UK Based: Seeking Crypto Exchange with Zero/Low Maker Fees & Bot Friendly API (Alternative to Complex Setups?)

Hi all,

TL;DR: UK trader looking for a crypto exchange with zero/low maker & low taker fees, plus a good API for a trade bot (ideally not requiring complex smart contract setup). Kraken fees too high for scalping. Considering Jupiter, but concerned about bot integration complexity and if it's a practical/okay approach in the UK. Seeking simpler alternatives if they exist.

I'm based in the UK and looking for some guidance on choosing a crypto exchange. My main requirements are zero (or very low) maker fees and low taker fees. It's also important that the exchange is UK friendly, ideally allowing UK residents and GBP deposits/withdrawals, though the GBP part isn't a complete deal-breaker.

Crucially, I need a bot-friendly API as I want to run a trading bot.

I've been considering Jupiter (as a DEX aggregator) because of the potential for very low fees. However, my understanding is that to use a bot with something like Jupiter, I'd likely need to set it up via smart contracts and handle a lot of the infrastructure myself. This seems quite complex compared to a traditional exchange API. My main concerns and questions revolve around this.

Firstly, regarding the viability of Jupiter for botting in the UK: Is this a common or practical approach for UK users? Are there any specific regulatory or practical hurdles I should be aware of if I go down the route of interacting with smart contracts directly for my bot? Essentially, I want to know if it's "okay" and not overly complicated to do this from the UK.

Secondly, I'm looking for alternative exchanges. Are there any centralized or even decentralized exchanges with a more straightforward API (like a single endpoint and good documentation) that offer zero/very low maker fees and low taker fees, and are accessible to UK users? Thirdly, are there easier options I might be missing? I'm currently using Kraken, but the fees are just too high for the kind of scalping or frequent trading my bot would do, especially at lower volumes. I'm wondering if I'm overlooking an obvious, simpler solution than diving into smart contract development for botting just to get good fees.

I do like to scalp, so the fee structure is paramount. Before I embark on the potentially complex venture of setting up a bot with Jupiter and all the associated smart contract interactions, I wanted to check two main things. Is this a reasonable path for someone in the UK? And, are there simpler, more "traditional" exchange options with better fee structures that I've overlooked? Any advice, recommendations, or shared experiences would be hugely appreciated! Thanks in advance!