12 Best Crypto Margin Trading Exchanges in 2025
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Based on our analysis of over 40 of the best crypto margin exchanges, CoinFutures won the top spot due to its high leverage limit of up to 1,000x. Moreover, all assets on CoinFutures are USDT-margined, which makes the trading process much easier to manage.
While many crypto exchanges offer margin trading services, not all will offer favorable terms. The easiest way to distinguish good from bad platforms is to pay attention to their trading terms, margin requirements, and interest rates. However, we decided to spare you the research.
Our team analyzed and tested the top platforms based on their minimum margin requirements, trading commissions, interest rates on margin, supported trading pairs, trading tools, and security features. Read on to learn which platforms made the cut and what sets them apart from the competition:
The Best Crypto Margin Trading Exchanges Compared
Take a look at how the best crypto margin trading platforms compare to each other across key metrics like margin instruments, interest rates, and unique advantages:
Exchange | Margin Instruments | Minimum Margin Requirement | Interest Rates | Best For |
CoinFutures | Futures | None | None | Overall best margin trading platform |
MEXC | Perpetual futures | 0.5% | 0.01% | Low margin requirements |
OKX | Spot margin accounts, perpetual futures, options | 1% | 0.03% | USDT-margined perpetual futures |
Binance | Delivery and perpetual futures, options | Varies | 0.03% | BTC/USDT delivery futures |
Margex | Perpetual futures | 1% | Based on the full order size | Anonymous trading |
BloFin | Perpetual futures | Varies, for example, 1% for 100x leverage | N/A | Multi-currency margin trading |
Bybit | Perpetual, delivery, and inverse futures, spot, options | 0.8% | 0.02% | Options |
PrimeXBT | CFDs and futures | 0.5% | 0.0001% | Traditional markets trading |
eToro | Crypto CFDs | 50% | $3-$5 per action | Margin trading through CFDs |
Kraken | Margin accounts and perpetual futures | 1% | 0.0003% | U.S. investors |
KuCoin | USD-margined and inverse futures, spot, leveraged tokens | 1% | 5% | Trading low-cap coins |
Phemex | Perpetual contracts, spot trading | Varies by instrument | 0.0100% | High-risk/high-reward trading |
The Top Crypto Margin Trading Platforms Reviewed
Now that you have a general idea of what the best Bitcoin margin trading platforms offer, let’s explore them in more detail. Be sure to read through each one to select the most suitable platform for you.
1. CoinFutures – Best Crypto Margin Platform For Beginners
CoinFutures is a crypto trading platform that mirrors real-time market price action through its advanced algorithm. You can wager on price movements without trading actual assets, allowing you to profit from and experience authentic market chart behavior without real market exposure.
At the time of writing, CoinFutures supports 7 assets – BTC, LTC, XRP, ETH, TRX, DOGE, and SOL. All assets are USDT-margined, meaning you’ll get to use USDT as collateral. You can also set the leverage up to 1,000x. The sign-up process is simple. You just need to download and install the CoinFutures app on your desktop or mobile (Android), enter your email and password, and choose your nickname.
Moreover, you won’t have to complete KYC verification. Once you select the price direction and leverage, you can set stop-loss and take-profit orders to automatically close your position at predetermined levels, or cash out manually whenever you’re happy with your profits or are ready to limit your risk. CoinFutures supports both crypto and fiat deposits, including credit cards, Google and Apple Pay, and PIX.
CoinFutures Key Features
- Gamified environment: This platform uses a smart algorithm that mimics the volatility of real cryptocurrencies, providing a high-speed experience without the complexity of real trading.
- High leverage: You can set the leverage up to 1,000x to amplify your potential gains.
- Simple set-up: You won’t have to complete KYC verification to start using this platform. You’ll only need to download the CoinFutures app on your desktop or mobile and create an account using your email.
Pros
- All assets are USDT-margined
- Up to 1000x leverage
- No KYC requirement
- Cash out at any time
- Supports crypto and fiat deposits
Cons
- You’ll be speculating on simulated price movements
2. MEXC – Best Crypto Margin Exchange for Low Margin Requirements
We found that MEXC is the best option if you’re looking for the lowest margin requirements. Put simply, you can trade major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin with a 0.2% margin. This means that for every $1,000 traded, you need just $2, which translates to a leverage of 500x, which makes it ideal for active traders. Although lower-cap coins come with higher margin requirements, limits are still generous.
For example, some of the best meme coins, such as Bonk, can be traded with leverage of up to 125x. All leveraged markets on MEXC are available as perpetual futures. These trade like traditional futures contracts but without an expiry date. We found that MEXC is also one of the best options for low fees.
