how to short bitcoin

The basic idea behind shorting Bitcoin, or any other traded asset, is simple. In the growing cryptocurrency market, so shorting is a common investment strategy in traditional markets. This allows traders to speculate on declining values.

The most widely used digital asset, Bitcoin (BTC), is also the most commonly shorted cryptocurrency. Short selling, sometimes known as “shorting,” is an investing technique where a speculator seeks to profit from a decline in the price of an asset. Let’s discover more about bitcoin shorting.

Shorting Bitcoin

In essence, if a trader thinks that the price of an asset will decrease in the future, they can take short positions by borrowing the asset from a broker, selling it at the present price, and then purchasing it back after the price has decreased. Thus, the price differential would result in a profit for the trader.

What Does Short Bitcoin Mean?

A trader must sell an asset they own to repurchase it at a cheaper cost. Now, if the asset you sell is yours, buying it again later won’t make you any money. You get to keep the difference, which is regarded as a profit if the asset is borrowed at a higher price and returned at a lower price.

What is the Best Way to Short Bitcoin?

Spot margin trading, options trading, and futures derivatives trading are a few of the popular methods traders position themselves to profit from a falling Bitcoin price.

a) Futures Derivatives Trading
The Bitcoin futures market enables parties to enter into settlement contracts under which either side will purchase or sell the asset at a fixed time and price. The contract must be settled by the parties by the terms outlined in the agreement.

So, the best course of action for a trader wishing to short Bitcoin is to take the sell side of the futures contract and consent to sell BTC to the buyer at a specific price. Then, they will purchase the asset at the market on the settlement date and time and sell it at a higher price if they believe the price of Bitcoin will drop below that predetermined level.

b) Options Trading

Options are contractual agreements between parties to a transaction that permits settlement on a predetermined price within a given time frame (also called the strike price.) Depending on their trading tactics, investors have two sets of choices from which to select.

So, the right to purchase Bitcoin at the strike price is provided through call options, which normally increase in value when the price of Bitcoin increases. When the market is bullish, these options are used.

Put options, however, allow the holder the opportunity to sell Bitcoin at the strike price, which is ideally less than the current price. As the price of BTC declines, the value of this contract increases.

c) Spot Margin Trading

An increasing number of bitcoin trading platforms now provide spot margin trading as a service. It entails purchasing and selling digital assets while leveraging the fast settlement offered by these brokers (i.e., on the spot).

So, after a trader shorts BTC using margin trading, they often borrow the assets from their broker and sell them. Then, purchase them back when the value of the assets has (expectedly) decreased. By keeping the difference between the sell and buy prices of the borrowed coins, they will thereby generate a profit.

Moreover, the simplest way to short Bitcoin is through margin trading. Compared to the other techniques, it symbolizes the principle of short selling that is most simply implemented.

Where to Short Bitcoin?

There are numerous ways to short bitcoin, each with its level of complexity, risk, and reward. All of the ensuing methods fall under the category of derivative trading strategies, except the traditional method of shorting via an exchange.

The most well-liked method of shorting bitcoin is through a market exchange that allows it. Shorting bitcoin is permitted on many exchanges, including FTX, Binance, Kucoin, Kraken, etc. Deribit additionally provides Bitcoin Options Trading contracts.

To short-bitcoin in the US, there are major exchanges that allow you to short-sell Bitcoin FTX(US) and Binance(US).

Why Short Bitcoin?

By shorting Bitcoin, an investor might profit from a declining Bitcoin price. The markets do not constantly move forward. There will usually be corrections, which could present a chance for a savvy trader to benefit as the asset advances and then retrace.

So, the majority of long-term investors, or holders, may be unable or unwilling to liquidate their long positions due to risk hedging. As a result, if they foresee an impending bear market in Bitcoin, they might start short bets, whose gains would be utilized to make up for losses in their long-term positions.

When to Short Bitcoin?

Bitcoin experiences the typical bull and bear cycles, where its price passionately climbs and falls, just like its counterparts in traditional assets. Instead of focusing on just one market, a wise speculator will seek to profit from both bull and down markets. They can raise their chances of turning a profit in this way.

So, investors are dubious or disbelieve the blockchain revolution narrative. Such people may try to profit from Bitcoin’s (alleged) future decline since they think it is nothing more than a transitory trend. Moreover, they might even attempt to sway public opinion about cryptocurrencies through the media by propagating misinformation (fear, uncertainty, and doubt). They have previously been effective in driving the price of Bitcoin down, but not out.

How to Short Bitcoin with and without Leverage?

All crypto exchanges as well as the bulk of FX exchanges globally allow shorting. Although virtually always a possibility, leverage is not always required.
An unleveraged short? This implies that you sell bitcoin at the spot price, watch for a decline in value, and then buy it back.

Consequently, any exchange that offers a spot market for bitcoin, which is essentially every exchange like Bitstamp, Kraken, Binance, etc.

How to Short Bitcoin with an ETF?

In June 2022, ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF (BITI) was introduced. This makes it the fund on this list that was most recently approved. The only ETF currently permitted by the SEC to trade the opposite of Bitcoin’s daily performance is BITI. The ProShares Short Bitcoin Strategy ETF, BITI, trades futures contracts on the CME similarly to BITO.

So, the distinction is that BITI trades short bets because it is a short bitcoin ETF. As part of a hedging strategy, BITI enables investors to profit from the cryptocurrency’s declining price.

ALTCOIN BUZZ – BINANCE – Get Up To $600* On Sign Up + Win a Share of $1,000 

Become a Top Trader and win a share of $1,000!

– 5 traders with the highest trading volume will share $750

– 5 lucky draw winners will get $50 each

– Just open a new Binance account with our link and trade as much as you can between Sep 14 and Sep 28.

Sign up using the links below on Binance Exchange and get the following benefits:

1) $100 Spot Trading Bonus*

2) 20% Trading Fee Discount For Life*

3) Plus $500 Unlockables*

If you already have a Binance account and want this deal, you might be able to create a new one with a different email address.

Sign-Up Links: Binance Global, Binance US

For more details visit the Binance Bonus Offer Page

*Terms & Conditions Apply

Disclosure: Altcoin Buzz may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you click through our links and make a purchase from one of our partners.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.