What Is a Basis Point

What Is a Basis Point?

A basis point is a standardized unit for measuring very small changes in percentage values. One basis point equals 0.01%, or 0.0001 in decimal form. In English, it is commonly abbreviated as "bps", pronounced "basis points". For example, 10bps means 10 basis points.

If someone says "increase by 25 basis points," it means a percentage is raised by 0.25%. This terminology is widely used in contexts like interest rates, fees, and funding rates, as stating "0.25%" directly may be unclear or easily misunderstood.

Why Are Basis Points Used for Rates and Fees?

Basis points provide precise communication, especially in areas where changes are incremental, such as interest rates and transaction fees. Central bank decisions, bank quotes, and trading platform fee schedules often adjust in increments of 25 or 10 basis points (as of December 2025, major central banks globally still commonly adjust rates in 25 basis point steps).

Using basis points helps avoid ambiguity. For example, saying "increase by 0.25%" could be interpreted as multiplying the original value by 1.0025, whereas "increase by 25 basis points" clearly means the percentage itself increases by 0.25 percentage points.

How Do You Convert Basis Points to Percentages and Amounts?

Converting between basis points and percentages is straightforward:

• 1 basis point = 0.01%; 100 basis points = 1.00%; 35 basis points = 0.35%.

To calculate monetary amounts, first convert the basis points to a percentage, then multiply by the principal or transaction value:

• If a trading fee is 10 basis points and you buy $5,000 worth of assets, the fee is $5,000 × 0.10% = $5.
• If you borrow $10,000 in stablecoins and the interest rate rises from 7.50% to 7.75%, that’s an increase of 25 basis points. You’ll pay an extra $10,000 × 0.25% = $25 per year.

How Are Basis Points Used in the Crypto Market?

Basis points are frequently used in crypto:

• Trading Fees: Exchanges often display fees as percentages; converting to basis points makes comparisons easier (e.g., 0.20% ≈ 20 basis points).
• DeFi Yields: When protocols announce "yield reduction by 30 basis points," it means the annual rate drops by 0.30%.
• Spreads and Quotes: Market maker bid-ask spreads can be described in basis points, such as a trading pair with a spread of 15 basis points (about 0.15%).

Standardizing rates in basis points enables quick cost and yield comparisons across different trading pairs, protocols, or account tiers.

How Do Basis Points Affect Lending and Stablecoin Yields?

In lending and yield products, basis points directly impact your costs and returns. You’ll encounter APR and APY:

• APR is the annual interest rate, excluding compounding;
• APY is the annual percentage yield, which includes compounding and is usually slightly higher than APR.

If a stablecoin lending APR rises from 6.00% to 6.25%, that's an increase of 25 basis points. For large principal amounts, long durations, or high leverage positions, even small changes in basis points add up to significant differences. As of late 2025, many crypto lending platforms continue to adjust rates in basis point increments for transparency around daily fluctuations.

What’s the Difference Between Basis Points and Percentage Points?

"Basis point" and "percentage point" are often confused:

• 1 percentage point = 1.00% = 100 basis points;
• 50 basis points = 0.50% = 0.5 percentage points.

For example: If interest rates move from 2.00% to 2.50%, that’s an increase of 0.50 percentage points or 50 basis points. Saying "increase by 0.50%" can be mistaken for multiplying the original rate by 1.005, while "increase by 50 basis points" unambiguously means adding 0.50 to the percentage.

What Risks Are Associated With Basis Point Changes?

The main risks involve:

• Leverage Sensitivity: Leveraged positions or derivatives are highly sensitive to fee and funding rate changes—an increase of several dozen basis points can flip strategies from profit to loss.
• Accumulated Costs: Frequent traders can see small fees expressed in basis points quickly add up and erode strategy returns.
• Misinterpretation: Confusing basis points with percentage points or misunderstanding "bps" can lead to errors in cost or yield calculations.

For financial safety, always verify the fee units, billing periods, and whether compounding is included before executing trades or opening positions.

Where Can You See and Use Basis Points on Gate?

On Gate, you can understand and apply basis points in these areas:

• Spot and contract fees displayed as percentages can be converted to basis points for easier comparison (e.g., 0.20% ≈ 20 basis points). Actual rates vary based on account tier and current announcements.
• Contract funding rates are often shown as "per ten thousand" or percent; converting to basis points makes it easier to assess daily costs (e.g., 0.01% equals one basis point).
• In the finance section, APR/APY notices can use basis points to indicate slight adjustments, helping compare product nuances.

Before trading, review Gate’s fee documentation and product detail pages for units and use basis point conversion to verify your estimated costs and returns.

How Do You Use Basis Points in Investment Decisions?

Step one: Confirm units—check whether the announcement refers to "percent," "percentage point," or "basis point/bps" to avoid confusion.

Step two: Standardize scale—convert all rates to basis points, then calculate monetary values based on your position size.

Step three: Factor in compounding—for yield or staking products, distinguish between APR and APY; changes in APY can be amplified by compounding.

Step four: Assess micro-costs—translate spreads and potential slippage (the difference between execution price and expected price) into basis points and include these in your overall strategy cost model.

Key Takeaways on Basis Points

A basis point is a standard unit expressing tiny percentage changes; one basis point equals 0.01%. It brings accuracy to communication about interest rates, fees, and spreads while preventing confusion with percentage points. In crypto markets—including Gate platform fee schedules, funding rates, and yield products—basis points are a universal language for comparison and decision-making. Apply a two-step approach: standardize everything into basis points, then convert into actual monetary amounts—alongside APR/APY analysis and consideration of spreads and slippage—to translate even small changes into real impacts on your costs and returns for more informed choices.

FAQ

What Exactly Does One Basis Point Represent?

One basis point (bp) equals 0.01%, or one hundredth of a percent. To visualize it another way: 100 basis points = 1%, and 10,000 basis points = 100%. This unit functions like cents in currency, enabling highly precise discussion of small decimal changes.

How Can You Quickly Convert Between Basis Points and Percentages?

Remember this formula: Basis point count ÷ 100 = percentage value. For example, 50 basis points ÷ 100 = 0.5%; 250 basis points ÷ 100 = 2.5%. The reverse works as well: Percentage × 100 = number of basis points. With this shortcut, you can convert instantly without reaching for a calculator every time.

Why Do Financial Markets Prefer Basis Points Over Percentages?

Basis points express small changes accurately and avoid misunderstandings. For instance, saying "interest rate increases by 0.5%" could cause confusion—is it rising to 1.5% or increasing by just 0.005? By stating "increase by 50 basis points," you’re clear. This precision is crucial for crypto lending, stablecoin yields, and other high-accuracy scenarios.

If Interest Rates Rise from 2% to 2.5%, How Many Basis Points Is That?

That’s a rise of 50 basis points. The calculation: (2.5% - 2%) × 10,000 = 50 basis points. This is the classic use case for basis points—measuring movements in rates, fees, or yields. On Gate’s lending products, you’ll often see rate changes expressed this way.

How Much Can Changes in Basis Points Impact My Investment Returns?

While a single basis point seems tiny, its cumulative effect matters. For example, if you invest $10,000 in stablecoins at an annual yield dropping from 8% to 7.5% (a decrease of 50 basis points), you’d earn $50 less per year. Larger investments or longer timeframes make these impacts even more significant—which is why monitoring basis point shifts is so important.