Post-Only Order: What It Is and Why It Matters in Crypto Trading

When you place a post-only order, a type of limit order that can only be added to the order book, never executed immediately. Also known as maker-only order, it’s a simple tool that saves you money and protects you from bad fills on exchanges. Unlike a market order that snaps up existing bids or asks, a post-only order waits in line. If it would match right away, the exchange cancels it. That’s it. No hidden fees. No surprise executions. Just clean, predictable trading.

This matters because exchanges charge different fees based on whether you’re a maker, someone who adds liquidity by placing an order that waits to be filled or a taker, someone who removes liquidity by filling an existing order. Makers get rebates. Takers pay up to 0.1% or more per trade. On high-volume platforms like Binance or Kraken, that adds up fast. A post-only order locks you into maker status—no exceptions. It’s not a trick. It’s a rule enforced by the exchange’s matching engine. You can’t sneak in as a taker. And that’s the point.

Why do traders use this? Because they’re tired of paying fees they didn’t mean to. They’re tired of their limit orders getting filled at worse prices because the market moved. A post-only order gives control. You set your price. You wait. You don’t chase. You don’t get swept up in volatility. You don’t accidentally trigger a market order during a flash crash. This isn’t just for pros. If you’re buying Bitcoin on a limit order and you don’t want to pay extra, you need this setting turned on. It’s that basic.

It also connects to bigger ideas in crypto trading. You’ll see it in posts about crypto trading volume drops—when volume falls, liquidity dries up, and post-only orders become harder to fill. You’ll find it in guides about DeFi liquidity providers and order book dynamics. Even in reports on crypto regulations, exchanges are forced to be clearer about fee structures, and post-only orders are part of that transparency. This isn’t just a button you click. It’s a mindset: don’t take, add. Don’t rush, wait. Don’t pay, earn.

Below, you’ll find real-world examples of how this small setting impacts your trades. Some posts show how traders lost money by ignoring it. Others break down how exchanges like Crypto.com and Kraken handle it differently. You’ll see how it plays into airdrop eligibility, margin trading, and even tax reporting. No fluff. Just what happens when you use it—or forget to use it.