Bitcoin BTCUSD

Bitcoin is a popular digital currency (also known as a cryptocurrency or Crypto) which was invented in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. It is the original and most widely used cryptocurrency in circulation.

Unlike prevailing payment methods, which rely on centralised payment processing systems, Bitcoin is powered through a cryptographic peer-to-peer network that does not depend on middlemen such as banks or other financial institutions.

People who wish to invest in Bitcoin normally need to first setup a digital wallet, i.e. a smartphone or computer-based electronic device that allows users to buy the digital Bitcoins online. It is not possible to short sell digital Bitcoins.

However, Plus500 provides an alternative easier-to-implement solution in the form of an online app for trading CFDs on Bitcoin (through the BTC/USD pair).

Transactions on the Plus500 app can be carried out in both directions (Buy or Sell), and a high level of liquidity is ensured through the use of real-time price feeds from major Bitcoin exchanges.

Plus500's Bitcoin CFDs are available for trading around the clock and on weekends (except for one hour on Sundays).

Bitcoin and/or Cryptocurrencies, Forex and stocks are 3 different asset classes with different characteristics such as profit-risk, liquidity and volatility ratios. When trading these asset classes in the form of CFDs, the primary difference between them is a matter of leverage.

Plus500 offers leverage of up to 1:2 for trading Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, meaning any potential profits or losses will be multiplied.

The leverage available for Forex CFDs is up to 1:30.

The leverage available for shares CFDs is 1:5.

To learn more about all the trading instruments available at Plus500, click here.

Please note that as a CFD trader you do not actually own the underlying asset – Bitcoin, Forex pair or stock – but you are rather trading on their anticipated price change, in the form of a Buy or Sell position.

We provide a number of trading tools that can be used as part of risk management strategies when trading in volatile markets such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

You can use the ‘Close at Profit’ order to 'lock in' your potential profits - by automatically closing your trade at a predefined rate.

You can use the ‘Close at Loss’ order to minimise and prevent further losses - by automatically closing your trade at a predefined rate.

Another option is to use the ‘Trailing Stop’ order which is designed to protect profits by enabling a position to remain open as long as the price is moving in your favour, however it closes the trade as soon as the price changes direction by a predefined number of pips.

Note that these stop orders do not guarantee your position will close at the exact price level you have specified. If the price suddenly gaps or slips down or up, at a price beyond your stop level, your position may be closed at the next available price, which can be a different price than the one you have set. This is referred to as 'Slippage'.

If you wish to ensure that your trade closes at the exact rate you have set without the risk of slippage, you can place a ‘Guaranteed Stop’. This special order is available for an additional fee paid via the Bid/Ask spread.

To learn more about how you can use Plus500’s risk management tools, click here.

You can trade Bitcoin CFDs in the following steps:

1. Log in to Plus500 or create an account.
2. Search for Bitcoin under Categories > Crypto Currencies or type ‘Bitcoin’ or ‘BTC’ in the search bar.
3. Check you are aware of Bitcoin’s properties (expiry, overnight fees etc) by clicking on (i).
4. Enter your preferred trading amount.
5. Consider placing stop orders: Close at Profit, Close at Loss, Guaranteed Stop and/or Trailing Stop.
6. Open a Buy or Sell position based on your anticipation of Bitcoin’s price movement.
7. Navigate to the Open Positions screen to follow your trade’s P&L (Profit & Loss). When you wish to close out your trade, simply click on the ‘Close’ button.

Read more about Cryptocurrency CFDs and Bitcoin in our "How to Buy, Sell and Trade Cryptocurrencies" and "How Bitcoin works" articles.