Futures trading fees stand at 0.000% (maker) and 0.020% (taker). You’ll also get a 50% discount if you hold a minimum of 500 MX tokens for 24 consecutive hours in your spot account. Another benefit of MEXC is that it offers advanced trading tools. This includes real-time charts and technical indicators. However, these tools might not appeal to beginners. MEXC is available via standard browsers and a native app for Android and iOS.
MEXC Key Features
- Flexible leverage options. Meme coins come with up to 125x leverage, futures with up to 200x leverage, while margin trading comes with up to 10x leverage.
- Advanced trading tools. MEXC offers advanced trading tools, like real-time charts and technical indicators, drawing tools, limit orders, stop-loss mechanisms, and cross/isolated margin modes.
- Demo account. Trade futures using virtual funds – up to 50,000 USDT, 10 BTC, and 100 ETH.
Check out our in-depth MEXC review to learn all about the platform’s features.
Pros
- Minimum margin requirements of 0.5%
- Margin products offered as perpetual futures
- Competitive futures trading fees
- Up to 500x leverage on BTC and ETH futures
Cons
- Limited fiat deposit and withdrawal options
3. OKX – Best Crypto Margin Trading Platform for USDT-Margined Perpetual Futures
OKX is a popular crypto exchange boasting over 50 million global clients. This platform supports cross margin and isolated margin options. You’ll also get to use the auto-transfer mode and multi-currency cross-margin mode. The former will automatically add or remove margin when opening or closing positions, while the latter will enable you to trade spot with margin, expiry futures, perpetual futures, and options.
OKX supports crypto-margined perpetual futures and USDT-margined perpetual futures. You can open long or short positions with up to 100x leverage. Additionally, if you wish, you can use USDC and USDT as margin by enabling auto-borrow mode. We also liked the Smart Sync mode, a new copy trading feature that automatically aligns your position with the positions of leading traders.
OKX is an ideal platform for trading USDT-margined perpetual futures due to its flexible leverage limits (0.01-100x) and trading modes, which include one-way and hedge modes. OKX also offers margin accounts on smaller-cap coins but with higher requirements. For example, you can invest in Filecoin with a margin requirement of 20%. Be sure to read our comprehensive OKX review to decide if this is the best crypto margin trading platform for you.
OKX Key Features
- Auto-transfer mode. Automatically add or remove margin when opening or closing positions.
- Multi-currency cross-margin mode. Use a single margin account to trade spot, expiry futures, perpetual futures, and options.
- Flexible leverage limits. Trade crypto-margined perpetual futures and USDT-margined perpetual futures with up to 100x leverage. The maximum leverage for spot margin trading goes up to 10x for major cryptocurrencies and up to 5x for smaller coins.
Pros
- Supports margin trading with major cryptocurrencies and smaller-cap coins
- Crypto-margined perpetual futures and USDT-margined perpetual futures come with up to 100x leverage
- One-way and hedge modes
- You can use stablecoins as margin
Cons
- To be qualified for portfolio margin, you must maintain a minimum net equity of $10,000
- Not the most beginner-friendly trading platform
4. Binance – Best Crypto Exchange for Margin Trading for Delivery Futures
We found that Binance is one of the best margin platforms for delivery futures. Unlike perpetuals, delivery futures come with an expiry date. There are two markets supported, BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT. These markets support the next two trading quarters. Long and short positions are supported, and margin requirements stand at just 5%.
Binance also supports perpetual futures. Not only will you have access to a much larger range of cryptocurrencies, but also lower margin requirements. For example, BTC/USDT requires an upfront margin of just 2%. Smaller-cap coins come with higher requirements. In addition, Binance also supports options for Bitcoin and Ethereum.
What’s more, Binance recently removed the minimum wallet balance requirement for Portfolio margin accounts. This means that you’ll be able to open Portfolio margin accounts and trade USDⓈ-M Futures, COIN-M Futures, and Cross Margin products using 350+ assets as collateral. Binance offers a separate platform for US clients. However, it doesn’t support margin trading.
Binance Key Features
- Auto-transfer. You can automatically transfer your funds between spot and margin wallets. You can also use the auto-borrow feature to borrow funds when placing a margin order.
- Margin easy mode. This simplified trading mode will enable you to place orders using the auto-borrow and auto-repay functions.
- 600+ trading pairs. Binance supports 600+ margin trading pairs, including BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, and BNB/USDT. All pairs are available for isolated and cross-margin trading modes.
Pros
- Use 350+ assets as collateral
- BTC/USDT futures require an upfront margin of just 2%
- Negative equity protection
- No minimum wallet balance requirement
Cons
- The US version doesn’t support crypto margin trading
- Binance was recently fined $4 billion for money laundering offenses
5. Margex – Best Non-KYC Crypto Margin Trading Platform
Margex is a crypto exchange that offers margin trading with up to 100x leverage. You can use a wide range of tokens as collateral, from BTC and ETH to USDT and USDC. You can also use cross and isolated margin models using a single account. Furthermore, you can open an account without the need to go through KYC verification, which makes Margex one of the best anonymous crypto exchanges for trading with leverage.
