BBAE seems to have started charging platform fees recently, with a slight increase in commissions, but overall it’s not too expensive. I reached out to their official customer service and got a quick response: there’s been a surge in new users lately, which has increased the load on domestic relay servers, leading to higher maintenance costs. Currently, BBAE allows direct access without needing a VPN, so trading within the country is smooth. In terms of deposit subsidies, BBAE is probably one of the highest in the industry right now. Platforms like IBKR basically don’t offer any deposit subsidies. Even a few hundred dollars in deposit subsidies is enough for big traders to handle millions in trading volume. Looking at security and overall performance, the current fees can be seen as a protection fee for a stable trading environment. That said, most people aren’t too sensitive to small fees. A pure U.S. brokerage that’s non-CRS is still more important—after all, fees on-chain and on CEXs are even higher. That said, most people aren’t too sensitive to small fees. A pure U.S. brokerage that’s non-CRS is still more important—after all, fees on-chain and on CEXs are even higher.