Trading Cost Calculator: Fee vs. Slippage Impact
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Slippage Explanation: High slippage (above 0.5%) indicates low liquidity. This means your order price can move significantly before execution, increasing your effective trading cost. For example, with a 0.5% slippage on a $10,000 trade, your actual cost is $50 more than the quoted price.
Key Takeaways
- Nanu Exchange operated from 2017 to November 2020, targeting Brazil’s crypto market.
- Its fee structure (0.25% taker, 0.15% maker) matched industry averages, but low liquidity hampered trading.
- The platform was unregulated and suffered from poor UI, limited support, and a sudden shutdown with no official explanation.
- Alternative Brazilian exchanges such as Mercado Bitcoin and Foxbit, plus global players like Binance, offered better liquidity and compliance.
- For traders, the Nanu case highlights the risks of small, region‑focused exchanges in a market dominated by well‑funded global players.
When you hear the name Nanu Exchange is a centralized cryptocurrency exchange that operated out of Brazil between 2017 and late 2020. It promised local fiat‑crypto pairing, a handful of popular coins, and a maker‑taker fee model that looked competitive on paper. Yet, three years later the platform vanished, leaving users scrambling for their funds and a patchwork of mixed reviews. This review breaks down what the exchange offered, where it fell short, and what you should look for if you’re hunting a replacement.
1. History - From Launch to Sudden Closure
Nanu Exchange debuted in 2017, a time when Brazil was emerging as one of Latin America’s biggest crypto hubs. The company registered locally, allowing Brazilian users to deposit and withdraw real‑world currency (BRL) directly. By 2019 it reported a 24‑hour Bitcoin‑volume of around 0.98 BTC, with Bitcoin accounting for roughly 47 % of total trades, followed by XRP (≈26 %) and Ethereum (≈19 %).
Despite modest growth, the platform disappeared in November 2020. Public statements were scarce; users on review sites such as Revain reported seeing a “Taboo” landing page and no clear communication on the shutdown. No regulatory penalties were announced, so the exact cause remains speculative-possible reasons include liquidity crunches, compliance pressure, or internal mismanagement.
2. Trading Pairs & Liquidity
The exchange listed a limited set of assets: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), XRP, Tron (TRX) and Dogecoin (DOGE). While the selection covered the major coins, depth was thin. Low order‑book volume meant large orders slippage, and price discovery often lagged behind global markets.
Liquidity is a make‑or‑break factor for any exchange. Nanu’s average daily volume stayed under 1 BTC, far lower than the multi‑thousand‑BTC volumes seen at Binance or Kraken. Traders reported difficulty filling even modest‑size market orders without moving the price, a clear sign of an ill‑liquid platform.
3. Fee Structure - How It Stacked Up
According to Cryptowisser, Nanu applied a maker‑taker model: 0.15 % for makers and 0.25 % for takers. Withdrawal fees were 0.0008 BTC, essentially the industry average (≈0.000812 BTC). While the numbers look decent, the real cost for users was higher because low liquidity forced many to accept worse execution prices, effectively raising the total cost of trading.
For comparison, Binance’s taker fee sits at 0.10 % for most users, and its daily Bitcoin volume eclipses Nanu’s by several orders of magnitude. The fee advantage of Nanu evaporated once you factor in slippage.
4. Security, Regulation & Trust Scores
Nanu operated without a clear regulatory framework. It was not listed on major compliance registries, and its KYC process only applied to Brazilian residents. The lack of formal licensing placed extra risk on users, especially when the platform shut down abruptly.
Trust‑ranking services reflected this uncertainty. BeInCrypto gave Nanu a trust score of 3 out of 10 and placed it at rank 596, later slipping to 764. In contrast, Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken consistently score above 8, backed by robust AML/KYC programs, insurance funds, and regular audits.