Margex supports 46 trading pairs with leverage that can be set from a minimum of 5x to a maximum of 100x. The minimum margin requirement stands at 1%, while maker and taker fees amount to 0.019% and 0.060%, respectively. Margin accounts are offered via perpetual futures contracts. Coin-M futures are settled in the underlying crypto, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. Alternatively, you can trade perpetual futures that are settled in stablecoins. Options include Tether, USD Coin, and Dai.
We like that Margex offers a simulated trading dashboard. This enables you to buy and sell leveraged futures without risking any funds. The demo platform mimics live trading conditions, including volume and price action. Our Margex review found that this exchange charges trading fees of 0.06% per slide. Financing fees will also apply, but vary depending on external factors.
Margex Key Features
- Staked tokens as margin. You can use your staked tokens as margin collateral for leveraged trading.
- MP Shield™ Technology. Margex utilizes an AI-based system to ensure fair liquidations.
- Margin slider. A tool that will automatically calculate the percentage of your available balance to be used in a trade.
Have a look at our hands-on Margex review for more info about its features and trading products.
Pros
- Trade crypto with a minimum margin requirement of 1%
- No KYC requirements when opening an account
- Perpetual futures can be settled in the underlying crypto asset
- Up to 100x leverage
Cons
- Not available to residents of the US, Canada, or Hong Kong
- Doesn’t support spot margin trading
6. BloFin – Best Crypto Exchange for Multi-Currency Margin Trading
BloFin is a margin trading platform that supports 530+ futures trading pairs with up to 150x leverage. You can trade popular coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, or less popular but highly volatile cryptocurrencies like HMSTR or MOTHER. If your account has a balance of 10,000 USDT or more, you can use a multi-currency margin mode. This mode will enable you to trade perpetual futures by using multiple cryptocurrencies as collateral. The collateral will be valued in USD, and margin obligations will be settled in different currencies.
BloFin is also one of the few platforms that offer a fully unified trading account, which will enable you to manage spot and perpetual futures trades using a single interface. Moreover, BloFin doesn’t require KYC, meaning you can sign up and start trading using your email. You can practice your trading skills by opening a demo account that supports spot, futures, Webhook trading, and API trading.
The minimum margin requirement will depend on the leverage. For example, if you use 100x leverage, the minimum margin requirement will be 1%, which means that you’ll be able to open a $1,000 position by depositing $10. Check out our extensive Blofin review to learn more about its products and services.
BloFin Key Features
- Cross-currency margin mode. This mode will allow you to use multiple asset types as collateral. All sub-accounts support this mode. However, you’ll need to have 10,000 USDT in your account to switch to this mode.
- Fully unified trading account. You can use a single account to trade spot and futures pairs.
- Demo account. You can use virtual funds to practice your trading skills. This account supports spot, futures, Webhook, and API trading.
Pros
- 530+ futures trading pairs with up to 150x leverage
- Supports multiple margin modes (isolated, cross, portfolio, and multi-currency)
- No KYC
- Asset custody with Fireblocks
Cons
- 10,000 USDT balance requirement for the cross-currency margin mode
- Not regulated
7. Bybit – Best Crypto Margin Trading Platform For Options
Bybit is one of the best crypto exchanges for options trading. You’ll get to trade European-style options with 0.02% fees. You’ll also be able to open a unified account that combines spot, perpetuals, futures, and options with cross margin. Moreover, you can use 70 assets as collateral, including USDT, USDC, BTC, and ETH.
Bybit offers spot margin trading with up to 10x leverage on pairs like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, and SOL/USDT. You’ll be able to use three margin modes, isolated, cross, and portfolio, under a single account. Bybit is an attractive option for crypto beginners who will be able to benefit from its Learn section, trading bots, and demo account. What’s more, Bybit uses a Margin Insurance Fund (MAF) to cover your losses in the event of a forced liquidation.
If you want to invest in new tokens, you should check Bybit’s pre-market OTC platform, which will allow you to buy new coins before they get listed on major exchanges. You can also trade perpetual contracts on upcoming tokens.
Bybit Key Features
- Unrealized profits as margin. Bybit will enable you to use your unrealized profits from derivatives trading as margin. This will allow you to keep your position open without increasing your initial investment.
- Margin Insurance Fund (MAF). This fund will cover your losses in case of forced liquidation.
- Integration with TradingView. Buy and sell crypto directly from TradingView charts and gain access to 400+ pre-built indicators.
