#TradingTypes101
Here’s a simple comparison between Spot, Margin, and Futures trading:
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🟢 Spot Trading
Buy now, own now.
You buy the actual crypto (like Bitcoin) and hold it in your wallet.
Example: You buy 1 BTC at $30,000—you now own 1 BTC.
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🟡 Margin Trading
Borrow money to trade.
You trade more than you own by borrowing from the exchange.
Example: You have $100, borrow $200 to trade $300 worth of crypto.
Higher reward, higher risk—if the trade goes against you, you can lose more than your initial amount.
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🔴 Futures Trading
Bet on the price, don’t own the asset.
You agree to buy or sell crypto at a future price, without actually owning it.
You can profit whether the price goes up or down, using leverage.
Example: You “long” BTC at $30,000—if it goes to $35,000, you profit.
Very risky—you can be liquidated (lose everything) fast if price moves against you.
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🧠 In a Nutshell:
Type Own Asset? Borrowing Direction Risk Level
Spot ✅ Yes ❌ No Only Up 🟢 Low
Margin ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Up/Down 🟡 Medium
Futures ❌ No ✅ Yes Up/Down 🔴 High