Crypto Derivatives vs. Spot Trading: A Comparison | by LBank Exchange | Feb, 2023

Cryptocurrencies have emerged as a popular asset class in recent years, with the market capitalization of the crypto market currently valued above a trillion dollars. As the crypto industry has matured, so too has how traders can access and invest in these digital assets. Two popular trading methods are spot trading and derivatives trading.

In this article, we will compare the two trading methods and explore the benefits and drawbacks of each.

What are crypto derivatives and spot trading?

Crypto derivatives and spot trading are two distinct methods of investing in cryptocurrencies.

Spot trading involves buying and selling cryptocurrencies for their current market value, while derivatives trading involves buying and selling financial instruments that derive their value from an underlying cryptocurrency asset.

In spot trading, the trader purchases the actual cryptocurrency asset and takes ownership of it. This means that the trader can hold the cryptocurrency for as long as they want and sell it at any time. On the other hand, in derivatives trading, the trader never takes ownership of the underlying asset but instead buys or sells contracts that are tied to the asset’s value. These contracts can come in the shape of futures, options, or swaps.

Derivatives trading allows traders to speculate on the price movements of cryptocurrencies without actually owning them. That can be useful for those who want to profit from price changes without the hassle of managing actual crypto assets. However, derivatives trading can also be more complex and carries a higher degree of risk than spot trading, as traders may be exposed to leverage and margin calls, among other factors.

Benefits of crypto derivatives and spot trading

Both crypto derivatives and spot trading offer their own unique benefits to traders in the cryptocurrency market.

Benefits of crypto derivatives:

1. High leverage: Crypto derivatives offer high leverage, which means that traders can use a small amount of capital to control a much larger position. This can result in significant profits if the trade goes in the trader’s favour.
2. Diverse range of products: Crypto derivatives come in a wide range of products, including futures, options, and swaps. It enables traders to choose the product that best suits their trading style and risk appetite.
3. Risk management: It allows traders to manage their risk exposure through strategies such as hedging and stop-loss orders. This can help traders limit their losses in the event of a market downturn.
4. 24/7 trading: They can be traded around the clock, seven days a week, allowing traders to take advantage of opportunities as they arise, regardless of the time of day.
5. Lower trading fees: Crypto derivatives often have lower trading fees than traditional financial products, which can make them more accessible to smaller traders.

Benefits of spot trading:

1. Liquidity: Spot trading is typically very liquid, which means that traders can enter and exit positions quickly and easily, making it easier for traders to take advantage of market opportunities.
2. Transparency: It is transparent, with prices publicly available on exchanges and trading platforms. This allows traders to make informed decisions about their trades and the market.
3. No expiry dates: Spot trading has no expiry dates, which means that traders can hold positions for as long as they want. This can give traders more flexibility in their trading strategies.
4. No counterparty risk: It does not involve a counterparty, which means that traders do not need to worry about the risk of the counterparty not fulfilling their obligations.
5. Simplicity: Spot trading is a simple product, with traders only needing to buy or sell the underlying asset. This can make it easier for beginners to get started in trading and for experienced traders to execute trades quickly and efficiently.

Crypto derivatives and spot trading drawbacks

Derivatives and spot trading have advantages, but they can have disadvantages. These are a few of them:

Drawbacks of crypto derivatives:

1. High risk: Crypto derivatives are highly leveraged financial products, which means they can result in significant losses if the underlying asset’s value moves against the trader. This high risk can lead to significant losses for inexperienced traders who are not familiar with the market.
2. Regulatory uncertainty: The regulatory landscape for crypto derivatives is still uncertain in many jurisdictions. This means that traders may not have access to the same protections and rights as traditional financial markets.
3. Counterparty risk: Crypto derivatives are traded on exchanges and over-the-counter (OTC) markets. This means that traders are exposed to the risk that their counterparties will not fulfil their obligations. This risk can be mitigated by choosing reputable exchanges such as LBank.
4. Liquidity risk: The liquidity of crypto derivatives is not as deep as that of traditional financial markets. This means that traders may have difficulty finding buyers or sellers at the price they want.
5. Complex products: Crypto derivatives are complex financial products that require a deep understanding of both the underlying asset and the financial instrument itself. This complexity can make it challenging for traders to accurately assess the risks involved in trading them.

Drawbacks of spot trading:

1. Market volatility: Spot trading is subject to high levels of market volatility, which means that traders may experience significant losses if the market moves against them.
2. Limited trading hours: Spot trading is limited by the hours that the underlying asset is traded. This means that traders may not be able to execute trades at the time they want, which can lead to missed opportunities or unfavourable prices.
3. No leverage: Spot trading does not offer leverage, which means that traders are limited in the amount of capital they can deploy. This can make it more difficult for smaller traders to participate in the market.
4. Market manipulation: Spot trading is susceptible to market manipulation, which can result in significant losses for traders. This manipulation can take the form of insider trading, wash trading, or other fraudulent activities.
5. Price slippage: Spot trading is subject to price slippage, which occurs when traders are unable to execute trades at the desired price due to changes in market conditions. This can result in unexpected losses or missed opportunities.

LBank offers both futures and spot trading

LBank is a competitive global cryptocurrency exchange that offers its users the ability to trade both futures and spot trading. The platform has a wide range of trading pairs for futures and spot trading, which allows traders to diversify their portfolios and take advantage of market opportunities.

LBank’s futures trading allows users to trade futures contracts on a variety of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other popular cryptocurrencies. These futures contracts allow traders to speculate on the future price movements of these cryptocurrencies, with leverage options available to amplify potential profits.

LBank’s spot trading, on the other hand, allows users to buy and sell actual cryptocurrencies at their current market price. This means that users can take ownership of the cryptocurrency asset and hold it for as long as they want, or sell it at any time.

Whether a user prefers to trade futures contracts or to hold actual cryptocurrencies, LBank provides a range of trading options to suit their needs.

Final thoughts

Overall, trading crypto derivatives offer a range of benefits over spot trading, including leverage, hedging, access to more markets, lower fees, and the ability to trade without holding physical assets. However, derivatives trading is also more complex and carries a higher degree of risk, so traders should carefully consider their investment goals and risk tolerance before deciding which approach to take.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the writer and not of this platform.