Pros
- Trade European-style options with 0.02% fees
- Use 70 assets as collateral
- Spot margin trading with up to 10x leverage
- 9 expiration options for BTC and ETH contracts
Cons
- Bybit no longer serves UK clients due to an FCA warning
- 2% liquidation fee on spot margin trading
8. PrimeXBT – Top Crypto Margin Exchange for Trading Traditional Markets
PrimeXBT is an exchange that will enable you to trade crypto futures, forex, indices, commodities, shares, and crypto CFDs. This platform supports cross margin and isolated margin models. You’ll be able to use both models to trade perpetual contracts, while the cross margin model is only available for trading crypto, forex, indices, and commodities. PrimeXBT offers up to 200x leverage for crypto margin trading, which means you’ll get to open a $10,000 position with an account balance of just $50.
We noticed that PrimeXBT has two margin call thresholds, which is not common among crypto brokers. The first margin call will be triggered when your margin drops to 16.7%, while the second will be activated when your margin level drops to 9%. PrimeXBT also offers negative balance protection, which means that your losses will never exceed your initial investment. What’s more, you’ll get to practice your trading skills with $10,000 virtual funds.
PrimeXBT charges a 0.5% fee for cryptocurrency trades, while trading indices, commodities, forex, and shares incur zero fees. You can trade CFDs on its proprietary WebTrader and app and MetaTrader 5. On the downside, the platform doesn’t support spot margin trading.
PrimeXBT Key Features
- Two retail account types. You can open two accounts on PrimeXBT – Forex & CFD and Crypto Futures account. The minimum deposit requirement stands at $10.
- Demo account. Trade CFDs and crypto futures with $10,000 virtual funds. The demo account is available on desktop, iOS, and Android devices.
- Multi-asset support. PrimeXBT supports a wide range of assets, including cryptocurrencies (0.5% margin), forex (0.1% margin), commodities (1% margin), and indices (1% margin).
Pros
- Up to 200x leverage for crypto margin trading
- Demo account with $10,000 virtual funds
- Two margin call thresholds
- Negative balance protection
- Low minimum margin requirement
Cons
- Doesn’t accept US clients
- Doesn’t support spot margin trading
9. eToro – Best Crypto Margin Exchange for CFDs
eToro is one of the few trading platforms regulated by FINRA, CySEC, FCA, and ASIC, which means it adheres to the laws of the EU, UK, U.S., and Australia. The platform supports over 7,000 instruments, from stocks and ETFs to commodities, indices, fiat, and cryptocurrencies. eToro also offers margin trading through CFDs (Contracts for Difference).
The maximum leverage limit is based on the asset class. On that note, the leverage can go up to 30:1 for major crypto pairs, 10:1 for commodities (other than gold), and 5:1 for individual equities. The minimum margin requirement stands at 50%, which is a bit high. Like PrimeXBT, eToro will offer you to practice your skills via its demo account. However, instead of $10,000, you’ll get to use $100,000 virtual funds. You’ll also have the opportunity to use its maintenance margin feature to extend your stop loss level.
The minimum trade size for stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies stands at $10, while for fiat, commodities, and indices, this figure stands at $1,000. Keep in mind that eToro’s crypto trading services won’t be available to users from NY, NV, HI, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Check out our eToro review for a full overview of the platform and its strengths and weaknesses.
eToro Key Features
- Maintenance margin feature. You’ll get to extend your Stop Loss level beyond the maximum limit.
- Three account types. eToro offers three account types: Personal (retail), Professional, and Corporate accounts. All three accounts come with eToro’s virtual portfolio (demo account).
- Professional tools. eToro supports TradingView charts, risk management tools (take-profit and trailing stop-loss), zero balance protection, and price alerts.
Pros
- Supports 7,000+ instruments
- Supports 80+ USD-denominated pairs
- Margin trading through CFDs
- Regulated by FINRA, CySEC, FCA, and ASIC
- Minimum account requirements start from $10
Cons
- High minimum margin requirement
- Margin facilities banned in some countries – including the US/UK
10. Kraken – Best Crypto Margin Exchange for High-Volume Traders
Consider Kraken if you want to trade crypto with margin but aren’t interested in derivatives. It offers leverage of up to 5x on various cryptocurrencies from the spot trading markets. 5x leverage, converting to a 20% margin requirement, is available on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and XRP.
You’ll get either 3x or 4x on other popular altcoins. This includes Solana, Avalanche, Cardano, Chainlink, and Polygon. Leveraged accounts must be traded on the Kraken Pro dashboard. This is an advanced trading portal that comes with plenty of analysis features, including technical indicators and drawing tools.
In terms of fees, you’ll pay between 0.02% and 0.04% to open a position. This drops to 0.01% and 0.02% when trading Bitcoin. In addition to leveraged accounts, Kraken also offers futures trading. This marketplace comes with higher leverage limits of up to 50x. The margin allowance limit for USD stands at 20,000,000, which makes Kraken ideal for high-volume traders. Kraken is also available in all U.S. states (except for Maine, New York, and Washington).
