-grade execution quality.
🧮 Calculate before you trade: Our crypto futures P&L calculator shows your exact profit or loss, liquidation price, and funding costs for any position size and leverage level.
Open Phemex — Use Code JRCJP9 →
Getting Started: Account Setup
- Go to phemex.com/register — use referral code JRCJP9 for up to $8,800 USDT bonus
- Verify your email address
- Enable Google Authenticator 2FA immediately
- Set up withdrawal address whitelist before depositing
- Deposit USDT via TRC20 (lowest gas fees)
Contract Types on Phemex
| Contract Type | Margin | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|
| USDT Perpetual (Linear) | USDT | Beginners — simple P&L |
| Coin Perpetual (Inverse) | BTC/ETH/etc. | Advanced — hodler hedging |
| Quarterly Futures | USDT or Coin | Arbitrage, defined term |
Phemex Fees vs Competitors
| Exchange | Maker | Taker | $1M/mo Maker Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phemex | 0.01% | 0.06% | $100 |
| Bybit | 0.02% | 0.055% | $200 |
| Binance | 0.02% | 0.05% | $200 |
| Bitget | 0.02% | 0.06% | $200 |
| MEXC | 0.00% | 0.05% | $0 |
Placing Your First Futures Trade
- Navigate to Contract → USDT Perpetual
- Select your pair — BTC/USD for beginners
- Choose Isolated Margin (limits loss to position margin only)
- Set leverage: start at 3-5x maximum
- Choose Limit order type (pays maker fee — 0.01%)
- Enter price and quantity
- Set Stop-Loss — non-negotiable. Always.
- Click Buy Long or Sell Short
Advanced Order Types
- Conditional orders: Trigger a buy/sell when price reaches a specific level — great for breakout strategies
- Trailing stop: Stop-loss that moves with price — automatically locks in profits
- Post-only: Guarantees limit order always gets maker rate (0.01%) — never accidentally pays taker rate
- Reduce-only: Order only reduces existing position, never opens new — prevents accidental flips
Phemex Premium — Zero Spot Fees
At $9.99/month, Phemex Premium eliminates all spot trading fees. For traders doing $20,000+/month in spot volume, this subscription pays for itself. No other major exchange offers an equivalent flat-rate zero-fee model.
📊 Want to know exactly how much you’ll pay? Use our free crypto exchange fee calculator to compare trading costs across Bybit, MEXC, Bitget, Phemex, and OKX in real time.
Ready to Trade Futures on Phemex?
Register with code JRCJP9, start with small positions and 3-5x leverage, always use limit orders for the 0.01% maker rate, and set stop-losses on every trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Phemex futures fees?
0.01% maker, 0.06% taker. Industry-lowest maker fee. Always use limit orders to ensure you pay the maker rate.
What is the max leverage on Phemex?
100x on BTC/ETH. For beginners: use 3-5x maximum until you understand how liquidations work in practice.
Is Phemex safe for futures trading?
Yes. Phemex has zero hacks since 2019, 99%+ cold storage, mandatory 2FA, and was built by ex-Morgan Stanley engineers. It has one of the strongest security track records in the industry.
Affiliate disclosure: Contains a Phemex referral link. Code JRCJP9 activates the welcome bonus.