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A Guide to Crypto Margin Trading: Definition, Pros, and Cons

By May 17, 2021February 9th, 20244 minute read

Crypto lovers over the years have reveled in crypto margin trading. The margin trading crypto exchanges enable them to borrow additional funds and open larger trades. Efficient and risk-controlled margin trading can amplify your profits for a set capital. Other than the opportunity to trade on borrowed money, traders take a long view of the asset under consideration and short-sell it.

Here is everything that you need to know about margin trading crypto in India.

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Intro to margin trading cryptocurrency

Margin trading is a trading strategy that involves investing assets borrowed from a broker(third party). 

It allows the trader access to more outstanding sums of capital, allowing them to leverage their positions. However, margin trading cryptocurrency is also risky, as an unlucky trade makes the trader liable for the complete loss. 

Margin trading cryptocurrency boosts trading results so that traders can receive more profits on successful trades. It is prevalent in low-volatility markets, especially the international Forex market, since price movements are easily predicted. Stock, commodity, and cryptocurrency markets also have margin trading options in India.

margin trading cryptocurrency

Margin trading has higher risks in the matters of cryptocurrencies. Owing to the high levels of volatility in these markets, cryptocurrency margin traders should be cautious, and crypto beginners – watch before you jump in.

Interpreting charts, recognizing trends, and determining entry and exit points only help to anticipate risks and trade better and more effectively, not eliminate the risks. 

Before you leverage cryptocurrency trades, acquire an intense understanding of technical analysis and spot trading experience.

Definition, purpose, usage

Crypto margin trading might be overwhelming at the beginning. As said above, the concept allows traders to acquire capital and access enhanced buying power more than their existing account balance. 

A trader provides the exchange platform some capital in exchange for another type of capital and profits from it.

Initially, a trader must give a deposit to open a position, an initial margin. He must keep a certain amount of capital in their account to maintain the position. 

In cryptocurrency exchange or lending platforms, the capital you deposit is held as collateral by the platform. The amount you’re able to leverage for margin trading depends on the margin trading rules imposed by the platform you trade with and the initial deposit.

Terms to know:

Collateral

The funds you hold in your margin account assure the broker that you can pay off your debt.

Margin call

It is a demand from your broker to add more funds to your margin account—and in case you fail, they can forcibly sell your crypto positions.

Stop-limit order

This conditional trade requires you to set a stop, start, limit the trade’s target price, and a timeframe where the order is executable. Your trade is filled when you want. If the price goes up or down, depending on your preferences, the trade is canceled.

Stop-loss order

Similar to a stop-limit, it is a handy tool for leverage trading. A stop-loss order lets you fix the limit till which you can take a loss. If you fix it to 5% and the asset’s price falls to that amount or more, it is sold immediately, so you incur only a 5% loss.

Trailing stop

This is a type of stop-loss order that can lock in profits. This is beneficial for anyone who wants to let emotion take a backseat when deciding when to exit a position.

Margin vs. leverage

Margin is the percentage of the total order that the trader has to commit. Margin refers to the loan your margin trading crypto exchange grants you to place larger trades. The funds collateralize this loan in your account, and you will need to pay it back with interest.

Leverage is the borrowed money the trader uses to make up for the difference between your margin and the order total. 

Traders use margin to create leverage-the increased buying power that allows you to open more prominent positions than the funds in your account would allow. Leverage is expressed as a ratio, such as 2:1 or 5:1.

Pros and cons

The most significant advantage of crypto margin trading is its profit potential. 

Let’s say you go for 100x leverage. If your margin is 10 BTC and the trade is victorious, your profit will be like you invested 1000 BTC. 

Most margin trading platforms will let you choose the leverage amount you’re most comfortable with and work from there. The trader gets to decide what leverage you want to use. Margin trading lets traders open many positions with small investment capital. 

Having a margin account makes it easier for traders to open positions without shifting large sums of money to their accounts.

The biggest drawback is if your trade is unsuccessful and you lose funds, you still have to pay your broker back. If the loss is a lot to take in, you risk dissipating everything you have. 

Here the stop-loss orders come into play—knowing how to use the tools at your disposal is of prime concern. Unlike regular spot trading, margin trading carries with it the odds of losses that exceed a trader’s initial investment. Hence it is regarded as a high-risk trading method. Depending on the amount of leverage involved in a trade, even a tiny drop in the market price may cause substantial losses for traders.

What to keep in mind

Unquestionably, margin trading is a valuable tool for those looking to magnify the profits from successful trades. 