Kraken Key Features
- 5x leverage. You can trade 150+ margin-enabled markets with up to 5x leverage. You can also match margin trades with low slippage and tight spreads.
- Unified account. You can trade spot, margin, and futures pairs using a single web account and companion app.
- Custom layouts. You can personalize your interface using popular presets with simple and advanced layouts or create your own interface using 16 different widgets.
Pros
- 150+ margin-enabled markets with up to 5x leverage
- High margin allowance limit
- Competitive margin trading fees
- Integrated margin trading tool
Cons
- Charges up to 0.02% on margin trades every four hours
- US traders need to meet certain eligibility requirements to qualify for margin trading
11. KuCoin – Popular Crypto Exchange to Trade Low-Cap Altcoins With Margin
KuCoin is one of the best options for trading altcoins with margin. This tier-one exchange supports over 900 altcoins and 420+ futures contracts. KuCoin supports spot margin trading with two margin modes, cross margin (up to 5x leverage) and isolated margin (up to 10x leverage).
You’ll also get to trade two different types of futures, USD-margined and inverse contracts. The maximum leverage for futures stands at 100x. This will enable you to trade Bitcoin with a 1% margin. While altcoins come with lower limits, many still offer leverage of 30x. This translates to a margin requirement of just over 3.3%
KuCoin also supports leveraged tokens. The benefit here is that users aren’t required to borrow funds. As such, no financing fees apply. What we liked most about KuCoin is its margin trading events and promotions. On that note, you can earn daily rewards and margin interest-free coupons by completing different tasks.
KuCoin Key Features
- Auto-borrow and auto-repay. The auto-borrow function will automatically borrow the required currency and amount for you, while the auto-repay function will automatically use the assets received from selling to repay liabilities.
- Margin trading events. KuCoin frequently organizes events for margin trading, which will enable you to earn daily rewards and benefits, such as margin interest-free coupons.
- Trading bots. KuCoin offers six types of trading bots: spot grid, futures grid, infinity grid, spot martingale, smart rebalance, and DCA bots. You’ll be able to use these bots to automate your trading strategies.
Pros
- Trade USD-margined and inverse futures contracts
- Minimum margin requirement of 1%
- A great option for trading leveraged altcoins
Cons
- The margin trading interface is difficult to navigate
- You’ll have to pay a 15% fee on your lending interest
- KuCoin had to exit the US market in 2025 due to legal issues
12. Phemex – Best Crypto Exchange to Trade High-Risk/High-Reward Coins With Margin
Phemex is a popular Singapore-based trading platform that offers margin trading on spot and futures markets. You can trade over 200 crypto pairs with up to 5x leverage and more than 460 futures pairs with up to 100x leverage. You can also use or create futures grid, futures martingale, and spot grid bots to automate your trades.
Phemex recently launched a Pilot Zone for high-risk perpetual trading, which will enable you to gain access to early-stage projects with high potential and boost your returns with leverage. We also liked the Phemex Lending Protocol, a service that will allow you to borrow crypto by using your existing crypto holdings as collateral.
The fees on Phemex are very low compared to other exchanges. For spot trading, there’s a 0.1% fee for makers and takers. For futures, it’s even less at 0.01% for makers and 0.06% for takers. Like its competitors, Phemex uses both isolated and cross margin modes. However, the daily trading limit stands at $50,000, while the trading limit per order varies between $1 and $10,000, which makes Phemex unsuitable for high-frequency institutional traders.
Phemex Key Features
- Partial liquidation. Phemex supports partial liquidations, which means that if your margin level returns to a safe level during liquidation, the liquidation process will stop.
- Native token. $PT token holders will gain many benefits, from trading fee discounts to cash airdrops. They’ll also gain access to Phemex’s launchpad and launchpool platforms.
- Learn & Earn program. You can earn rewards by watching videos and completing quizzes. However, you’ll only be able to access rewards if you complete KYC verification.
Pros
- 200+ crypto pairs with up to 5x leverage and 460+ futures pairs with up to 100x leverage
- Borrow crypto by using your existing crypto holdings as collateral
- Competitive maker and taker fees
Cons
- 2% liquidation fee
- Unavailable in the US and UK
- KYC verification is mandatory for fiat withdrawals and rewards
Methodology: How We Selected The Best Crypto Margin Trading Exchanges
An increasing number of crypto exchanges are offering margin facilities. This means traders have many options when choosing a provider. So, we followed a rigorous, hands-on evaluation methodology to ensure we’re only recommending top options:
Lowest Margin Requirements (25%)
We found that crypto traders favor platforms with the lowest margin requirements. In a nutshell, the lower the requirement, the more you can trade with. For example, if a platform offers a 500x margin, you can open a $5,000 position with just $10, which lowers the entry bar for newcomers and low-volume traders. As a result, exchanges with higher leverage limits scored better in our book.
