How to Get Started in Bitcoin Trading
One of the foremost cryptocurrencies out there is Bitcoin, which was founded several years ago and has really taken off. Below, we discuss the basic things to know about Bitcoin, including how to find the best Bitcoin trading platform, how to use a Bitcoin broker or exchange, as well as how to buy Bitcoin with PayPal.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a virtual online currency. Everyone can buy or sell bitcoins on the networks. The Bitcoin transaction process is done via online peer-to-peer technology. It is managed by dedicated Bitcoin servers. Each time that they communicate, they update and share the information concerning the number of Bitcoins that each user owns.
Trade Bitcoin Online Using CFD Services
If you are interested in trading because of the opportunity to profit from the incredible volatility of Bitcoin, your best option is to use an online trading platform that allows CFD services. Currently, there are very few CFD platforms that allow this kind of trade, so to see available options refer to our recommendations above.
CFD Brokers are a great option if you want to trade in Bitcoin with the option to accept multiple forms of payment and if you want to buy Bitcoin with Paypal, you can. These forums also accept major credit cards and wire transfers in exchange for Bitcoin. Also, if you choose to trade through a forex platform, you will pay the lowest commissions possible in comparison to other alternatives. CFD and Forex companies use an exchange rate that is an aggregate of different Bitcoin exchanges.
Trading Bitcoin – Getting Started with CFDs (Contracts For Differences)
Bitcoin CFDs allow you to trade Bitcoin without owning Bitcoin. Bitcoin CFDs were generated to give traders exposure to Bitcoin without the need for ownership.
Contracts For Differences, also known as “CFDs,” represent a contract between trader and exchange. CFDs declare that the difference between the price on entry and the price on exit will be a trader’s profit or loss. Basically, CFDs are an agreement held between two parties that simulate an actual asset.
How to make money by trading Bitcoin
There are many methods one can use to make money in Bitcoin trading, here we will cover just the main option. Trading Bitcoin against the US dollar is known in market terms as the BTC/USD pair. You would invest in Bitcoin in the same manner that you would a physical currency – by buying low and selling high. Since Bitcoin is highly volatile, you will want to remain cautious and learn to identify the dip, to protect your assets.
How to buy Bitcoin with Paypal
One of the biggest issues today with Bitcoin is the fact that you are unable to purchase it easily. Although Paypal and Bitcoin have been well-matched in the past two years, it is not always simple to find credible places to buy Bitcoin with Paypal in 2018.
If you’re looking to buy Bitcoin with Paypal (or a credit card) solely for trading purposes, please review the broker recommendations above.
Benefits of Contracts For Differences
CFDs have a lot of flexibility, meaning that they let traders go long (betting on a price increase) or short (betting on a decrease). When traders use CFDs for trading Bitcoin, they can enter trades any day, anytime, and likewise close them whenever they want.
Another advantage is the low fees when compared to other trading methods. Although, these fees are slightly above those of exchanges like Kraken and Bitstamp, which help with the direct buying and selling of bitcoins.
Drawbacks of Contracts For Differences
While CFDs are suitable for experienced traders, they are not an ideal choice for long-term holders. Maintaining an open trade by using CFDs is costly, this expense is called a Premium. This Premium consumes 0.1% of your position each day. Because a CFD’s leverage is enabled with a loan made from exchange to trader, interest is charged for the arrangement duration. By contrast, Bitcoins you own can be held at no cost in a bitcoin wallet for an indeterminate length of time.
The dreaded “margin call” is another disadvantage of CFDs. Exchanges need to protect themselves against the unexpected, including drastic market moves (also known colloquially as black swan events) that send a client’s balance far into the negative. When there is high leverage, the markets are volatile. The pace of trading is frantic that negative balances are a huge risk.
There are many other ways to invest in Bitcoin and other popular cryptocurrencies, which we will discuss below, including opening a Bitcoin wallet at a Cryptocurrency exchange.
Bitcoin Broker vs. Bitcoin Exchange
Investing in Bitcoin is an excellent opportunity for traders looking to grow long-term accounts and gain returns. It’s a highly volatile asset in which losses and gains can fluctuate very rapidly. As we know from the very recent past, it is not uncommon for Bitcoin to vary in value day by day. Even still, most experts feel BTC has substantial potential for becoming a worldwide currency once it stabilises.
There is an increasing number of people rushing to invest in Bitcoin and other popular cryptocurrencies as well. Those looking to invest in Bitcoin can get involved in a couple of ways.
One way to invest is to buy or sell Bitcoin on a cryptocurrency exchange, while another popular method is through an online Bitcoin broker. There are excellent opportunities for investors using either approach, and there are positives and negatives to both. On a cryptocurrency exchange, you are purchasing actual Bitcoins, and through a Bitcoin broker, it is slightly different. Rather than buying Bitcoin directly, you are trading a Bitcoin CFD. Many will argue that investing in Bitcoin CFDs are better due to its simplicity and regulation. Bitcoin brokers are highly regulated and operate with strict professionalism, with all funds stored in segregated accounts. Unfortunately, cryptocurrency exchanges are entirely unregulated.
