Fixed rate or floating: which to choose

Updated 22 September 2026 · compiled by the editorial team from the services' own pages

A floating rate follows the market until the transfer confirms; a fixed one locks the quote for a window. The fixed one usually costs a little more — that difference is the price of certainty.

Rule of thumb: floating for small amounts and fast networks, fixed when the amount matters or the network is congested.

Check before you send

• The rate type is chosen on purpose, not left as default — it decides what arrives, not what was shown.
• The lock window is long enough for your network — a lock that expires mid-transfer turns into a floating one.
• The amount is one you are ready to see move — on a floating rate it will.

Mistakes that cost the most

• Taking a floating rate for a large amount on a slow chain. The market has hours to work against you.
• Paying for a lock on a fast, liquid pair. The certainty costs more than the movement it prevents.

Questions

Which is cheaper?

Floating, on average — the lock has a price. Whether that price is worth it depends on the amount and the chain.

What happens if a locked rate expires?

The service re-quotes: the coins are not lost, but the amount you were shown no longer applies.

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