Highest Security (25%)
Robust security is crucial, regardless of whether you’re trading margin or spot. We evaluated the security measures of each exchange on our list, from proof of reserves through cold storage for user funds to account safety features, such as 2FA, passkey support, and anti-phishing codes.
Most Crypto Trading Pairs (20%)
We also explored what crypto pairs can be traded with margin. Platforms with the largest selection of markets were prioritized. For example, if you’re looking to trade medium and large-cap coins against the US dollar, Binance and OKX are excellent options.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to trade smaller-cap coins with margin, MEXC is the best option. It has low margin requirements on many up-and-coming coins. This includes meme coins, layer two projects, BRC-20 tokens, and more.
Best Trading Tools (20%)
Margin trading is a short-term investment strategy. This means you’ll need access to analysis and research tools. Otherwise, you won’t be able to speculate on market prices with any conviction.
Some of the most important tools we looked for include:
- Reliable Pricing Charts: At a minimum, the margin crypto trading platform should offer reliable pricing charts. This means prices should mirror live market conditions in real-time. Any delays between order placement and chart movements will mean you’re constantly one step behind the broader markets.
- In-Depth Order Books: It’s also important that you have access to in-depth order books. This will allow you to see what buy and sell orders have been placed on the platform. Order books give you insights into which way the markets might swing.
- Multiple Order Types: Seasoned margin traders use a wide range of order types. This enables them to enter and exit the market at the best prices possible. Look for margin platforms offering limit, stop-loss, take-profit, trailing stop-loss, and good-to-canceled orders.
- Technical Indicators: The best trading platforms offer technical indicators like the MACD, Stochastic Oscillator, Relative Strength Index, and Moving Averages. In addition to drawing tools, these indicators will help you predict market movements.
Lowest Interest Rates on Margin (10%)
Beginners are often unaware that they need to pay additional fees when trading with margin. This is because you’re borrowing funds from the margin platform. As such, you’ll need to pay financing fees. That’s exactly why exchanges like MEXC and Binance scored high during our testing, as interest rates are below the industry average.
What is Crypto Margin Trading?
Crypto margin trading is a way to amplify your investment stakes. This is because you’ll be trading with more than you have in your account. Margin is essentially a loan between you and the crypto exchange. This means you’ll pay interest while the margin trade remains open. Margin is expressed as a percentage. This is how much you must put up front to execute the position.
- For example, suppose your chosen exchange has a minimum margin requirement of 2%.
- You want to trade $20,000 worth of Bitcoin.
- In this instance, you’d only need $400, which is 2% of the $20,000 position.
- Put otherwise, you’ve applied crypto leverage of 50x on this trade ($400 x 50 = $20,000).
Crypto margin can be accessed in various ways. Most traders opt for perpetual futures, as some platforms offer leverage of over 100x. Options are another way to trade with margin, as you’re only required to pay a small premium to execute the trade. You can also trade with CFDs, which mimic spot trading prices.
Before opening a margin trading account, make sure you’ve considered the risks. The exchange will close your position if it declines by too much. This is known as ‘liquidation’. As we explain in more detail later, the lower the margin requirement, the higher the liquidation risk. Being liquidated means you lose your entire stake.
How Does Crypto Margin Trading Work?
Let’s take a closer look at how crypto margin trading works. First, let’s explain the difference between ‘margin’ and ‘leverage’. You must understand how these terms work before proceeding.
- Margin: This is the amount of money you need to put up to execute the trade. Margin is expressed as a percentage. For example, a $100 trade with a 1% margin requirement means you need just $1 in your account.
- Leverage: Expressed as a multiple, leverage is the amount you’re amplifying your initial stake by. It’s essentially the opposite of a margin requirement. For instance, a $1 margin with 100x leverage allows you to open a $100 position.
As the above example shows, margin and leverage are connected.
Let’s look at a more detailed example to clear the mist:
- Let’s say you want to trade Ethereum. You want to go long on ETH/USD, but you only have $500 in your account.
- Fortunately, the exchange has a minimum margin requirement of just 2% on ETH/USD.
- So, a 2% margin requirement gets you 50x leverage.
- For instance, suppose you entered a $25,000 buy order. A 2% margin would amount to just $500, which aligns with your balance.
Now let’s see how margin can amplify your profits when speculating correctly:
- You went long on a $25,000 ETH/USD position.
- One week has passed, and ETH/USD has increased by 20%
- This means your $25,000 position is now worth $30,000, resulting in a $5,000 gain
If you had traded without margin, your ETH/USD position would have been worth just $500. So, 20% gains would have meant a $100 profit. In contrast, trading with a 2% margin secured a $5,000 gain.
Crypto Margin vs Spot Trading
Spot trading includes buying or selling cryptocurrencies on the spot, that is, at their current market price. On the other hand, margin trading includes borrowing funds to open long or short positions with leverage. Using leverage can boost your potential profits as well as losses. Moreover, borrowing funds includes paying interest.
