Criterion · method version 1.2.0
Cost
What this criterion measures in each category, from method version 1.2.0.
Criterion id: cost · from release method-v1.2.0
What it measures
In Exchanges and brokers
What buying, selling and moving assets on the platform costs. Evidence: trading fees (maker and taker, or the fee of a simple purchase), deposit and withdrawal fees in fiat and in crypto assets, and the hidden spread: the difference between the price the customer gets and a reference market price at the same time, from the published fee schedule and WhatTheChain's own test purchases.
In Hardware wallets
What the device and its use cost the user. Evidence: the device price from the maker's official shop at the time of assessment, any subscription for features, and fees or spreads on swaps and purchases offered inside the companion app, as published by the maker or measured by WhatTheChain.
In Mobile wallets
What using the app costs the user. Evidence: subscription or premium prices, fees and spreads on swaps and purchases inside the app, and network fee handling (whether the user can set the fee), as published by the provider or measured by WhatTheChain.
In On-ramps
What a purchase or sale costs in total. Evidence: the service fee, payment method fees (card, bank transfer), network fees passed on to the customer, and the hidden spread: the difference between the quoted price and a reference market price at the same time, from the published fee schedule and WhatTheChain's own test purchases.
How the score is built
The sub-criteria an assessor notes on the way to the score. They are not published as scores of their own.
In Exchanges and brokers
Assessors note sub-scores as whole numbers from 0 to 100.
- Trading fees
- Maker and taker fees, or the fee of a simple purchase or sale.
- Deposit and withdrawal fees
- Fees for fiat and crypto deposits and withdrawals.
- Hidden spread
- The measured difference between the executed price and a reference market price, beyond the published fees.
In Hardware wallets
Assessors note sub-scores as whole numbers from 0 to 100.
- Device or subscription price
- The device price and any recurring subscription needed for its features.
- In-app swap fees
- Fees and spreads on swaps and purchases inside the companion app.
In Mobile wallets
Assessors note sub-scores as whole numbers from 0 to 100.
- Subscription price
- Recurring or one-off prices for the app and its features.
- In-app swap fees
- Fees and spreads on swaps and purchases inside the app.
In On-ramps
Assessors note sub-scores as whole numbers from 0 to 100.
- Service fees
- The fee of a purchase or sale, fixed and relative.
- Payment and network fees
- Fees per payment method and network fees passed on.
- Hidden spread
- The measured difference between the quoted price and a reference market price, beyond the published fees.
Evidence and confidence
Every score of this criterion cites evidence items with their sources, and carries one of four confidence labels.
- high
- Primary sources checked at the assessment date, confirmed by a WhatTheChain test or a second independent source.
- medium
- Primary sources that could not be confirmed independently, or some older than the last scheduled review.
- low
- Only secondary sources, or sources that conflict; the rationale explains which one the value follows.
- estimate
- No direct source: derived from documented properties and comparable designs, and the rationale says how.