If used properly, the leveraged trading presented by margin accounts can assist in both profitability and portfolio diversification.
When margin trading on WazirX, there may be a fee or interest on the borrowed amount- don’t worry, you can pay it using WRX tokens.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Invest In Cryptocurrency Stocks?

Cryptocurrency can be purchased in two ways: through mining or exchanges. The process of confirming and adding transactions to the blockchain public ledger is known as cryptocurrency mining. Cryptocurrency exchanges are another option. Exchanges make money by charging transaction fees, but there are alternative platforms where you may communicate directly with other cryptocurrency traders.

Which Cryptocurrency Is Best To Invest In 2021?

Many altcoins are flourishing to invest in. Some cryptocurrencies with great potential are Ether, Ripple, Tron, and more. Investors are trying to diversify their portfolios and are flocking to the leading cryptocurrencies. Many growing businesses are already accepting cryptocurrency as acceptable payment methods.

What Is Virtual Currency?

Virtual currency is a type of uncontrolled digital currency that can only be used online. It is exclusively stored and transacted using designated software, mobile or computer applications, or unique digital wallets, and all transactions are conducted through secure, dedicated networks. Because digital currency is just currency issued by a bank in digital form, virtual currency is not the same as a digital currency. Virtual currency, unlike ordinary money, is based on a trust structure and cannot be issued by a central bank or other banking regulatory organization.

Is Mining Cryptocurrency Legal?

Cryptocurrency mining can be time-consuming, expensive, and sporadically profitable. Mining has an appeal for many cryptocurrency enthusiasts as miners are paid directly with crypto tokens for their efforts. The legality of cryptocurrency mining is dependent on where you live. In India, there is no restriction on crypto mining.

Is Cryptocurrency Banned In India?

No, cryptocurrency is not banned in India. India has seen its ups and downs in the crypto sector concerning its legal status. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a circular in April 2018 advising all organizations under its jurisdiction not to trade in virtual currencies or provide services to assist anyone in dealing with or settling them. A government committee proposed outlawing all private cryptocurrencies in mid-2019, with up to ten years in prison and severe penalties for anyone dealing in digital currency. The Supreme Court overruled the RBI's circular in March 2020, allowing banks to undertake cryptocurrency transactions from dealers and exchanges.

Are Cryptocurrencies Legal In India?

In India, cryptocurrency is legal, and anyone can buy, sell, and trade it. Because India lacks a regulatory system to regulate its operations, it is presently uncontrolled. According to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, companies must now document their crypto trading/investments inside the financial year.

What Is Cryptocurrency?

A cryptocurrency is a digital currency secured by encryption, due to which chances of activities such as counterfeiting and double-spending taking place get close to impossible. Cryptocurrencies get created on blockchain technology ( a distributed ledger enforced by a distributed network of computers). Cryptocurrencies are unique in that they do not get issued by any central authority. The term "cryptocurrency" comes from the encryption techniques used to keep digital currencies and the network safe.

Is Crypto Legal In India?

Cryptocurrencies are legal in India, and anyone can purchase, sell, and exchange them. It is currently uncontrolled, as India lacks a regulatory structure to oversee its operations. Per the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, companies must now record their crypto trading/investments within the financial year. In cases where a person receiving the gains is an Indian tax resident, or the cryptocurrency is regarded as domiciled in India, cryptocurrency transactions have been taxable in India

Are Cryptocurrencies A Good Investment?

Cryptocurrency has the potential to make you extremely wealthy, and the potential to cause you to lose your money. Crypto assets, like any other investment, come with many risks and potential rewards. Fundamentally, cryptocurrency is an excellent investment, particularly if you want to gain direct exposure to the demand for digital currency.

Is Bitcoin And Cryptocurrency The Same Thing?

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that was designed to facilitate cross-border transactions, eliminate government control over transactions, and streamline the entire process without third-party intermediaries. The absence of intermediaries has resulted in a significant reduction in transaction costs. Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, created the first cryptocurrency in 2008. It began as open-source software for money transfers. Since then, plenty of cryptocurrencies have emerged, with some focusing on specific fields.

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency is not a legal tender and is currently unregulated. Kindly ensure that you undertake sufficient risk assessment when trading cryptocurrencies as they are often subject to high price volatility. The information provided in this section doesn't represent any investment advice or WazirX's official position. WazirX reserves the right in its sole discretion to amend or change this blog post at any time and for any reasons without prior notice.
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