To open a margin position, you’ll first need to commit margin, which serves as collateral. For example, to open a $20,000 position with 10x leverage, you’ll need to deposit $2,000 as margin. This rule doesn’t apply to opening a spot trading account since you’ll use your own funds to buy/sell crypto without the need to provide collateral. This makes spot trading more suitable for beginners.
Spot Trading | Margin Trading | |
Definition | Buying/selling crypto at their current market price | Borrowing funds to open long or short positions with leverage |
Leverage | No | Yes (e.g., 2x, 5x, 10x) |
Potential Returns | Potential returns will depend on the price increase of the asset you hold | Amplified returns (depending on the used leverage) |
Risk Level | Low | High |
Complexity | Simple (suitable for beginners) | More complex (suitable for experienced traders) |
Fees | Maker/taker | Maker/taker, interest, funding rates, liquidation fees, rollover fees |
The Advantages of Crypto Margin Trading
The benefits of trading crypto with margin are summarized in the following sections:
Increased Market Exposure
The main advantage of crypto margin trading is that you can amplify your market exposure. For example, suppose you’ve got $1,000 to invest. Now that Bitcoin has set a new all-time high, you want to enter a long position.
You deposit the $1,000 into a margin trading account. The minimum margin requirement on BTC/USD is 1%. This means your $1,000 deposit allows you to enter a long position worth $100,000 (1% of $100,000 = $1,000).
Now, suppose BTC/USD increases by 50%. On a $100,000 margin position, you’ve made $50,000. Had you only invested your $1,000 account balance, you would have made just $500.
Short Selling Opportunities
Most margin trading products are derivatives. This means you don’t own the underlying asset. The benefit is that derivatives can be traded long or short. As such, you can make money if the price of a crypto pair declines.
- For example, let’s say Ethereum has peaked at $5,000.
- You believe that a market correction is likely.
- Therefore, you place a sell order on ETH/USD CFD at MEXC.
- If ETH/USD declines by 10%, you’d make a 10% profit.
This wouldn’t be possible when trading the spot markets.
Hedging Against Risks
Margin trading products are also ideal for hedging.
- For example, suppose you’re currently invested in XRP.
- While you’re anticipating Altcoin season, you want to avoid selling. However, you’re spotting some weakness in the price action.
- In this instance, you could purchase some XRP/USD put options.
- If the XRP price rises, your original XRP investment will rise as well, while the XRP puts will decline.
- If the price declines after some bad news, the XRP puts will rise, while your original investment will decline.
- The outcomes in both scenarios offset one another.
Hedging without margin products like options, futures, or CFDs is challenging. This is because spot markets do not support short-selling.
Do I Need a Credit Check When Margin Trading?
We’ve established that crypto margin trading requires traders to borrow funds from their exchange platform. In turn, you’ll pay interest on any capital borrowed.
However, unlike a traditional loan, margin trading platforms don’t require credit checks. This is because the margin trade will be liquidated if it declines by a certain amount. As such, there is no risk for the exchange offering when offering margin.
The Risks of Crypto Margin Trading
Margin trading is very risky. Consider the following risks before proceeding.
Magnified Losses
Margin trading can amplify your trading profits. However, it will also amplify your losses. Therefore, when trades don’t go to plan, you could lose a lot more than you had anticipated.
- For example, suppose you’re long on LTC/USD futures.
- You put up a 10% margin, meaning you’re trading with 10x leverage. Your margin stake is $1,000.
- The LTC/USD futures have declined by 25%.
- You’d be looking at a $250 loss without margin (25% of a $1,000 stake).
- However, you traded with a 10% margin, so your $250 loss is amplified by 10. This means you’ve lost $2,500.
As we cover next, your margin trade could be liquidated before losses get out of hand. This means you’d lose your entire stake.
Liquidation Risk
The biggest risk when trading crypto with margin is being liquidated. This is a term that you must understand. In simple terms, liquidation happens when your margin trade declines by a certain percentage.
This means the exchange closes the position on your behalf. In turn, you lose the initial margin that you put up.
- The liquidation point will depend on how much margin you’re trading with.
- For example, if you’re trading with a 5% margin, and the position declines by 5%, you’ll likely be liquidated by the exchange.
- The lower the margin requirement, the higher the liquidation potential.
- For instance, if you’re trading with a 1% margin, the position only needs to decline by 1% before you’re liquidated.
As you get closer to the liquidation point, you should receive a margin call. This will be a notification or email from the exchange. The margin call allows you to add more margin to your account. This gives you additional breathing space.
Interest Costs
Margin trading can be a costly strategy. This is due to financing costs. Some margin platforms charge an overnight fee. This means you’re charged for each day the position remains open.