It can be challenging to set up a Bitcoin wallet at a cryptocurrency exchange, but it’s like that with anything worth doing. With a Bitcoin broker, however, you can set up an account in a matter of minutes. Once you deposit currency into your account, you can start trading right away.
Read on to learn more about buying, selling and trading Bitcoin at a cryptocurrency exchange.
How to Buy and Sell Bitcoin at a Bitcoin Exchange
Whether you’re using coins to purchase or sell products and services, investing, increasing your portfolio, or more, cryptocurrencies is the cutting edge way to do it. If you want to grow a currency or invest in newer altcoins as early as you can, once again, crypto is the way to go. You will have to go through a cryptocurrency exchange first, no matter what your end goal is.
If you want to invest in Bitcoin, you need to register for and begin to use an online exchange that specializes in this cryptocurrency. Learning the types of exchanges and how to use them should be a priority for any investor-to-be.
What is a Bitcoin Exchange?
Coins like bitcoin exist only on a software platform known as a blockchain. Because of this, there are two ways to get bitcoins: first, you can be paid in bitcoin for a product or service you provided someone, or, second, you can buy from an exchange.
Online exchanges exist to provide for and allow the conversion of one currency to another. So, in this case, you can convert fiat currency (dollars, euros, etc.) to bitcoin. The online exchange carries this conversion. It can also work vice-versa.
Where are my bitcoins stored?
Bitcoin is kept exclusively in digital bitcoin wallets and from this wallet, investors can receive, send or store their bitcoin. Altogether different than a private bank account, bitcoin wallets are completely anonymous, and to access that wallet you must know the password. Unfortunately, if the password is lost, there is absolutely no way to retrieve any bitcoin stored in it. Meaning wallet security is a high priority for any bitcoin owner.
You can set up your own wallet or alternatively you can use a Bitcoin exchange that offers wallet services. However, you are entrusting the service security of your wallet, be sure to properly do your due diligence. After registering with an exchange and enduring their verification process, you will receive an online Bitcoin wallet immediately. This wallet has a public address, similar to any other wallet on any other software. This device lets you send and receive bitcoins to and from other desktops, mobile, or other types of wallets.
What should you consider when choosing a Bitcoin exchange?
When working with Bitcoin, you should select a reputable, safe, and transparent exchange. However, many people don’t know what to look for when deciding which exchange to choose.
Please see our top recommendations for best Bitcoin exchange here, and be sure to read on to learn how to choose the best broker Bitcoin trading platform for you. For more information on CFD and Cryptocurrency investments, please see our education centre.
How to Choose the Best Broker for Bitcoin Trading Online
Because there’s so much competition in the Bitcoin exchange market as well as having many brokers and exchanges to choose from, it can be difficult for beginners to know which option will work best. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you decide on the right investment opportunity for you:
Regulation
Use a regulated Bitcoin broker or exchange. The regulatory body develops rules and services protect the integrity of the market, as well as traders, and investors, such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Due to possible safety concerns, open your trading account with a regulated Bitcoin trading platform.
Customer Service
Bitcoin trading happens 24 hrs a day online, so customer support should be available at all times. You’ll want to be able to speak with a live support person, and many brokerages have a local office for ease of use. The representative’s ability to answer your questions regarding spreads and leverage, as well as company details is very telling.
The details of a good Bitcoin broker should be out in the open for everyone to see, either online or otherwise.
Account Types
Your ideal Bitcoin broker should be able to offer multiple account options or provide an element of customizability. Perhaps the broker even has a separate account for beginners. Look for a Bitcoin Broker that offers competitive spreads and easy deposits/withdrawals.
Tradeable Assets
When selecting a broker Bitcoin, many investors may just focus on the one asset. Nonetheless, keep in mind there are many other types of investment alternatives offered. Including Forex (FX) Currencies, other popular Cryptocurrencies (like Ripple, Ethereum, or Dash), Stocks, Shares, ETFs, CFDs, Futures or Options.
Fees
Buying and selling Bitcoins costs money. However, unlike buying stocks or bonds, Bitcoin brokers usually charge a percentage. You may consider looking for an online broker that charges a flat rate fee instead of the percentage model.
Liquidity
Because Bitcoin is traded in a market where people are both looking to buy or sell the currency. It’s crucial to consider the amount of liquidity that an exchange can have. Liquidity is the ability to sell without the price being significantly affected, causing the price to drop.
Here at TopBrokers.Trade, we take pride in providing the best possible online trading broker comparison, reviews and ratings. These reviews enable you to select the best trading platform for your needs. We don’t just help you to pick a great place to trade, but also do everything that we can, to show you how to get started. For additional information regarding trading Bitcoin as a CFD, check out our guide on “The Basics of Cryptocurrency“. It’s important that you remember that leverage works both ways and it will magnify the gains and losses.