5. User Experience - Interface and Support
First‑time users described the UI as clunky, with navigation quirks that made placing orders a chore. Documentation was scarce; there were few tutorials, and support tickets often went unanswered. One Revain reviewer noted “low liquidity, unsupported guide association, and an unintuitive interface.” The combination of a rough front‑end and slow response times eroded confidence, especially for newcomers.
Customer service is a crucial factor for crypto platforms where funds are at stake. Nanu’s lack of a dedicated help center or live chat set it apart from competitors that provide 24/7 multilingual support.
6. How Nanu Compared to the Big Players
| Feature | Nanu Exchange | Binance | Mercado Bitcoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily BTC Volume | ≈0.98 BTC | ≈4,500 BTC | ≈2.1 BTC |
| Maker Fee | 0.15 % | 0.10 % | 0.20 % |
| Taker Fee | 0.25 % | 0.10 % | 0.25 % |
| Regulatory Status | Unregulated (Brazil) | Globally regulated, multiple licenses | Registered with Brazil’s CVM |
| Fiat Support | BRL deposits/withdrawals | Multiple fiat gateways worldwide | BRL, USD |
| Trust Score (BeInCrypto) | 3 / 10 | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
The table makes it clear: Nanu’s volume and trust metrics lagged far behind both a global titan (Binance) and a local heavyweight (Mercado Bitcoin). Even its fee advantage was modest and easily offset by slippage and the risk of an unregulated environment.
7. What Happened to Users After the Shutdown?
When the site went dark, many users found their assets frozen. Because the exchange did not hold a public escrow or insurance fund, recovering funds required direct legal action-an avenue few pursued due to cost and jurisdiction hurdles. Most former traders migrated to alternatives such as Mercado Bitcoin, Foxbit, or international platforms that accepted Brazilian users.
This outcome underscores a broader lesson: always keep crypto assets in wallets where you control the private keys, and avoid keeping large balances on exchanges that lack strong regulatory oversight.
8. Lessons Learned & How to Choose a Safe Exchange
When evaluating any exchange, keep these checkpoints in mind:
- Regulatory compliance: Look for licenses, AML/KYC policies, and transparent reporting.
- Liquidity depth: Higher 24‑hour volumes reduce slippage and improve price discovery.
- Security track record: Two‑factor authentication, cold storage percentages, and independent audits are must‑haves.
- Customer support: 24/7 channels, clear ticketing, and multilingual staff increase confidence.
- Fee transparency: Compare maker‑taker rates, withdrawal fees, and hidden costs like spread.
Using these criteria, many users now favour platforms that score high on trust indexes-Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Brazil’s Mercado Bitcoin are frequent picks because they meet most of these standards.
Quick Checklist for Former Nanu Users
- Move any remaining assets to a personal wallet (hardware or software) ASAP.
- Verify that the new exchange supports BRL fiat if you need local deposits.
- Check the exchange’s insurance or compensation policy for potential loss.
- Enable 2FA and consider using a separate email for crypto‑related logins.
- Stay informed about Brazil’s evolving crypto regulations to avoid future surprises.
Why did Nanu Exchange shut down?
No official statement was released. Industry speculation points to low liquidity, regulatory pressure in Brazil, and possible internal financial issues as driving factors.
Is it safe to keep crypto on a small regional exchange?
Generally riskier than using well‑capitalized, regulated platforms. Lack of audit transparency, limited insurance, and weaker compliance increase the chance of loss.
How do Nanu’s fees compare to Binance?
Nanu charged 0.15 % maker and 0.25 % taker, while Binance offers 0.10 % taker for most users. Fee differences are small, but Nanu’s low liquidity made actual trading more expensive.
Which Brazilian exchanges are reliable alternatives?
Mercado Bitcoin and Foxbit are the leading local options, both regulated by Brazil’s CVM and offering higher volumes. International platforms like Binance also accept Brazilian users and provide deeper markets.
Can I still retrieve funds from Nanu?
Recovery is unlikely without a formal legal claim, which is costly and time‑consuming. Most users have written off their balances and moved on.
