Abstract: A method for use by buyers and sellers in the execution of trades. The price of each executed trade within the system is logged. Next, a trend line is derived from the logged trades. The trading fee for a particular trade is determined based on the difference between the trade's price and the trend line as well as the size of the trade. This fee is imposed upon the buyer if the price of the trade is below the trend line, or imposed upon the seller if the price of the trade is above the trend line. The market markers in each item are evaluated according to how narrow their spreads were at the time of each transaction, and receive periodic bonuses based on these evaluations. A “crisis fee” is imposed on trades in the system when particularly measured qualities exceed normal bounds.