How to Set Up MEXC for Arbitrage Trading

Account verification, futures activation, margin mode, zero maker fees and your first arbitrage trade on MEXC — step by step.

// In this guide
  1. Creating Your MEXC Account
  2. KYC Verification
  3. Activating Futures Trading
  4. Understanding Margin Modes
  5. Setting Leverage Correctly
  6. Zero Maker Fees on MEXC
  7. Funding Your Futures Wallet
  8. Executing Your First Arbitrage Trade
01ACCOUNT SETUP

Creating Your MEXC Account

Go to mexc.com and click Sign Up. Enter your email address and create a strong password. MEXC will send a verification code to your email — enter it to activate your account.

MEXC is widely used for arbitrage due to its zero maker fees on spot trading and a large selection of altcoin perpetual futures. It frequently shows significant price gaps versus Binance and Bybit, making it a high-value exchange for cross-exchange arbitrage.

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Tip: Use a dedicated email for each exchange account. This keeps your arbitrage infrastructure organized and reduces security risk.
02VERIFICATION

KYC Verification

MEXC requires identity verification (KYC) for futures access and standard withdrawal limits. Go to Profile → Identity Verification.

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Basic KYC is sufficient for futures trading and standard withdrawal limits. No higher tier is required for most arbitrage strategies.
03FUTURES ACTIVATION

Activating Futures Trading

After KYC, go to Futures → USDT-M Perpetual and click Open Futures Account. Accept the risk agreement to activate.

Always use USDT-M (linear) contracts for arbitrage. These settle in USDT, keeping your margin stable regardless of coin price movement.

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USDT-M Contracts

Settled in USDT. Best for arbitrage — no coin exposure on margin.

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Coin-M Contracts

Settled in the underlying coin. Avoid for market-neutral strategies.

04MARGIN MODE

Understanding Margin Modes

Always use Isolated Margin on MEXC for arbitrage positions.

✓ Recommended
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Isolated Margin

Each position uses only its allocated margin. Losses on one position cannot drain your full account balance.

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Cross Margin

All positions share your total wallet. One liquidation can wipe your entire balance. Never use for arbitrage.

05LEVERAGE

Setting Leverage Correctly

Set leverage to 1x for all funding rate arbitrage positions. You are hedging — not speculating. Higher leverage adds liquidation risk with no benefit to the strategy.

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Warning: MEXC defaults to high leverage on new accounts. Set 1x manually every time you open a new pair. Do not rely on previous settings carrying over.
06ZERO MAKER FEES

Zero Maker Fees on MEXC

MEXC offers 0% maker fees on futures — one of the best fee structures for arbitrage. Taker fees are 0.01%. Using limit orders (maker) means your entry and exit costs are effectively zero on the futures leg.

✓ Best for arbitrage
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Limit Orders (Maker)

0% fee. Always use for arbitrage entries and exits where speed is not critical.

Market Orders (Taker)

0.01% fee. Use only when you need immediate execution and the gap is wide enough to absorb the cost.

This zero-maker-fee structure makes MEXC particularly attractive as the futures leg in funding rate arbitrage — your effective cost is essentially just the spot leg fees.

07FUNDING

Funding Your Futures Wallet

Deposit USDT via Assets → Deposit → USDT. Select TRC20 network for lowest fees. After deposit, transfer to futures wallet: Assets → Transfer → Spot to Futures.

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Minimum recommended: $500 USDT to start. MEXC's zero maker fees mean your break-even point is lower than most other exchanges — even smaller positions can be profitable.
08FIRST TRADE

Executing Your First Arbitrage Trade

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MEXC is especially powerful for altcoin arbitrage — it lists many coins before Binance or Bybit, and early listings often show significant funding rate spikes. ArbVertex signals flag these opportunities in real time.

// Frequently Asked Questions

Is MEXC safe for arbitrage?
MEXC has operated since 2018 and is one of the top 10 exchanges by volume. It is suitable for arbitrage, but keep only the capital needed for active positions on any centralized exchange.
Does MEXC really have zero maker fees?
Yes — MEXC charges 0% maker fees on futures contracts. This is one of the best fee structures available and makes it particularly cost-efficient for arbitrage strategies that use limit orders.
What coins are best for arbitrage on MEXC?
MEXC frequently shows higher funding rates on mid-cap altcoins versus Binance. BTC, ETH, SOL work well, but the real advantage is in less liquid pairs where MEXC's rates diverge most from other exchanges.
Can I use MEXC with Binance for cross-exchange arbitrage?
Yes — MEXC and Binance are a common cross-exchange pair. Price gaps between them appear regularly, especially on altcoins, and MEXC's zero maker fees make the pair very cost-efficient.

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