#TradingTypes101

Example:

You buy 1 Bitcoin for $70,000. You now own that Bitcoin and can transfer or hold it.

Pros:

Simple and straightforward.

Lower risk (no leverage).

You actually own the asset.

Cons:

Limited profit potential unless the asset significantly increases in value.

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🟠 Margin Trading

Definition:

Trading with borrowed funds to increase buying power (leverage).

How it works:

You borrow money from a broker/exchange.

You can go long (bet price will go up) or short (bet price will go down).

You need to maintain a minimum balance (margin) to keep the position open.

Example:

You have $1,000 but use 5x leverage to trade $5,000 worth of Ethereum.

Pros:

Higher potential profits.

Ability to short-sell (profit from falling prices).

Cons:

Higher risk due to leverage.

Can result in liquidation (losing your position if the market moves against you).

Interest fees on borrowed funds.

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🔴 Futures Trading

Definition:

A contractual agreement to buy or sell an asset at a future date for a predetermined price.

How it works:

No actual buying of the asset; it's a contract.

Can be used for speculation or hedging.

Most platforms allow high leverage.

Settled in cash or the underlying asset.

Example:

You buy a futures contract predicting Bitcoin will be $72,000 in a month. If it rises to $75,000, you profit the difference.

Pros:

High leverage available.

Can profit in both rising and falling markets.

No need to hold the actual asset.

Cons:

Very high risk due to leverage and volatility.

Can result in total loss if the market moves sharply against you.

More complex than spot trading.