[TacticalCoder]

Interesting... In a correctly working market wouldn't the end result be that competitors prefer to lower their fees too and then offer other guarantees (security, etc.) in order to keep clients and to bring in new clients?

Or is the bitcoin exchange market a "winner takes all" market?

And if they "win" and start charging a fee, wouldn't it immediately open a new opportunity for someone to come up with a platform with lower fees?

(honestly asking... Btw I'm european and I'm on Bitstamp for trading Bitcoins)

[kolinko]

Just like auction houses - it's a winner takes all. The biggest exchange has the hughest volume and lowest spread.

As for competitors lowering their fees - one can onlly do it as long as it has funding to do so.

Here you can witness a perfect example of a free market economy leading to a suboptimal situation. And an example of usefullness of antitrust laws.