Other platforms, such as Kraken, charge a financing fee every four hours. Either way, the more capital you borrow from the exchange, the more you’re paying in interest. This will eat away at your potential profits.
High Complexity
Trading cryptocurrencies with margin is best left for experienced traders. After all, margin products are typically backed by complex derivatives. Beginners could lose a lot of money without a firm understanding of how these derivatives work.
How to Start Crypto Margin Trading: Step-by-Step
Read on for a step-by-step walkthrough on how to trade crypto with margin. We’ll use CoinFutures for this guide, as the platform is suitable for both beginners and experienced traders.
Step 1: Download The CoinFutures App
Visit CoinFuture’s official website and click on the Download button to install the app on your desktop or mobile. The app is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Android. Create an account by entering your email, password, and nickname.
Step 2: Make a Deposit
Fund your account with crypto, such as USDT, USDC, ETH, BTC, BNB, SOL, or fiat. You can also use a credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PIX to make a deposit.
Step 3. Place Your Trade
Open the crypto futures tab and select the crypto you wish to use to make a price prediction. You can choose between BTC, LTC, XRP, ETH, TRX, DOGE, and SOL. Click on the Up or Down icon to select the price direction. Choose the Up option if you believe that the price of your coin will go up or the Down option if you think its price will drop. Set the wager, leverage, and mode (auto or manual), and click on the Place Bet button.
Now all you need to do is monitor your trade and press the Cash-out button once you’re happy with your gains, or wait for your take-profit or stop-loss level to hit.
Visit CoinFuturesBest Practices for Margin Trading Crypto
Following some best practices will ensure your margin trading career is a success from the get-go. Here are some tips to get you started:
Educate Yourself Before Trading
Educating yourself on how crypto margin works is crucial. Learn about the different margin products in the market, such as perpetual futures and CFDs. Understand how their prices correlate with the spot trading markets.
You should also understand how margin calls and liquidation work, and what risk management tools can help you avoid large losses. You should also educate yourself on technical analysis and charting tools.
Utilize Risk Management
Margin trading should only be considered alongside a sensible risk management strategy. This means protecting your trading bankroll at all times.
For example, consider capping your maximum trade size to 1%. So, if your bankroll is $1,000, never risk more than $10. You should limit how much margin you deploy. For instance, consider starting with just 50%.
This will enable you to trade with twice your margin balance. What’s more, with a 50% margin, you can greatly reduce the risk of being liquidated. You can reduce the margin percentage once you become more comfortable with how things work.
Choose a Trustworthy Exchange
It’s also important to use a trustworthy exchange when trading with margin. For example, one of our top picks, PrimeXBT, is regulated and licensed by the FSA, FSCA, BCR, and FSC, which means it adheres to the laws and regulations of various jurisdictions. Moreover, PrimeXBT uses cold storage and multisignature technology to keep your funds safe.
If you’re using a traditional exchange, make sure it has audited proof of reserves. This ensures the exchange has enough capital to operate effectively, including covering client deposits 1:1.
Use Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Orders
Stop-loss orders should always be used when trading crypto. And even more so when trading with leverage. Stop-loss orders ensure you avoid losing too much on a single trade. For example, suppose you go long on BTC/USD. You deploy a stop-loss order at 5%. This means no matter how low BTC/USD trades, you can only lose 5%.
Take-profit orders should also be considered. These close your margin trade when you hit your profit target. For example, you might want to make 25% gains. Simply add 25% to the entry price and deploy a take-profit order. If the target price is executed, the trade will be closed.
Conclusion: What is The Best Crypto Margin Trading Exchange in 2025?
While margin trading allows you to increase your crypto market exposure, it can also amplify your potential losses, which is why this trading strategy is not recommended for beginners. Namely, if your margin drops below the required level, your entire position could be liquidated.
However, if you’re ready to start trading crypto with margin, consider CoinFutures. This price-predicting platform offers up to 1000x leverage, which means you can open a $10,000 position with just $10. Moreover, all assets on CoinFutures are USDT-margined, which will enable you to use Tehter as collateral.
FAQs
What is the best crypto margin trading exchange in the US?
Is crypto margin trading risky?
Is crypto margin trading legal?
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References
- What Is a Contract for Difference (CFD)? (CoinMarketCap)
- US seeks more than $4 billion from Binance to end criminal case (Bloomberg)
- What Is Liquidation? (CoinMarketCap)
- Bybit Flees UK Due to Regulations: Exchange Previously Said it Would Not Leave (CNN)
- KuCoin Announces Settlement with the DOJ, Ushering in a New Chapter of Compliance and Growth (PR Newswire)
- What is market cap? (Coinbase)
- What is two-factor authentication? (Microsoft)
- Bitcoin hits all-time high as crypto industry notches political wins (PBS)
- What Is a Margin Call? (CoinMarketCap)
- Regulation and Licensing (PrimeXBT)
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