Bitcoin’s volatility is one of the major factors that make the cryptocurrency one of the most invested and traded cryptocurrencies in existence. The recent spike in Bitcoin prices and trading volume suggests increasing interest and demand from investors. The two most popular ways of taking advantage of the cryptocurrency market are either buying coins via an exchange and holding them and trading them via a CFD broker.
However, most cryptocurrency enthusiasts are in a dilemma between buying Bitcoin and trading them.
What does Owning Bitcoin imply?
Owning Bitcoin is useful if one wants to use them to shop or transfer money anywhere quickly at a lower cost. The transactions also provide a high level of anonymity compared to traditional wire transfers. To own Bitcoin, an individual needs an exchange he/she can trust provided it’s available in their country. The exchange should also offer payment methods for buying Bitcoin using fiat currencies.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have to be kept in a cryptocurrency wallet, which is either “hot” or “cold”. While hot wallets are connected to the net, cold wallets maintain offline storage. Buyers and owners of Bitcoin are often perceived by fraudulent entities as soft targets for hacking. This is due to the nature of transactions being final. There is also no anti-fraud protection in the cryptocurrency world. That’s why it’s always advised to use cold wallets for Bitcoin storage.
Bitcoin Trading – a Safer and Cheaper Option
As mentioned before, Bitcoin can be vulnerable to cyber thieves as hackers can target crypto exchanges and drain their wallet of funds. This is a major reason why trading Bitcoin is a better option instead. One of the best ways to do this is through financial derivative products such as a Contract For Difference(CFD) and use a regulated broker.
CFDs can be best described as a financial contract entered with the broker. It allows the trader to benefit from the increase or decrease of the price of an asset. This is done by exchanging the difference between the opening and closing price of the trading positions with the broker. One of the most important aspects of Bitcoin CFDs is that the trader doesn’t own the underlying asset. They instead take advantage of BTC’s price fluctuations.
Those interested in trading Bitcoin via CFDs can select any of the many regulated CFD brokers operating in the market. One such example is IQ Option, which is a reputable and popular broker for cryptocurrency CFD trading. They offer CFD trading in 16 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, XRP token, OmiseGo, Dash, Ethereum and others.
IQ Option also provides several features that make it the perfect pick for novice traders entering the market for the first time. This includes a minimum deposit requirement of $10 and a minimum trade deal requirement of $1. The maximum leverage allowed is up to 1:2 for European traders and 1:10 for non-European traders. You can take advantage of their free demo account which provides virtual funds for you to trade in a market environment.
Differences Between Owning Bitcoin and Trading Them
Owning and trading bitcoin each have their advantages and disadvantages and it’s up to the individual to make the choice between them. However, each of these concepts differs in quite a few areas.
Ownership
Owning Bitcoin can be compared to long-term investments as you are holding them to sell them at a later price and not paying a fee. Trading Bitcoin via CFDs means that you are not owning any underlying BTC. You are instead taking advantage of crypto-market volatility. It’s thus a more short-term strategy.
Security
Compared to CFD brokers, cryptocurrency exchanges, especially those which are centralised appear risky because of the lack of regulations. Brokers can be useful for you to apply your strategies and apply money management tips in a regulated and responsive environment. However, a regulated and reliable broker like IQ Option can help your money expand while taking advantage of the protections offered to retail traders.
Use of margin and leverage
Trading Bitcoin can be more flexible than buying it because of the presence of margin and leverage. The price of owning just one BTC can be prohibitively expensive, depending on the price of each Bitcoin. On the other hand, trading BTC with leverage allows anyone to take a position with much less capital than they are trading with. However, this also amplifies the risk factor of the trade.
Final Thoughts
It is undeniably more advantageous to trade Bitcoin rather than owning and holding them. In trading, you are merely a price speculator without owning any of the assets in question. You also only have to invest a small proportion of your total account size while trading. On the other hand, you will have to pay the full price to acquire Bitcoin and store them in your wallet.